Friday, April 16, 2010

Greg Biffle Rips Fastest Lap Late in First Texas Practice Session

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series has kicked off their weekend with practice session one for Sunday's Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. For the first two-thirds of practice most teams were using race trim set-ups with Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kevin Harvick all showing good times. Once the qualifying trim came on, there was a mad shuffle of changes with all the leaders until ultimately Greg Biffle finished on top in the closing moments.

Fastest during the opening practice was Biffle with a lap at 190.813 mph. Second quick was Tony Stewart with a lap at 190.201 mph. Third fastest was Earnhardt Jr. at 189.567 mph. Earnhardt Jr was just .186 off the pace set by Biffle. Bowyer was fourth fastest at 189.394 mph while Jimmie Johnson turned a lap at 189.235 mph.

The fast lap by Biffle is a good sign for the Fenway-Roush program who had struggled collectively during last months Charlotte testing on the new spoiler. This will be the first major down-force track used with the new spoiler. The new spoiler is expected to slow cars down on the straightaways slightly, but allow for more grip entering the turns. This week is also the debut of Goodyear's new tire compound. Saturday's practices -- with the longer runs -- should give more information to how the tire's durability will perform in race conditions.  

Complete List of First Practice Speeds

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