Speeds crept towards the 190mph mark in Friday's sole Sprint Cup practice session at the 2.5-mile
Daytona International Speedway as the 43 drivers who successfully made it through Thursday's enthralling pair of Gatorade qualifying races took to the track for the final time ahead of Sunday's 50th running of the Daytona 500.
Leading the way with a best lap of 47.281-seconds (190.351mph) was the #41 Target Dodge of Chip Ganassi Racing's Reed Sorenson who, in his new capacity as team leader in the three-strong Ganassi squad has already impressed with a top five performance in last weekend's Bud Shootout and a strong run in his Gatorade qualifying duel.
Behind Sorenson came a snarling pack of Chevrolet powered drivers led by Gatorade Duel 1 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr, his former teammate at DEI Martin Truex Jr and the Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet of Scott Riggs. Earnhardt Jr's teammate Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five with defending Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick sixth and Kurt Busch seventh in the second best placed Dodge.
Busch's Penske Racing teammate Ryan Newman was next in line with the Toyota's of Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart, still more than a little concerned following a spat of Toyota engine woes, completing the top ten.
Jeff Gordon was 12th fastest, Matt Kenseth 15th, Sam Hornish Jr 25th, Dario Franchitti 33rd and Juan Montoya 37th.
Of the four drivers who raced their way into Sunday's starting field in Thursday's qualifying races
Red Bull Racing's Brian Vickers was best placed in 27th spot with Dale Jarrett 31st and John Andretti 34th. Kenny Wallace was one of half a dozen drivers who chose to skip the session.
In addition to Wallace, Gatorade Duel 2 winner Denny Hamlin, his JGR teammate Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin also missed the session, as did JJ Yeley's Hall of Fame entry.
![Reed Sorensen at Indianapolis. [Pic Credit IMS Media/Dana Garrett]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/252482.jpg)
