Daytona 500 is just a week away but if Saturday's practice is any sign of things to come, Danica Patrick's blistering pace in the No. 10 Go Daddy Chevrolet has a good chance of staying at the front of the grid.
During Feb. 16 practice, Danica Patrick posted a top speed of 196.220 mph, enough to be fastest at practice. Now, all the attention is focused on tomorrow's qualifying as the Stewart-Haas driver aims to claim pole at the famous venue.
Danica Patrick has a fast car at Daytona International Speedway - and she just may have the fastest.
Patrick logged a fastest speed of 196.220 mph in the first official Sprint Cup Series practice of the season on Saturday. She posted the speed in the day's second session, focused on Sunday's qualifying for the Daytona 500.
"I suppose being the fastest going into qualifying is the most you can hope for, but I also understand it's a whole (new) day," she said. "We could not have as much speed. We could be in an unfortunate situation with wind, weather, temperature (and) clouds. We've done everything we can to prepare and feel confident, but tomorrow is another day."
45 drivers will qualify during Sunday's session, which will start at 1:05 p.m. Temperatures will be a cool mid-50s, just slightly too low to generate enough temperature on the pavement and heat in the tires. Temperatures should rise during the day, when the sun is at its highest.
Working hard to put Patrick in a good position, the team gave her a brand new car, completely different from the car she tested last month. Significant aerodynamic improvements were made after a month in the wind tunnel.
"It would be really nice," she said. "It's a very big pole for attention. Other races you'd feel as a driver more pleased to get, but this is a team effort."
Chevrolets are appearing to be the fastest cars on the grid. Eight of the quickest 12 on the grid during pracice are Chevy. Teammate and team owner Tony Stewart was second quickest and will be making the first qualifying attempt on Sunday. Kyle Busch was third, Dale Earnhardt Jr. fourth and Jamie McMurray fifth.
