Danica Patrick turns in speedy practice lap during Happy Hour

[Blue_Tires]

Danica Patrick beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Thursday, in practice anyway.

Patrick was fifth-quickest during the final Nationwide Series practice at Daytona International Speedway, clocking a top speed of 183.072 mph. That was just 0.271 seconds behind practice leader James Buescher, who clocked a top speed of 184.087 mph. Earnhardt Jr. was ninth at 182.838 mph.

"It's nice to go up the speed chart," Patrick said. "They told me not to look at the speed chart when I was 26th because it doesn't really matter. I'm not going to look at it because I'm fifth, because it supposedly doesn't matter."

As for the way her car is handling, Patrick said, "The front end has been pretty good. We've made steady improvements. We're going to keep our heads down and think about what last little changes we should make for Saturday."

Patrick takes the track Friday to qualify for Saturday's DRIVE4COPD 300. Rain is expected. If qualifying is washed out, then Patrick would be locked into the field based on last year's owners-points standings.

Speaking of Patrick, she will be speaking in a fan forum at the Daytona 500 Experience at noon today, participating in a Q&A. Before she takes the stage, Elliott Sadler, legendary gas man Chocolate Myers, Lyn St. James, Ward Burton and Junior Johnson will appear beginning at 11 a.m.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-nascar-daytona-notes-0212-20100211,0,5909618.story