Michigan International Speedway August 11, 2017, 8:30 am
Two practice sessions for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers today at Michigan International Speedway. Cars in the first session of the day woke campers early hitting the track at 8:30 this morning. The turn 3-4 camping area is packed. Check back with the Lasco Press for our MIS Infield Party Photo Album. Our semi-annual tour of the fun is always a popular feature of the weekend.
Saturday Practice Session 1
Speeds in practice sessions after qualifying generally go down as the cars are set to race trim. Instead of the one or two lap set ups used in qualifying. However, this morning’s cloudy skies and cool temperatures combined to provide teams with ideal performance conditions. Kyle Larson(42) posted the fastest speed at 202.532. Pole sitter Brad Keselowski(2) clocked the second fastest speed at 202.332. A total of 18 cars eclipsed the 200 mph mark. Outside pole sitter Joey Logano(22) ran the 18th fastest time at 200.278.
Ford Teams
Ryan Blaney(21) in 4th, Kurt Busch(41) in 9th, and Clint Bowyer(14) ran 12th fastest to lead the Fords. Kevin Harvick(4) the third fastest qualifier for Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 ran 200.339. Placing one spot ahead of Logano in 17th.
The most telling statistic from the morning session of practice was the “best 10 consecutive lap average.” One of the fastest cars all summer has been the number 18 of Kyle Busch. From lap 12 to lap 21 of Busch’s practice run he averaged 199.966 mph. Almost a full mile per hour faster than Denny Hamlin at 199.006.
Saturday Practice Session 2
The sun burned off enough clouds to allow the track to warm up and the practice speeds cooled down. In the final practice for Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway, only two cars exceeded 200 mph. Keselowski, the pole sitter, ran a lap of 200.865 mph. Martin Truex Jr.(78), last weeks winner at Watkins Glen, posted a speed of 200.172. Joey Logano, Keselowski’s teammate, who will start beside the pole sitter on the front row, was third at 199.734.
Ryan Blaney(21) was 4th, Kyle Busch 5th, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.(88) 6th.
All indications are Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event will be hotly contested. A total of 27 cars posted lap times within .817 seconds of each other.
Starting Lineup
More to Come, the LTi Printing 200 at 1:00 pm. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is racing at Michigan. It should be a wild affair.
