All-Fusion Front Row Set for Daytona 500
FEB. 19, 2012
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ford is back in front for the Daytona 500.
On a gusty Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing drivers Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle led qualifying and put Ford Fusions on the front row for the first – and most important – race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Edwards logged his first Daytona 500 pole with a lap of 194.738 miles per hour, the fastest pole speed for the 500 since 1999. Biffle rolled in with the second fastest speed – 194.087.
Edwards’ run ended a four-year Chevrolet pole streak at the 500.
In the unique qualifying procedure for the 500, only the two fastest drivers in time trials lock in positions on the starting grid. The rest of the 43-car field will be filled by the results of Thursday’s twin 150-mile qualifying races, time-trial speeds and provisionals.
Edwards and Biffle thus have safety valves for the Thursday qualifying races.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Edwards said. “I just cannot thank (team co-owner) Jack Roush enough for all the work that he’s put in, and Doug Yates (engine builder). I feel like he should be sitting up here with us. Those guys have done an unbelievable job of working through the transition to the EFI (electronic fuel injection), and it’s just amazing to know for the next week that Bob (crew chief Bob Osborne) and all of us are going to be working on the fastest race car here at Daytona and preparing it for the biggest race of the season.”
Osborne missed the first week of Daytona activities because of the death of his father. Chip Bolin, an RFR engineer, filled in with the Edwards team.
Although winning the 500 pole is no guarantee of grand success in the race, Edwards said the Sunday run was a big positive.
“It probably wouldn’t have mattered the first or second time I was here, but now after seeing how hard everybody works all winter and seeing how much pride the guys take in how these cars qualify, it’s a sign of the strength of your team,” he said. “To have the whole front row says a lot about Roush Fenway Racing and Ford.”
Completing the top five Sunday were Dale Earnhardt Jr., Marcos Ambrose and Casey Mears. The runs by Ambrose and Mears gave Ford four of the top five time-trial speeds.
“They (Ford teams) definitely have found some speed over the off-season in their Daytona package,” Chevrolet driver Earnhardt Jr. said.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driving a fourth RFR entry, had the eighth fastest speed, and he was followed in ninth by defending 500 winner Trevor Bayne.
Also in the top 20 in Fords were Aric Almirola (13th), David Ragan (15th) and Matt Kenseth (16th).
Among the “go-or-go-home” drivers, Bayne and Tony Raines had fast enough speeds Sunday to guarantee starting spots in the 500. Terry Labonte, in another Ford, was 31st fastest Sunday and is assured of a starting position in the 500 because he’s a series champion.
On a gusty Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing drivers Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle led qualifying and put Ford Fusions on the front row for the first – and most important – race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Edwards logged his first Daytona 500 pole with a lap of 194.738 miles per hour, the fastest pole speed for the 500 since 1999. Biffle rolled in with the second fastest speed – 194.087.
Edwards’ run ended a four-year Chevrolet pole streak at the 500.
In the unique qualifying procedure for the 500, only the two fastest drivers in time trials lock in positions on the starting grid. The rest of the 43-car field will be filled by the results of Thursday’s twin 150-mile qualifying races, time-trial speeds and provisionals.
Edwards and Biffle thus have safety valves for the Thursday qualifying races.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Edwards said. “I just cannot thank (team co-owner) Jack Roush enough for all the work that he’s put in, and Doug Yates (engine builder). I feel like he should be sitting up here with us. Those guys have done an unbelievable job of working through the transition to the EFI (electronic fuel injection), and it’s just amazing to know for the next week that Bob (crew chief Bob Osborne) and all of us are going to be working on the fastest race car here at Daytona and preparing it for the biggest race of the season.”
Osborne missed the first week of Daytona activities because of the death of his father. Chip Bolin, an RFR engineer, filled in with the Edwards team.
Although winning the 500 pole is no guarantee of grand success in the race, Edwards said the Sunday run was a big positive.
“It probably wouldn’t have mattered the first or second time I was here, but now after seeing how hard everybody works all winter and seeing how much pride the guys take in how these cars qualify, it’s a sign of the strength of your team,” he said. “To have the whole front row says a lot about Roush Fenway Racing and Ford.”
Completing the top five Sunday were Dale Earnhardt Jr., Marcos Ambrose and Casey Mears. The runs by Ambrose and Mears gave Ford four of the top five time-trial speeds.
“They (Ford teams) definitely have found some speed over the off-season in their Daytona package,” Chevrolet driver Earnhardt Jr. said.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driving a fourth RFR entry, had the eighth fastest speed, and he was followed in ninth by defending 500 winner Trevor Bayne.
Also in the top 20 in Fords were Aric Almirola (13th), David Ragan (15th) and Matt Kenseth (16th).
Among the “go-or-go-home” drivers, Bayne and Tony Raines had fast enough speeds Sunday to guarantee starting spots in the 500. Terry Labonte, in another Ford, was 31st fastest Sunday and is assured of a starting position in the 500 because he’s a series champion.
