Daytona Jeff Gordon testing 96-06-11

Gordon ups speed in second day at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 11) -- Jeff Gordon upped his best lap during two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway to 187.578 mph on Tuesday before an afternoon rain shower interrupted the defending NASCAR Winston Cup champion's preparation for the July 6 Pepsi 400. Gordon, the defending champion of the "Mid-Summer Classic" event, tested both a new, primered superspeedway car with which he set the quick time and the painted, rebuilt car that was wrecked in the season-opening Daytona 500. The primer car was consistently faster in the two days of testing. Crew chief Ray Evernham and the Hendrick Motorsports unit plans to conclude the test on Wednesday morning between 9 a.m. and noon. The only other pre-Pepsi 400 test that is scheduled this month is for Hedrick Motorsports and driver Ricky Craven on June 25-26. A section of the Oldfield Grandstand is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with access through the Visitors' Center. Guided Speedway tours are offered from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sega Speedway video arcade that is part of the DAYTONA USA complex is now open to the public at no admission charge. For Pepsi 400 ticket information call 904-253-RACE (7223). For DAYTONA USA information call 904-947-6800.