Date: Feb. 11, 2007
Event: Daytona 500 Time Trials
Series: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Pole Winner: David Gilliland of Robert Yates Racing (48.304 seconds at 186.320 mph)
JGR Lineup: Denny Hamlin (13th, 48.794 seconds at 184.449 mph), J.J. Yeley (16th, 48.824 seconds at 184.336 mph), Tony Stewart (18th, 48.844 seconds at 184.260 mph)
Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Express Chevrolet, qualified 13th to lead the three-car Joe Gibbs Racing contingent in time trials for the 49th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Hamlin turned a lap of 48.794 seconds at 184.449 mph on the 2.5-mile oval.
“It’s so hard to tell how good you are when you’re out there by yourself,” said Hamlin. “That’s a decent time, but we’ll know a lot more after the Duel.”
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates – J.J. Yeley in the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet and Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet – qualified 16th and 18th, respectively. Yeley turned a lap of 48.824 seconds at 184.336 mph while Stewart stopped the clocks in 48.844 seconds at 184.260 mph.
“We’re pretty disappointed,” said Yeley. “We lost about two-tenths from yesterday (in practice). I know that a lot of guys have slowed down right now. But we’re charged up for 2007 and this is a formality today. We’ll see what happens in the 150s.”
“Winning last night was a great way to start the season for our Home Depot Chevrolet team,” said Stewart, who won Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout. “I had the guys working pretty hard on the car, so it was a good deal to be able to give them a win for all of their efforts. We learned some things that we will use on Thursday, so that is always a plus.
“We feel like we have a really strong car for Sunday’s race. It’s the same deal as always. You have to stay out of trouble to be there in the end.”
Locking up their starting spots for the Daytona 500 were Robert Yates Racing teammates David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd. Gilliland notched his first career Daytona 500 pole with a time of 48.304 seconds at 186.320 mph. Rudd missed the top spot by .185 of a second as he turned a lap in 48.489 seconds at 185.609 mph. This is the second time Robert Yates Racing has started on the front row of the Daytona 500, as Dale Jarrett and Rudd started 1-2 in 2000.
While today’s time trials locked in the front row, the remaining 40 positions will be determined via Thursday’s Gatorade Duel – twin 150-mile heat races that set the majority of the 43-car Daytona 500 field. Odd numbered teams in 2006 owner points will run the first race, while even numbered teams in 2006 owner points will compete in the second race. The top-35 teams in 2006 owner points are assured of advancing into the Daytona 500, as are the highest finishing teams in the 150-mile heat races not otherwise qualified, and the three fastest teams from time trials not otherwise qualified. If needed, the 43rd position will go to the most recent series champion not otherwise qualified.
As a result, Hamlin and Stewart will start the first race in the seventh and ninth positions, respectively, while Yeley will start the second race in eighth.
As far as manufacturers went, Ford swept the front row of the Daytona 500 via the laps posted by Gilliland and Rudd. Dodge was next best at the hands of Chip Ganassi Racing teammates David Stremme (48.521 seconds at 185.487 mph) and rookie Juan Pablo Montoya (48.560 seconds at 185.338 mph), who logged the third and fourth fastest times, respectively. Carrying the flag for Chevrolet was Jeff Gordon (48.628 seconds at 185.079 mph), who clocked the seventh-best time in his Hendrick Motorsports ride.
The Gatorade Duel gets underway at 2 p.m. EST on Thurs., Feb. 15 with live coverage provided by Speed. The green flag waves for the Daytona 500 at 3:15 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 18 with live coverage provided by FOX.