Danica Patrick fastest in Daytona 500 practice

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- If two practices are any indication, Danica Patrick is a solid candidate to win the pole for the Daytona 500.

Patrick turned the fastest lap Saturday in a pair of practice sessions focused solely on qualifying for the Daytona 500. She went 196.220 mph around Daytona International Speedway in the second practice session and said she's eyeing the top starting spot in "The Great American Race."

"Everything that we do is to make sure that we do whatever we can to be on the pole," Patrick said. "That is what we all are shooting for."

The front row for the Feb. 24 season-opening Daytona 500 will be set in Sunday's time trials. The rest of the field is set next Thursday after a pair of qualifying races.

Patrick said it would be an accomplishment for her Stewart-Haas Racing team to lock into the field on Sunday.

"I think it would be really nice for all of us to know we were in the race," she said. "It's nice to know as a team, but it's also nice to know for your (sponsors) like GoDaddy and all the other people that are involved in the car. That is who really pays for you to be out there on the track."

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