Zilisch Leads NASCAR Xfinity Practice at IMS; Cup Series Exercise Rained Out

Connor Zilisch led the rain-interrupted observe Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race earlier than heavy rain washed out the NASCAR Cup Series observe for the Brickyard 400 offered by PPG.

Lightning across the 2.5-mile oval compelled the suspension of observe inside minutes of the top of the rain-interrupted Xfinity Series session, and heavy rain 40 minutes later prevented any observe exercise for the NASCAR Cup Series.

The up to date Saturday schedule (all instances Eastern):

1-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying

2-2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Practice

2:35 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying

4:30 p.m.: Pennzoil 250 Race (NASCAR Xfinity Series)

Zilisch powered to the highest spot on his closing lap within the Xfinity Series observe, reaching 166.627 mph within the No. 88 ClimateTech Chevrolet fielded by JR Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“I’ve been here on the road course a couple of times, but running the oval is a unique experience,” mentioned Zilisch, who turned 19 on Tuesday. “It’s actually cool. I grew up watching the Indy 500, and it’s such an iconic racetrack.

“It’s really cool to make my first laps on the oval, and running across the bricks is always a special feeling. Even cooler to have a fast car, so I’m excited for the race tomorrow.”

That lap was almost 1.5 mph sooner than the No. 2 driver on the velocity chart, Carson Kvapil, whose greatest lap was 165.132 within the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet additionally owned by JR Motorsports. Kvapil’s automotive contains a throwback livery matching that of 2010 Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurray.

Sam Mayer was third at 164.938 within the No. 41 Audibel Ford, adopted by 2018 Pennzoil 250 winner Justin Allgaier at 164.513 within the No. 7 Hellmann’s Spicy Mayo Chevrolet.

Reigning Brickyard 400 winner Kyle Larson, doing double obligation this weekend in each NASCAR collection competing at IMS, rounded out the highest 5 at 164.120 within the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet.

There had been two incidents that triggered stoppages in the course of the 55-minute observe.

Ten minutes into observe, Daniel Dye did a half-spin exiting Turn 2 within the No. 10 Champion Container Chevrolet and nosed into the SAFER Barrier inside Turn 2. He was capable of drive again to pit lane.

Twelve minutes later, Taylor Gray brushed the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 and did half-spins left and proper on the again straightaway earlier than regaining management of his No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota. He was capable of drive his automotive again to Gasoline Alley.

Visit IMS.com to purchase Brickyard Weekend tickets or for extra data.