Daytona Beach, FL – Paul Menard was on track for his second day of testing at Daytona International Speedway.  In the morning session, Menard logged the fastest lap of all drivers present who are running the DEI/RCR engine package.  His lap of 49.367 seconds bested laps run by his teammate Regan Smith and RCR drivers Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick.  Menard turned up the heat in afternoon drafting turning in the third quickest lap overall.
 
“You can’t really see by looking at the speed charts in the single car runs, but the car feels really good.” Menard said during the lunch break.  “I can’t believe how much handling is playing a role in the speeds here, but it’s definitely going to be a factor in the 500.”
 
In all, there are 29 drivers and 52 cars taking single car runs this morning and 29 drivers and 54 cars drafting this afternoon.
 
The fastest in the morning single car runs was No. 88A-Earnhardt Jr. at 185.820mph [the fastest overall single car run so far]. No. 55-Waltrip was the second fastest [and 6th in his other car] followed by three more Toyota's. No. 83A-Vickers, No. 44A-Jarrett and No. 20A-Stewart. No. 40-Franchitti was the fastest Dodge at 7th and No. 38B-Gilliland was the fastest Ford at 15th. Slowest were No. 57A-Benning at 175.097mph and No. 08A-Long at 178.536mph.
 
In afternoon drafting practice, No. 12B-Newman was the fastest at 188.013mph, followed by No. 01A-Smith, No. 15B-Menard, No.29B-Harvick and No. 40A-Franchitti. The fastest Toyota was No. 20A-Stewart at 6th, the fastest Ford was No. 6B-Ragan at 16th.
 
“The car’s great in the draft.” Menard said following the afternoon session. “We had an idea the car would be better in drafting practice.  We’re down on horsepower from where we’ll be in February, so I wasn’t expecting much out of single car runs but I was actually surprised at how well the car handled.  Definitely feel like we’ll be where we need to be for the actual qualifying races and for the 500.”
 
Menard’s speeds shaped up as follows:
 
AM Session
 
Car #15A was 25th quick (182.308 mph)
Car #15B was 43rd quick (181.353 mph)
 
PM Session
 
Car #15B was 3rd quick (187.594 mph)
Car #15A was 36th quick (183.329 mph)
 
In addition to his on track activities, Menard was interviewed during the lunch hour by reporters from NASCAR Scene and the Daytona Beach News Journal.
 
After testing was complete for the day, Menard participated in several off track media activities.  Menard was used in a film shoot for SPEED Channel before heading over to complete a round of interviews that will be used in the SPEED Channel pre season shows.  Then it was onto the media center, where Menard completed another set of interviews for ESPN.  He wrapped up his day with the Fan Fest question and answer session alongside Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, David Ragan, Sam Hornish Jr. and Patrick Carpentier outside the media center. 

Daytona Testing photo gallery - click here