INDIANAPOLIS – Hendrick Motorsports teammates and former Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winners Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon finished one-two in the speed rankings during practice for this year’s annual NASCAR classic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Johnson, the 2006 race winner, was the first driver to break the 180-mph mark on the day and turned a top lap of 180.047 in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Gordon, the only four-time Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner, ran 180.007 in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet.
The practices were crucial for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, as it was the first time the entire field has taken to the challenging 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in NASCAR’s new-generation Sprint Cup car.
“It’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt about it,” said Chad Knaus, crew chief for Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet Impala SS. “Right now the track is real abrasive until we get some rubber laid down on the racetrack, so it’s not a very good indication of what we’re going to have on Sunday. In single-lap runs, the car is fine. When we get out there with a lot of other people it’s going to be difficult to pass, typical of what we see here. But the Lowe’s Chevrolet is running great. I’m really excited about it.”
South Bend, Ind., native Ryan Newman was third-fastest in the No. 12 alltel Dodge at 179.723, Elliott Sadler led the first session but was fourth overall at 179.190 in the No. 19 Stanley Dodge and Kasey Kahne was fifth in the No. 9 Budweiser/LifeLock Dodge at 179.075.
The Miller Lite Rock N Racing concert featuring The Goo Goo Dolls will take place at the Miller Lite Stage located in the IMS infield behind the Hall of Fame Museum.
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