Daytona: Kahne and Gordon top Saturday AM speeds

Kasey Kahne

With a smaller restrictor plate, drivers saw their speeds decrease Saturday morning during testing at Daytona International Speedway.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon turned laps of 201.545 mph using a two-car draft, more than five miles per hour slower than the top speeds Friday afternoon.

NASCAR decreased the holes in the restrictor plate by 1/32nd of an inch for the Saturday morning session. The restrictor plate with holes 29/32nds of an inch in diameter was the same as used at the start of the three-day test session Thursday.

NASCAR dictated the change because engine builders were worried that the engines could not handle the higher RPMs generated by the restrictor plates used Friday.

None of the 30 drivers that tested Saturday morning drafted in a big pack, which NASCAR officials want to see after implementing new rules designed to break up the two-car tandems. All but three were staying for the afternoon session, where NASCAR has asked for drivers to test in a big pack for several laps.

Results