Daytona NASCAR Testing: It's About to Get Wild with the Sprint Cup Drivers

The first day of NASCAR testing for Cup cars at Daytona is more shakedown than anything, but one thing for sure is that tandem racing is alive and well despite the rule changes, and the cars are definitely faster.

Cars ran single file during the morning session, and by afternoon several teams were running 202 mph-plus, together in tandem. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano set the hot pace racing nose-to-tail.

There were many sightings that caused me to take pause because they just didn't look right. Kasey Kahne in the Farmer's No. 5 for Hendrick Motorsports, Danica Patrick's No. 10, Kurt Busch was missing from the Shell/Pennzoil car and many more that were so atypical from last year.

Of course logic kicked in as to what was going on, but even Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, "I saw 10 on the board, and I'm thinking, There's no 10; who's in the 10?" He asked his crew chief, Steve Letarte, because he had forgotten Patrick would be here.

Drivers were at ease and humor was abundant in the media center with drivers who made appearances.

Patrick claims she will be a honey badger this year after seeing a video about one. She said, "Anyway, the honey badger, he doesn't give a crap, he takes what he wants. And that's how I'm going to be this year, like a honey badger.

She added, "I don't know, it's a mindset. I even have a honey badger picture on my screen saver on my phone to inspire me. It takes what it wants."

Patrick looked very comfortable in a Cup car and drivers were obviously taking notice. She equated the testing at Daytona in the No. 10 with the first day of school.

Patrick said, "You want to make a good impression, you want to do a good job. It's finding your way around, finding my locker literally."

Mark Martin addressed the fuel injection and didn't really notice any change on the track, but felt it was different when you start the car and take off.

Martin stated, "So there is an opportunity for teams, really smart people with laptop computers--I think there's an opportunity for someone to gain an edge here coming out of the gate when it's new."

In an official Toyota Racing press release, Kyle Busch said, "NASCAR's trying to answer the call of the fans and try to put us back in the pack, but as racers we know that two cars linked up together is faster, so we're always going to try to migrate in that direction."

The consensus so far is that two-car tandem drafting will remain the same, but the Daytona 500 may reveal a bit more pack-style racing, even with cars being paired, and that usually equates to wrecks.

Fuel mileage will remain an issue at some races even with the engine running more efficiently. There are, however, more safeguards to keep the cars from running out of fuel.

Fans have turned out big-time for the testing and Daytona Preseason Thunder that includes autograph sessions and photo opportunities with drivers. Weather is sunny and mid-70's for those of you in snow.

Tony Stewart was still high on the fairy-tale ending to last season, but seemed happy with the speed in his car.

Stewart said, "It's been fun to get back in the car today and get running around. Normally I'm hiding from the racetrack in testing, but it was fun to come back this morning and get back in the car and get rolling around again."

Patrick was asked about the difference between working with Tony Eury Jr. in Nationwide and Greg Zipadelli as interim crew chief on her Cup car.

Patrick responded, "His accent is not as thick as Tony Jr. I understand every word he says. We get along great. I feel really comfortable with him so far. I feel respected, and I feel like he's been very patient."

After testing concluded, NASCAR called a meeting and determined they would allow a bigger restrictor plate amongst other changes for tomorrow.

The name of the game for NASCAR is to bring back more excitement for the fans. It is expected cars will qualify for the Daytona 500 pole at somewhere around 195 mph.

All the changes were really more about bringing speed back to the Daytona 500. There may still be the same two-car tandems, but drafting will be possible and the effect of the cooling system changes won't be known until the teams run in packs.

Tomorrow NASCAR expects the cars to go out and run in packs whether they want to or not. It is the only way to examine the net effect of the changes that have been implemented.

NASCAR wants the drivers on a fine line with a car that is hard to drive, fast and able to draft so they can get back to a little more old school racing with the drivers controlling the cars on the high banks.

Carl Edwards found out late in the day after testing that NASCAR wants the cars to run in packs tomorrow.

Edwards said, "So they want the cars to be--they want them to be faster? Hmmm. So they close the grill up, lower the pressure five pounds and they gave us a bigger plate? This is going to be wild."

Indeed tomorrow's test session could be interesting and it remains to be seen if all the drivers will join in the pack racing. The crew chiefs may have some input on that.

Fans seem very enthusiastic about the upcoming season. Support for Patrick is abundant and she looks to be a fan favorite with most everyone I spoke with expecting her to do well in the Nationwide car and win races.

Of course Junior Nation was out in mass and each of his public appearances reflected the optimism of his legion.

This is some major testing at Daytona and fans can look forward to the unexpected when Speedweeks actually gets underway.

As Edwards stated, "This is going to be wild."

Update:

Shortly after 1:00 pm Friday, approximately 30 cars took to the track for the pack test. It was exciting and dramatic racing that looked much like the final laps of a race.

The fastest lap speed was Kyle Busch's 205.813.

Darrell Waltrip described it best on Speed TV, when he described it as "pure racing."

Quotes courtesy of NASCAR official press releases unless otherwise noted.