Greg Biffle (16) battles Jimmie Johnson (48) heading into the tri-oval. Credit: Autostock

Biffle's Shootout car the class of the field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Greg Biffle didn't want to admit it.

But Jeff Gordon didn't mind at all. Who had the fastest car in Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout?

It wasn't winner Jimmie Johnson, Gordon's buddy and Hendrick Motorsports teammate.

It was Biffle, a Ford guy, of all people.

"I really think the 16 car was the fastest car out there that I saw," Gordon said.

	Credit: AP
	GREG BIFFLE •   Driver Page •   Merchandise

Biffle did his best to prove it all race, getting the lead on the second lap and staying out front for the next 44 laps. And even after he got behind on a pit stop with 24 laps to go, Biffle nearly got back to the lead.

"Really, I'm pretty happy," Biffle said. "I'm kinda getting my feet wet, getting back in the racecar. We wanted to win that. We wanted to win the Bud Shootout, but we want to win the (Daytona) 500. We've got a better car for the 500."

For once, Biffle looks forward to a restrictor-plate race. Where once he dreaded running at Daytona and Talladega, now he likes it.

Funny how a strong car changes one's opinion.

"I was not a big fan of restrictor-plate racing before because I didn't have a fast enough car," Biffle said. "Now, I've got a fast enough car.

"I love it. It's a lot of fun racing up there with all these guys, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson.

"I think we probably had, maybe, the fastest car. I'm not sure. It's so hard to pass that leader."

The rest of the field found that out after Biffle grabbed the top spot. No one could get inside or outside of the No. 16 Ford, but that all changed when the leaders barreled on to pit road in the second segment.

Biffle, Johnson and some others locked up their brakes trying to slow the cars to the 55 mph pit road speed limit, but Biffle was still the first to get to his pit stall.

Unfortunately for Biffle, he wasn't the first to leave.

While Ryan Newman changed only right-side tires and took a big lead, Biffle's crew had some trouble changing the left-rear tire.

Segment 2The action heats up in Segment 2 of the Budweiser Shootout Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"We had a left-rear tire hang up," Biffle said. "They said they had a lug hang. (Johnson) beat us out of the pits by a pretty good margin. We were able to catch up, but didn't have enough to beat him."

Once the draft gobbled up Newman, Johnson led Biffle and Gordon. And Biffle knew he was in a tough spot.

"Of course, I've got the 24 trying to help me pass his teammate," Biffle said. "That wasn't going to work out very good for me."

Gordon wanted to give Biffle a shove but only to get a chance at getting behind Johnson.

With four laps to go, Biffle left a little too much room on the inside as the pack headed into Turn 1.

"I didn't think I left the 24 enough room on the bottom there for him to pass me without going below the yellow," Biffle said. "But I must've left him just enough. He snuck in there on me."

Gordon, though, later wondered if that was the right move.

"I got a couple runs on Biffle," Gordon said. "I really wanted to get in behind Jimmie. Got a run on Biffle and got beside him. I was shocked. He was so strong, so strong.

"He kept coming back. I was probably better off staying in third."

Biffle (left) led a race-high 44 laps. Credit: Autostock

The last three laps were pretty wild, as Biffle, Gordon, Newman and Kurt Busch pushed and shoved to get a chance at Johnson.

"It was getting pretty hairy out there," Biffle said. "I saw the 24 make a run at the top. I thought, 'What the heck? This isn't anything big.' If you're not going to win, you might as well try to get the best spot, so I went with him on the top there. We gained one spot. I had a good time."

Losing the Shootout wasn't all bad. Biffle's eyes are on the big prize next Sunday.

"The car handled really, really good," Biffle said. "It was turning on the bottom like I needed it to. It did everything it to do. Just a little bit off on speed, a tiny bit. My 500 car is a little better.

"The one positive thing about tonight is my 500 car is better than this Bud Shootout car. That's pretty exciting for the whole National Guard team. We're looking forward to the 500."