Mike Skinner's lap of 180.692 mph was Monday's fastest during Indianapolis testing. Credit: Autostock

Skinner breaks 180 mph in Brickyard test

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- Mike Skinner put his No. 23 Dodge atop the speed charts in private Nextel Cup Series testing Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a lap of 180.692 mph.

Bobby Hamilton Jr. was second-fastest. Credit: Autostock

Bobby Hamilton Jr. was second fastest in the No. 32 Chevrolet at 179.565, and Martin Truex Jr. was third in the No. 1 Chevrolet at 179.460.

This is the third consecutive week of testing at Indianapolis in preparation for the 12th annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Aug. 7.

Skinner had the two fastest cars of the session, as his No. 23B backup car was fastest, and he drove his primary No. 23 car to a slightly faster lap than Hamilton's speed, at 179.653.

Skinner, who has three top-10 starts in six appearances at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, said he was pleased with the performance of his Bill Davis Racing entry and of the asphalt surface that was applied to the 2.5-mile oval in fall 2004.

"I think the racetrack is awesome, as usual," he said. "This place is probably the best-maintained racetrack on the circuit. Our AutoManiac/History Channel car is running pretty good. We're in qualifying mode, about three-quarter qualifying mode, because we're a 'go' or 'no go' car. Right now I like our chances."

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Truex, who will attempt to make his first Allstate 400 at the Brickyard start, gave himself a good grade for his first day at the Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned 27 laps in the afternoon, with a best of 176.470 mph. Credit: Autostock

"We're just working on our car real hard to get it balanced and get me comfortable," 2004 NASCAR Busch Series champion Truex said. "We made a qualifying run there at the end. We got the car going pretty good. It's pretty comfortable; we just need to find some more speed out of it. We've got all day tomorrow to do that."

Truex's teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not practice in the morning but turned 27 laps in the afternoon, turning a fast lap of 176.470 in the No. 8 Chevrolet. Earnhardt said the team plans to complete a full day of testing on July 19, the final day of pre-Allstate 400 at the Brickyard private testing.

The drivers who tested today are scheduled to be joined by four-time race winner Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, a resident of Columbus, Ind., and winner of three of the last four Nextel Cup Series events.

Fans are welcome to watch testing July 19 from the South Terrace grandstands, located in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. Admission is free.