Danica Patrick tops Daytona Happy Hour practice

Danica Patrick posted the fastest lap in Happy Hour — 198.133 mph in the draft. 

“The splitter is a little too low and catches the apron,” Patrick said during her final run after a total of 23 laps. “We’re pushing water, too. It hit 270 at the line and I was shut off.”

Patrick’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart followed. Busch posted the second fastest time — 45.466-seconds, 0.042-second behind. 

Kasey Kahne rounded out the top five fastest drivers but he acknowledged his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a faster car. 

“I’m happy with the Great Clips Chevrolet, but I think Dale is better,” Kahne said. “I think we have to work on it to get it better…we were able to get close, but he can build more speed.” 

Chevys captured the top eight spots — all powered by Hendrick engines. Jeff Gordon, making his final Daytona start, was sixth quick followed by Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. Ryan Blaney (ninth) had the fastest Ford and Carl Edwards, in his backup car following the 11-car wreck in the first practice, was the only Toyota to crack the top 10. 

Greg Biffle, who also involved in the accident, returned to the track and was  27th on the speed chart. The team discovered a crack in the bell housing of the Roush-Yates engine after the accident, forcing them to replace it