23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick paced the field on the opening day of practice as the NASCAR Cup Series returned to famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the first time since 2020.
Reddick set a fastest speed of 182.582MPH. Speaking following the action, Reddick said:
“I didn’t know what the sensation of speed was going to feel like (on the oval), but it just feels like the center corner speeds we carry in this car, you feel tense in the car. “There’s such a fine line to hit here. A foot up or down could be the difference between a really good lap or having to check up and not hit the fence.
“The room for error here is very, very fine, even in a stock car.
Reddick went on to say:
It’s interesting how the draft works. “There is some sort of tow out that you get out there, but also the dirty air that comes with it is a challenge. It was just a big learning session, I guess.”
Team Penske. Hamlin was third at 181.561 in the No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota of 23XI Racing.
Christopher Bell ended up fourth at 181.371 in the No. 20 Rheem Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing. Alex Bowman rounded out the top five at 180.930 in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet fielded by Hendrick Motorsports, which has won a record 10 Brickyard 400s.
2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson was sixth at 180.774 in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. This is Larson’s second time competing this year on the IMS oval, as he also was named Rookie of the Year in the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in May after qualifying fifth and finishing 18th in a Hendrick Motorsports-Arrow McLaren entry.
Cup Series drivers will qualify at 1:05 p.m. ET Saturday, followed by the 160-lap Brickyard 400 presented by PPG at 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday.