In two of the most important practices of the year, it’d be two young drivers topping the charts at the end of each session.
Joey Logano, who made the switch from Joe Gibbs Racing to Penske Racing over the off-season, topped the first session with a speed of 195.410 mph. He has been working at gaining that solid relationship with his new crew chief.
“I think like any other relationship you have to work at it,” he said. “Whether it is a work relationship or if you are dating some girl, you have to work at that stuff. That is just part of life. You have to have someone that understands that and is willing to work on things that maybe seem goofy but will help you in the high pressure situations and trying to win a race and need to make a quick decision.”
Rookie Austin Dillon was second on the charts, seven one-hundredths off of Logano. Fellow rookie Danica Patrick was third, followed by Jeff Burton and Kasey Kahne.
In the second session, it’d be Danica Patrick topping the charts in her Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet as she begins her first full Cup Series season. She timed in at a speed of 196.220 mph.
“We’re trying to be smart. …Trying to be as accurate as possible,” she said following the second practice of the day. “I think so far, so good at Daytona. This is a testament to how consistent the (new) car is.”
Team owner Tony Stewart was second on the speed charts, timing in at 195.363 mph. Kyle Busch was third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray. Logano was ninth on the charts in the second session.
The only driver running into problems was Juan Pablo Montoya, who blew an engine midway through his second practice session..
“We will change the motor and give it a good go tomorrow in qualifying,” said the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet. “I think tonight is going to be a fun night and just looking forward to the (Daytona) 500.”
