Jimmie Johnson reminded the entire Sprint Cup fraternity to write him and his #48 Hendrick Motorsports team off at their peril as he set fastest time in the first of two practice sessions set for Friday at the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway.
Although he has yet to find his way to Victory Lane so far this season the double defending Cup series champion showed that it is just a matter of time before he opens his 2008 victory account as he pushed Thursday's polewinner Ryan Newman off the top of the timesheets for the first time all weekend.
Newman didn't drop far and finished the session with second fastest time with David Ragan showing further improvement over his 2007 form with third quickest time in the leading Ford. Kasey Kahne was fourth fastest with Ragan's Roush-Fenway teammates Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle next in line.
Johnson's Hendrick teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr, another who has constantly knocking on the door to Victory Lane this season, was seventh fastest as he goes in search for his third career Phoenix victory. Dale Jr's old teammate at DEI, Martin Truex Jr and Richard Childress Racing duo Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top ten.
Points leader Jeff Burton continued to languish outside the top 20 but after qualifying a dismal 39th he at least improved to 24th in practice. Jeff Gordon slipped to 30th meanwhile with the quadruple champion still feeling that something is amiss with his #24 Hendrick team.
Single seater converts Sam Hornish Jr, Dario Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier were among the slowest group with Hornish Jr in 32nd the best placed of the bunch.
![Jimmie Johnson. [Pic Credit image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/405831.jpg)
