Kyle Busch did what Kyle Busch does best on Friday, sweeping the two NASCAR XFINITY Series practices at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Busch’s 50.976-second circuit led the way in a top three sweep for Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing in final practice for Saturday’s Lilly Diabetes 250. Erik Jones (51.100) followed, with Daniel Suarez (51.171 completing the team sweep.
Ty Dillon and Justin Allgaier rounded out the top five, with Kyle Larson, Dakoda Armstrong, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler and Paul Menard completing the top 10.
There were no stoppages in the session, which was contested by 38 teams. Times fluctuated by upwards of five seconds between Busch and 38th-place Todd Peck.
The XFINITY Series will return to the 2.5-mile Indianapolis oval on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. for Coors Light Pole Qualifying.
Practice One
Continuing the trend for the 2016 season, opening NASCAR XFINITY Series practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway went to Toyota, though the Chevrolets weren’t far behind.
Kyle Busch paced the opening practice session at the 2.5-mile oval for Saturday’s Lilly Diabetes 250 with a time of 49.743 seconds, good for a speed of 181.039 mph.
Following Busch in the session were Elliott Sadler (50.287) and Daniel Suarez (50.507) in second and third, with Kevin Harvick (50.540) and Justin Allgaier (50.651) completing the top 5. Erik Jones, Paul Menard, Ty Dillon, Brennan Poole, Kyle Larson rounded out the top 10.
The session served as the first track time for any series at the Indianapolis oval. The track is expected to be difficult for each of the two NASCAR races, with unusually warm late July temperatures causing a slick racing surface and a hot cockpit for drivers.
The XFINITY Series will return for final practice at 3 p.m. ET.
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.