Defending series champ Jimmie Johnson paces early practice at Auto Club Speedway
FONTANA, Calif. – Jimmie Johnson, a four-time winner at Auto Club Speedway, paced Saturday’s opening practice session for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver had a fast lap of 182.537 mph during the 45-minute effort as teams prepare for Sunday’s Auto Club 500.
Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin was second fastest (182.182 mph), and was followed by Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Roush Fenway Racing teammates Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.
Cup teams have one final practice, scheduled to begin at 3:45 Eastern.
Completing the top 10 in the first session were Juan Pablo Montoya (Earnhardt Ganassi Racing), Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports), Kasey Kahne (Richard Petty Motorsports), Clint Bowyer (Richard Childress Racing) and Kurt Busch (Penske Racing).
Pole winner Jamie McMurray, who won last week’s Daytona 500, was 28th fastest.
