Associated Press I File 2008

Jeff Gordon is not ruling out a reunion with former crew chief Ray Evernham in some form.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- For at least one day, the Wood Brothers team again was the best in NASCAR.

Bill Elliott piloted the team's Ford to a lap of 187.950 mph in practice Saturday, making him among the favorites to win the Daytona 500 pole in qualifying today.

Yet, there was little celebrating with the Woods, who plan to run only 12 of the 36 points races this season because of limited sponsorship.

A year ago they were 11th in the final practice before qualifying but failed to make the 500 for the first time since 1962. A burned gear slowed Elliott's qualifying time and then he failed to make the 500 through his qualifying race.

Thus, the lack of excitement Saturday among Elliott and the team.

"I ain't going to say anything until we get done [today],'' Elliott said. "We've got to go out, and we've got to not make any mistakes.''

Co-car owner Eddie Wood called Saturday "just another day.

"It looks good, it feels good, but until you go back and do it when it counts, it's just not real,'' he said.

Still, in this era of mega-teams, the Wood Brothers were the only single-car team among the top 14 in speed. Martin Truex Jr. of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing was second at 187.504 mph. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Hendrick Motorsports) was next at 187.348 mph. He was followed by Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing) at 187.332 mph, and Ryan Newman (Stewart-Haas Racing) at 187.285 mph.

Gordon-Evernham Reunion?

Jeff Gordon opened the door this week to the idea of a reunion with Ray Evernham but it wouldn't be as a crew chief if it ever happened.

"We've always stayed great friends, and I admire him and he's a sharp guy and he's done a lot, obviously, in this sport,'' Gordon said. "We're always looking to find ways to make ourselves better.

"If (an Evernham reunion) was ever the case, it wouldn't be in a crew chief role. If it's an engineer, if it's a team manager, whatever options are out there for anybody we always take them serious. With my experience with Ray being so positive in the past, I certainly wouldn't throw it out. It's not something that is happening, but it's not something that I would ever say never would.''

Asked about a possibility of Evernham returning to Hendrick Motorsports in some fashion, car owner Rick Hendrick didn't say no. Instead, he said that he remains close to Evernham.

"We consult with each other all the time,'' Hendrick said. "That hasn't changed since he left. He calls me, and I talk to him. We share information. We talked about the fact that the manufacturers were not going to be around as strong as they are three or four years ago. We think a lot alike, and I respect his knowledge a ton. We talk almost every week. We've been consultants to each other.''

New rule

NASCAR has implemented an engine rule in the Nationwide series that mirrors a recent rule change for the Camping World Truck series.

After March 25, teams will not be allowed to use three different engines in three consecutive races (excluding Daytona and Talladega races).

After an engine is first used, teams must declare what future event it will be used in so NASCAR can seal it -- preventing the teams the cost of rebuilding the engine.

Pit stops

Aaron's will sponsor David Reutimann for the entire season. Aaron's previously announced it would sponsor Reutimann for half of this season. ... Subway will sponsor Carl Edwards in three Cup races this season.