Jimmie Johnson Paces Friday Sprint Cup Practice at Daytona

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson posted the fastest time in Friday's early Sprint Cup practice session at Daytona International Speedway with two days to go before the season-opening Daytona 500.

Johnson and his team put their backup car through its paces running 24 laps in the no. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, turning in a fast lap of 194.083 mph. Johnson's primary car was junked in a last-lap crash in Thursday's night's second Can-Am Duel qualifying race.

Only 13 drivers took to the track in the opening session. Denny Hamlin was second with a lap of 193.861 mph. Daytona 500 pole sitter Chase Elliott (193.216), Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (192.653 mph) and Kasey Kahne (192.505) rounded out the top five.