| | ESPN.com news services
INDIANAPOLIS -- In the second and final day of Brickyard 400 testing for Chevrolet and Pontiac drivers, Joe Nemechek surpassed the track record by almost two mph as his Oakwood Homes Chevrolet whipped around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 181.206 mph.
Jeff Gordon set the official track record of 179.612 when he won the pole for last year's Brickyard 400. Three other drivers, 1995 Brickyard 400 winner Dale Earnhardt, his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Mike Skinner, and Ken Schrader all posted speeds faster than the track record Wednesday.
Nemechek's time on the fast lap was 49.667 seconds.
"We had good weather this morning, but I still wasn't sure if anyone was
going to get in the 49's (seconds)," said Nemechek, who started second in
the 1997 Brickyard 400. "I was a little surprised."
The top-four speeds of the overall two-day test were posted Wednesday
morning, when cloudy skies and cool temperatures were prevalent. Skies were
sunny and the air muggy in the afternoon.
Earnhardt was the only other driver to circle the track in less than 50 seconds when he ran the second-fastest lap of the day at 49.929 (180.253 mph) in his backup car.
Skinner was third at 179.698 in his backup car; Schrader was fourth at 179.634.
Tony Stewart, a native of Rushville, Ind., was 18th fastest overall in the two-day test at 176.727 in his backup car. Stewart was the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year and 1996-97 Indy Racing Northern Light
Series champion.
Bobby Labonte, the Winston Cup points leader, was 13th fastest overall at 178.451. Gordon, a two-time Brickyard 400 winner was 14th fastest overall in the two-day test at 178.333 mph.
Defending Brickyard 400 and Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett will test the Quality Care Ford next week along with other Ford drivers as Brickyard 400 testing continues July 17-18. 1997 Brickyard 400 winner Ricky Rudd will
also test.
The seventh Brickyard 400 will take place at 12:15 p.m. ET Aug. 5 (ABC).
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