P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Joey Logano leads Denny Hamlin in NASCAR Cup practice at Phoenix
Logano, driving his No. 22 Team Penske Ford, set the fastest average lap speed of 131.166 mph, with Hamlin close behind in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at 131.080 mph. Fords have taken the first three pole positions of the season, with Logano grabbing two of them – at the Daytona 500 and last week in Las Vegas. Despite finishing third fastest at 131.066 mph, Toyota driver Tyler Reddick spun out with three minutes remaining, causing damage to his tires. John Hunter Nemechek placed fourth, followed by Austin Cindric in fifth, in the top five rankings. The practice session on Friday marked teams’ first track time with the new aero rules for this year’s races on road courses and ovals measuring 1.058 miles or less. Cup cars are now equipped with simplified diffusers, 2023 short track/road course splitter stuffers, removed engine panel strakes, a 3-inch spoiler, and simplified diffuser strakes. Erik Jones, Chase Elliott (the top Chevrolet driver), Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, and Carson Hocevar completed the top-10 speeds. Approximately 21 minutes into the session, Daniel Hemric spun in Turns 3 and 4, touching the wall in his No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet but returning to the track after repairs. Around the 33-minute mark, NASCAR had to pause the session due to debris on the track.
