INDIANAPOLIS – Kyle Larson was the fastest driver in Saturday’s first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Larson, still in search of his first victory this year, circled the 2.5-mile speedway at 185.025 mph in his Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
Saturday’s morning practice is part of a revamped schedule where qualifications for the Big Machine Vodka 400 will be Sunday at 10:35 a.m. Eastern Time, followed by the race at 2 p.m. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams have two rounds of practice on Saturday.
The two rounds of practice for the Big Machine Vodka 400 are important because Sunday’s race will be the final race of the regular season. The race will lock in the field of 16 drivers that will begin the NASCAR playoffs next Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing swept the top-two positions as Kurt Busch was second fastest at 184.763 mph. Last year’s Brickyard winner, Brad Keselowski, was third in his Team Penske Ford at 184.600 mph. Chase Elliott’s speed of 184.305 mph and Bubba Wallace’s speed of 183.685 mph rounded out the top-five.
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is one of the drivers not locked into the playoff field. He is 18 points out of the Playoffs and essentially needs to win Sunday’s race in order to qualify. He was ninth fastest Saturday morning at 182.700 mph in the No. 48 Chevrolet.
Daniel Suarez, another driver on the borderline of making the playoffs, was 22nd at 180.527 mph. Ryan Newman, who is fighting Suarez for that final position, was 27th at 179.129 mph in a Ford.
Another practice session is set at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday.