Connor Zilisch demonstrated impressive speed during a rain-affected practice session for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, topping the NASCAR Xfinity Series leaderboard. The session, which forms part of the weekend’s build-up, was cut short due to lightning and heavy rain, causing the NASCAR Cup Series practice for the Brickyard 400 to be postponed to Saturday—an important development for drivers and teams this weekend. The lead story unfolded as Zilisch put forward a strong claim for Saturday’s race, with the focus keyword, Connor Zilisch leads Xfinity practice Indianapolis, reflecting the core highlight of the day’s events.
Rain Disruptions Alter IMS Racing Plans
The opening day of Brickyard Weekend saw unpredictable weather play a key role, as lightning in the area forced officials to end the Xfinity Series session minutes before its scheduled conclusion. Soon after, a downpour left the celebrated 2.5-mile oval unfit for the Cup Series practice session. Organizers quickly adapted, revising the schedule so the Cup teams will have their practice and qualifying on Saturday, following Xfinity Series qualifying.
Revised Saturday Schedule Provides New Timetable
Saturday’s refreshed itinerary at Indianapolis Motor Speedway kicks off with NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying from 1:00 to 1:55 p.m. Eastern time. NASCAR Cup Series drivers get their first taste of the oval with a 30-minute practice from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m., immediately before Cup qualifying begins at 2:35. The highlight event for many fans—the Pennzoil 250—will take place at 4:30 p.m., concluding a busy day of competition.
Zilisch Tops the Chart as Challengers Jockey for Position
Connor Zilisch made his mark by securing the fastest lap during Xfinity practice, clocking 166.627 mph in the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, a car fielded by JR Motorsports and co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Zilisch’s quick pace came during his final lap of the session, building optimism for Saturday’s race amidst tough conditions.
“I’ve been here on the road course a couple of times, but running the oval is a unique experience,”
—Connor Zilisch, driver.
“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.”
—Connor Zilisch, driver.
Close behind Zilisch was Carson Kvapil, driving the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet, also from JR Motorsports. Kvapil’s best time was 165.132 mph, around 1.5 mph slower than Zilisch, and his car’s livery paid tribute to Jamie McMurray’s 2010 Brickyard 400 win. Sam Mayer placed third with a 164.938 mph lap in his No. 41 Audibel Ford, followed by 2018 Pennzoil 250 winner Justin Allgaier, who drove the No. 7 Hellmann’s Spicy Mayo Chevrolet at 164.513 mph. Kyle Larson, reigning Brickyard 400 champion, completed the top five at 164.120 mph in the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet while balancing duties in both main NASCAR series this weekend.
Incidents Mark a Challenging Practice Session
Despite the fast laps posted at the top, the Xfinity practice was marred by two notable incidents. Daniel Dye spun and nudged his No. 10 Champion Container Chevrolet into the SAFER Barrier exiting turn two but managed to continue by driving back to pit lane. Shortly after, Taylor Gray’s No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota grazed the SAFER Barrier and spun twice, but he, too, regained control and brought his car safely back to Gasoline Alley. These incidents underscored the unpredictable conditions drivers faced as weather worsened throughout the period.
A Weekend of High Stakes and High Hopes
With weather already creating challenges, the revised schedule means drivers in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will need to adapt quickly on Saturday. For Connor Zilisch and the rest of the field, maintaining focus and finding speed on a potentially slick track could play a huge role in the outcome. The Brickyard Weekend remains one of the highlights of the racing season, where figures such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Justin Allgaier, Kyle Larson, Sam Mayer, Daniel Dye, and Taylor Gray add depth to a tradition-rich roster at IMS. As anticipation builds, fans and teams alike are primed for a memorable race day, regardless of the weather.
