Mike Skinner put his #23 History Channel AutoManiac Dodge atop the speed charts in private NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing July 18 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a lap of 180.692 mph. Bobby Hamilton Jr. was second fastest in the #32 Tide Chevrolet at 179.565, and Martin Truex Jr. was third in the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet at 179.460. This is the third consecutive, and final, week of testing at Indianapolis in preparation for the 12th annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Aug. 7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not practice in the morning but turned 27 laps in the afternoon, turning a fast lap of 176.470 in the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet. Earnhardt said the team plans to complete a full day of testing on July 19, the final day of pre-Allstate 400 at the Brickyard private testing.
The drivers who tested Monday are scheduled to be joined by four-time race winner Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, a resident of Columbus, Ind., and winner of three of the last four NEXTEL Cup Series events.
Fans are welcome to watch testing July 19 from the South Terrace grandstands, located in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. Admission is free.
Unofficial Speeds, Monday, July 18
Rank) Car#-Driver, Speed (mph), Total Laps
1.) #23-Mike Skinner, 180.692, 57
2.) #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr., 179.565, 40
3.) #1-Martin Truex Jr., 179.460, 90
4.) #5-Kyle Busch, 178.874, 59
5.) #04-Bobby Hamilton, 178.690, 25 [no word on what team this is]
6.) #6-Mark Martin, 178.580, 137
7.) #9-Kasey Kahne, 178.537, 113
8.) #40-Sterling Marlin, 178.495, 76
9.) #44-Terry Labonte, 178.341, 53
10.) #91-Bill Elliott, 178.304, 76
11.) #43-Jeff Green, 178.054, 51
12.) #88-Dale Jarrett, 177.703, 101
13.) #51-Stuart Kirby, 177.527, 59
14.) #25-Brian Vickers, 177.384, 65
15.) #22-Scott Wimmer, 176.918, 75
16.) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 176.470, 27
17.) #92-Tony Raines, 174.518, 30
Tickets: To purchase tickets, camping or parking for the 12th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.(IMS PR)(7-19-2005)
