Kevin Harvick leads Chase drivers in practice at Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Kevin Harvick wasn’t on top of the speed chart in opening practice Friday, but he was at the top of the list that mattered most at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Harvick was second overall but first among the four Chase for the Sprint Cup finalists in the 90-minute practice session at the 1.5-mile track. Harvick turned a lap of 178.95 mph, slightly slower than Brad Keselowski’s lap of 179.004 mph.

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Among the other three championship contenders, Ryan Newman was ninth, Denny Hamlin 11th and Joey Logano 22nd.

Harvick, Newman, Hamlin and Logano all enter the season finale Sunday with equal points, and whoever finishes the best among the four will be crowned the 2014 Sprint Cup champion.

Following Keselowski and Harvick on the overall speed chart were Danica Patrick, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Newman and Kyle Busch.

Qualifying for the Ford 400 is set for 6:15 p.m. ET today with two more practices scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

No major incidents occurred during the opening practice session.

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