Hamlin leads opening Brickyard 400 practice

Denny Hamlin

Last week’s winner Denny Hamlin wheeled his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at 187.414 mph, shooting him to the top of the leaderboard in Saturday’s opening practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Fellow Toyota driver and series points leader Martin Truex Jr. was second-fastest in the field, his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota clocking in at 185.559 mph.

Hamlin’s JGR teammate Matt Kenseth came up third in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with a top speed of 185.200 mph. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kasey Kahne (185.151 mph) and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson (185.002 mph) rounded out the top five, respectively.

Kyle Busch, who has won at Indianapolis the past two years in a row, was sixth-fastest in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He, along with the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Austin Dillon, will serve 15-minute practice holds in final practice for multiple pre-race inspection failures last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The No. 23 BK Racing Toyota of Corey LaJoie and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson each served a 15-minute practice hold this practice for being late to pre-race inspection last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Final practice is set for 11 a.m. ET (on CNBC) with Coors Light Pole Qualifying on tap for 6:15 p.m. ET (on NBCSN).

Results Practice 1