Johnson tops opening session at Daytona

Jimmie Johnson started the first preseason testing session of 2008 the same place he ended the 2007 season, on top. Johnson paced Monday Sprint Cup morning's test at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway with a lap of 184.782 mph in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. The 2007 Cup champion edged teammate Casey Mears for the fastest lap of the first session of preseason testing. Mears, in the No. 5 Chevrolet, went 184.574. Jacques Villeneuve (Bill Davis Racing) was third at 183.329, with AJ Allmendinger (Red Bull Racing) fourth at 183.296. Jeff Gordon rounded out the top-5 at 182.296.

Testing continues Monday afternoon, with two sessions each on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well.

1. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 184.782 mph
2. Casey Mears, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 184.574
3. Jacques Villeneuve, No. 27 Bill David Racing Toyota, 183.329
4. AJ Allmendinger, No. 84 Red Bull Racing Toyota, 183.296
5. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 183.042
6. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 182.931
7. J.J. Yeley, No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Toyota, 182.704
8. David Reutimann, No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, 182.485
9. Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge, 182.186
10. Travis Kvapil, No. 28 Yates Racing Ford, 182.171
11. Joe Nemechek, No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, 182.068
12. Greg Biffle, No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, 181.991
13. Kurt Busch, No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge, 181.748
14. Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, 181.668
15. Elliott Sadler, No. 19 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge, 181.624
16. Carl Edwards, No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, 181.616
17. Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge, 181.543
18. Kyle Petty, No. 45 Petty Enterprises Dodge, 181.477
19. Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, 181.466
20. Jason Keller, No. 98 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge, 181.426
21. Aric Almirola, No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet, 180.963
22. Robby Gordon, No. 7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford, 180.912
23. Kirk Shelmerdine, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, 180.647
24. Mark Martin, No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet, 180.339
25. Jeremy Mayfield, No. 70 Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet, 179.770