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The Daytona 500 won’t get the green flag until Feb. 26. Yet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams took to Daytona International Speedway on Thursday for testing.

Among the drivers on the track was Casey Mears, who pilots the No. 13 Geico Ford Fusion for Germain Racing, which is owned by local auto magnate Bob Germain Jr.

Billed as “Preseason Thunder,” teams rolled into the 2.5-mile superspeedway for the first time in 2012. In the morning test session, Mears ended up 29th fastest among the 31 cars with a top speed of 189.442 mph.

The fastest morning-session speed on the first of three days of testing belonged to Jeff Gordon at 192.773. He was followed by Paul Menard (192.369), Kurt Busch (192.361). Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (191.959) and Juan Pablo Montoya (191.853).

Danica Patrick made her Sprint Cup Series Daytona practice debut and was eighth fastest at 191.473. Defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart was 12th at 191.359.

The testing resulted in the introduction of electronic fuel injection engines to NASCAR, which previously used carburetors. The shift was made to bring the cars more up to speed with the EFI technology used on new street cars today.

The afternoon drafting session belonged to the Toyotas of Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, respectively, with Busch posting a top speed of 202.402 mph.

In the afternoon session, Mears was 31st among the 32 cars on the track at 188.794. Mears and Germain Racing only last week made the official announcement that the team would campaign Fords this season instead of Mears’ Toyota Camry of the past.

Race fans saw some of the “tandem” drafting that has become commonplace at tracks like Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR, however, announced Thursday that it has placed a ban on car-to-car radio communication this season.

Drag racing continues: The Immokalee Regional Raceway drag strip will have Test-N-Tune and Grudge Match Racing tonight beginning at 6. On Saturday, gates will open at 10 a.m. for the first points bracket racing of 2012. There actually will be two points events, with the second to begin immediately following the first.

Racers and track officials are gearing up for the fourth annual “Tomato Nationals” the weekend of Jan. 20-21. The action will be put on by Immokalee Regional Raceway and the Southern Hot Rod Association. To find out more, contact the track at 800-826-1947.

PGS to reopen Jan. 21: Punta Gorda Speedway, dark since the end of the points season in early December, will holds its first night of racing on Jan. 21. The card will feature the first 100-lapper in a 12-race series for the Super Late Models, as well as the Legends, Bandoleros, Pro Trucks, Rookie Trucks, Road Warriors and Pro 4s.

Track officials will honor the 2011 points champs at a banquet on Feb. 11. It will be held at Benedetto’s Steakhouse at the Best Western Hotel in Punta Gorda. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Dinner will begin at 7. The awards ceremony will begin immediately after dinner

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