Austin Cindric led the opening NASCAR Cup Series practice for the Daytona 500 on Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway, turning a fast lap of 48.025 seconds at 187.402 mph.

Driving the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, the 2022 winner of ”The Great American Race” set the tone early in the session and remained atop the speed chart through the conclusion of practice.

Corey LaJoie, who is running as an open car for RFK Racing, was third on the speed charts at 48.253 (186.517 mph). A strong indication that he might qualify his way into the Daytona 500 tonight on speed.

Among drivers who completed at least 10 consecutive laps, Erik Jones posted the best 10-lap average at 183.536 mph (laps 3-12). John Hunter Nemechek was next at 182.939 mph (laps 5-14), and Jimmie Johnson ranked third at 181.856 mph (laps 1-10). A clean sweep of the Legacy Motor Club cars—something to watch tonight in qualifying.

Todd Gilliland and Michael McDowell did not run laps in the session.

Practice Results (1-43) — Fastest Lap Time

  1. Austin Cindric — 48.025
  2. Ross Chastain — 48.146
  3. Corey LaJoie — 48.253
  4. Bubba Wallace — 48.262
  5. Daniel Suarez — 48.494
  6. Alex Bowman — 48.522
  7. Erik Jones — 48.585
  8. Corey Heim — 48.599
  9. Kyle Larson — 48.679
  10. Jimmie Johnson — 48.688
  11. John Hunter Nemechek — 48.737
  12. Kyle Busch — 48.775
  13. Chase Briscoe — 48.815
  14. Austin Dillon — 48.870
  15. Riley Herbst — 48.877
  16. Ty Dillon — 48.890
  17. Connor Zilisch — 48.937
  18. Chris Buescher — 48.954
  19. Justin Allgaier — 48.990
  20. Chase Elliott — 48.994
  21. Josh Berry — 48.996
  22. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — 48.998
  23. Denny Hamlin — 49.005
  24. Ryan Preece — 49.007
  25. Cole Custer — 49.035
  26. Anthony Alfredo — 49.041
  27. Tyler Reddick — 49.043
  28. Brad Keselowski — 49.066
  29. Carson Hocevar — 49.080
  30. Christopher Bell — 49.084
  31. Ryan Blaney — 49.095
  32. Joey Logano — 49.102
  33. Cody Ware — 49.113
  34. William Byron — 49.189
  35. Chandler Smith — 49.202
  36. Ty Gibbs — 49.237
  37. AJ Allmendinger — 49.244
  38. Shane van Gisbergen — 49.321
  39. Noah Gragson — 49.395
  40. Zane Smith — 49.499
  41. BJ McLeod — 49.658
  42. Casey Mears — 49.810
  43. JJ Yeley — 50.126