Jeff Gordon and Steve Letarte weren't very busy during Friday's final practice at Daytona. Credit: Autostock

While foes practice, Gordon watches

Defending Daytona 500 winner bypasses final warm-up

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeff Gordon stood on top of his hauler as most of the field for Sunday's Daytona 500 went through Saturday's final practice.

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"It's hairy up there,'' said the four-time Nextel Cup champion. "You're watching guys go three-wide and I was wishing [teammate] Jimmie Johnson would come in.''

Gordon will start second in the 500 after posting the second-fastest speed in qualifying and winning the second of Thursday's two qualifying races. He treated Friday's practice as his final tune-up so he could be an observer on Saturday.

Gordon said Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Johnson, Elliott Sadler and Kyle Busch, along with himself, were the cars to watch.

Martin Truex and his DEI teammate Earnhardt had the second- and third-fastest cars behind Kenny Schrader during Happy Hour. Truex said his car is good enough to win the 500, something Earnhardt said earlier in the week.

"Our cars are both really good,'' Truex said. "If we had the same car, he's definitely the guy to beat. He's got the experience here. I jumped in behind him there and pushed him all the way to the front.

"Hopefully, we can do the same tomorrow. If I finish second to him, I'm OK with that.''

Not everybody was happy after Happy Hour. Petty Enterprises had to replace the engine in Bobby Labonte's car because of a piston problem. Labonte, who had qualified eighth, will start from the rear of the 43-car field.

"At least when the race starts he knows where they're all at, 'cause they're in front of him,'' said team owner Richard Petty. "Better to do it today than tomorrow.''