NASCAR Cup drivers got a chaotic first taste of San Diego street course
The NASCAR Cup drivers got a 50-minute practice on Friday, and they had very little time to learn the newly constructed 3.4-mile street course. The reigning two-time NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson ran the fastest lap with a 2:16.588s, leading Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs, Connor Zilisch, and Carson Hocevar. Corey Heim, Michael McDowell, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Hill, and Alex Bowman filled out the remainder of the top ten.
The session wasn't as chaotic as the NASCAR Truck or O'Reilly sessions that preceded it, but there were still plenty of moments. Austin Cindric spun, Brad Keselowski nosed it into the tire barrier, and Jimmie Johnson went for an impressive 360-degree spin, standing in the throttle and somehow managing to keep it out of the wall. Ex-F1 driver Kevin Magnussen is making his Cup debut this weekend with Trackhouse's Project 91 entry, and while he had decent pace, he did find the wall. The Dane smacked the wall with the right-side of his car at the exit of the final corner, and then hit the wall again with the left-side at the exit of Turn 1.
Christopher Bell is racing with a fractured left wrist, and actually stepped out of his car halfway through the session so relief driver Brent Crews could run some laps in the JGR No. 20 Toyota. Hill, who was one of just two Cup drivers allowed to take part in the lower division races and already had track time, was the first driver to break into the 2:17s. Teams had three sets of tires available, and times continued to rapidly fall whenever a new set went on. Van Gisbergen was the fastest of all drivers before the third set of stickers went on, but SVG never actually put that set on due to some miscommunication with the team over the radio.
Van Gisbergen also posted the fastest five-lap average at 2:18.19s, followed by Hill and McDowell, who were about a second off of SVG in the five-lap averages. No driver ran more than 15 laps on Friday, and while there were several minor incidents, there were no red flags.
San Diego NASCAR Cup practice results
- Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) - 5 laps - Chevrolet - 2:16.588s - 89.613 mph
- Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports) - 34 laps - Ford - 2:16.881s - 89.421 mph
- Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) - 54 laps - Toyota - 2:16.924s - 89.393 mph
- Connor Zilisch (TrackHouse Racing) - 88 laps - Chevrolet - 2:16.960s - 89.369 mph
- Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) - 77 laps - Chevrolet - 2:17.001s - 89.342 mph
In my opinion, the San Diego street course is a fascinating new addition to the NASCAR calendar. The fact that it's a street course means that the drivers have to adapt to a completely different driving environment, which makes for some exciting and unpredictable racing. The fact that the course is only 3.4 miles long also means that the drivers have to be even more precise in their driving, which makes for some close and exciting racing.
One thing that immediately stands out is the number of minor incidents that occurred during the practice session. This is to be expected when drivers are learning a new course, but it also highlights the challenge of adapting to a new driving environment. The fact that there were no red flags is a testament to the skill of the drivers and the safety measures in place.
What many people don't realize is that the San Diego street course is not just a one-off addition to the NASCAR calendar. It's part of a larger trend of street courses being added to the sport. This trend is likely to continue, as it provides a new and exciting challenge for drivers and fans alike.
If you take a step back and think about it, the addition of street courses to NASCAR is a reflection of the sport's evolution. NASCAR has always been about pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and the addition of street courses is just one way in which the sport is continuing to evolve and innovate.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the fact that Kyle Larson was the fastest driver during the practice session. This is a testament to his skill and adaptability, as he was able to quickly learn the new course and post a fast lap time. It will be interesting to see how he performs during the actual race, and whether he can maintain his lead.
What this really suggests is that the San Diego street course is a true test of a driver's skill and adaptability. The fact that Larson was able to quickly learn the course and post a fast lap time is a good sign for the future of the race. It will be interesting to see how the other drivers perform, and whether they can keep up with Larson's pace.
In my opinion, the San Diego street course is a welcome addition to the NASCAR calendar. It provides a new and exciting challenge for drivers and fans alike, and it's a testament to the sport's evolution and innovation. I'm looking forward to seeing how the race unfolds, and whether the San Diego street course will become a regular part of the NASCAR schedule.
