The wait is over, NASCAR's main series, the newly named Sprint Cup, has begun testing.
Obviously, since the first race of the season is the mighty Daytona 500, it is appropriate to do the early testing at the Daytona International Speedway. That's what many teams did today.
Reigning champ, Jimmie Johnson already showed the way with speeds of 184.782 mph early during the day driving his No 48 Chevrolet Impala in what is called the "Car Of Tomorrow", the only formula now allowed in the Sprint Cup.
Team mate Casey Mears (Impala No 5B and 5A) ran the second and third fastest speeds.
But the surprise was to see the Toyotas doing very well. Among them was Montreal's Jacques Villeneuve who drove a Bill Davis Camry to the fourth best performance (183. 329 mph) behind the wheel of his 27A car in the morning, the sixth with his 27B car in the afternoon (teams were allowed two cars for the test, A and B).
There will be testing by other teams on Tuesday and more next Monday and Tuesday.
Obviously, since the first race of the season is the mighty Daytona 500, it is appropriate to do the early testing at the Daytona International Speedway. That's what many teams did today.
Reigning champ, Jimmie Johnson already showed the way with speeds of 184.782 mph early during the day driving his No 48 Chevrolet Impala in what is called the "Car Of Tomorrow", the only formula now allowed in the Sprint Cup.
Team mate Casey Mears (Impala No 5B and 5A) ran the second and third fastest speeds.
But the surprise was to see the Toyotas doing very well. Among them was Montreal's Jacques Villeneuve who drove a Bill Davis Camry to the fourth best performance (183. 329 mph) behind the wheel of his 27A car in the morning, the sixth with his 27B car in the afternoon (teams were allowed two cars for the test, A and B).
There will be testing by other teams on Tuesday and more next Monday and Tuesday.