Kahne fastest in day two of 2013 test at Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. – Kasey Kahne, a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway, clocked the fastest times during Wednesday’s final day of 2013 testing at the 1.5-mile speedway. Kahne was one of several drivers including teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to participate in the two-day test designed to give drivers a chance to vet out their 2013 rides.

The driver of the 2013 No. 5 Chevrolet SS race car topped the charts both days, officially clocking the fastest speeds during the second day. Kahne traveled Charlotte in 27.868 seconds (193.771 mph) in the morning session and then recorded a 27.963 second lap at roughly 193.112 mph in the afternoon.

“It felt fast and I knew where my throttle was, so I knew it was as fast as I have ever been around this track” Kahne said. “I just think this car goes around the corner quicker.”

Steve Letarte, crew chief of the No. 88 Chevrolet, called the Chevrolet SS race car the perfect example of technology helping out the sport of NASCAR.

“I think we now have three makes out here that my little boy at 9-years old can tell the difference between,” Letarte said. “I think that is the goal – that anybody can walk through the parking lot and see a Chevy, a Ford and a Toyota and know that they are different. That’s really what it comes down to – if you’re into racing you want to watch cool cars go around the track. I think the simple fact is in 2013 we have cooler cars.”

The two-day session at Charlotte was cut short due to rain. Teams will have two more open tests before the beginning of the 2013 season starting with Preseason Thunder at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Jan. 10-12.

The sixth-generation car will return to Charlotte Motor Speedway Jan. 17-18, when the teams will have their final opportunity to test the car before Speedweeks in Daytona.