Patrick view in check despite fast practice Saturday at Daytona
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013
AP
Danica Patrick checks out her car while crew members make adjustments in her garage during a Saturday practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway. (Phelan M. Ebenhack - AP)
Getty Images
NASCAR drivers Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leave a rookie meeting prior to a Saturday practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Danica Patrick had one of the fastest cars during last month’s testing session at Daytona International Speedway.
So far, nothing has changed.
Patrick posted the fastest speed during Saturday’s second Sprint Cup Series practice (196.220mph) after Joey Logano led the way during the first session (195.410 mph).
Saturday’s practices primarily were single-car runs in anticipation of Sunday’s qualifying session, which will lock in the front row for the Feb. 24 Daytona 500.
Patrick does have some experience at Daytona. She won the pole last year for the Nationwide Series opener on the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
“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,” Patrick said.
“We could not have as much speed. We could be in an unfortunate situation with wind, weather, temperature, clouds. We’ve done everything we can to prepare and feel confident, but (Sunday) is another day.”
In fact, the forecast for time trials is expected to be much colder, which could alter the qualifying results dramatically.
Patrick’s team owner, Tony Stewart, was second-fastest during the final practice. Kyle Busch was third, Dale Earnhardt Jr. fourth and Jamie McMurray fifth.
Patrick said she was very cognizant a fast car at Daytona has more to do with her team’s preparation and work.
“It is a team effort. I understand that the driver can make tiny little differences out there, be smooth, and nail your shifts and being smooth with the wheel. The pole at Daytona is very much a team pole,” she said.
Daytona winner gets ride: John King Jr., who was the surprise winner of the season-opening NASCAR Truck series race last season, has a ride for this year’s race.
King will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet for Eddie Sharp Racing in the Feb. 22 race. That team also won the 2012 series finale at Homestead, Fla., with driver Cale Gale.
Utter: 704-358-5113; Twitter: @jim_utterMore racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.
The Charlotte Observer is pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity to make comments and hold conversations online. However, the interactive nature of the internet makes it impracticable for our staff to monitor each and every posting.
Since charlotteobserver.com does not control user submitted statements, we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted on our website. In addition, we remind anyone interested in making an online comment that responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Charlotte Observer.
If you find a comment offensive, clicking on the exclamation icon will flag the comment for review by the administrators, we are counting on the good judgment of all our readers to help us.
