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Todd Gilliland sets the fastest lap in Mexico City NASCAR Cup practice

NASCAR held two practice sessions on Friday as Cup drivers and teams learned their way around Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

In the first session, drivers quickly found the limits with several locking up and utilizing the run-off area around the road course. Unfortunately for Noah Gragson, he found the outside wall, damaging his No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford. The team will be going to a backup car.

Cody Ware and Carson Hocevar also spun out, but both drivers avoided significant damage.

Michael McDowell led the way with a 1:34.024s lap in the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, followed by Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Austin Cindric, and Kyle Larson

Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (Photo by: Chris Graythen - Getty Images)

After a bit of an intermission, a shorter second session got underway. All drivers with the exception of Gragson took part. Gibbs, who ran the most laps in the first session (22), went for a wild spin after bottoming out over the curbs.

Other than that, there were no other notable incidents. Gilliand set the fastest lap of the day in a mock qualifying run with a 1:33.496s lap. Ross Chastain was second on the time sheets, Gibbs third, Ryan Blaney fourth, and Chris Buescher fifth. All of them ran faster than McDowell's fast time from the first session. 

In this session, a lot more drivers decided to run ten consecutive laps and leading that category in ten-lap averages was Christopher Bell, followed by Chastain and Buescher.

"Hopefully, I can just keep it within the walls of the race track and keep it on blacktop," Gilliland told NASCAR on Prime after going fastest of all drivers. "That's always my goal when coming to a road course. But yeah, we've had some good speed when it comes to road courses, so it feels really good to be in the ball game with our Ford Mustang. It's tough with a teammate [Gragson] going to a backup car -- our whole team is going to have to pull together. Overall, really happy with our execution of both practices. We made our car a lot better between practices. 

"Made a mock run and I'm not sure how many people made mock runs, to be fair. Still happy with it ... Hopefully, we'll make some more good changes overnight and it's exciting. Gives me a good feeling going into the next couple of days."

Daniel Suarez, who is the only Mexican-born driver in the Cup Series field, timed in 12th during the first practice and ninth in the second practice session. 

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images)

Photos from Mexico City - Practice

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ryan Truex, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ryan Truex, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Fans of Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Tires

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

2025 - Mexico City - Friday

NASCAR Cup
48

Practice #1 results

Cla Driver # Manufacturer Laps Time Interval Mph
1 M. McDowellSpire Motorsports 71 Chevrolet 19

1'34.024

  92.657
2 C. BriscoeJoe Gibbs Racing 19 Toyota 20

+0.112

1'34.136

0.112 92.547
3 T. GibbsJoe Gibbs Racing 54 Toyota 22

+0.117

1'34.141

0.005 92.542
4 A. CindricTeam Penske 2 Ford 17

+0.131

1'34.155

0.014 92.528
5 K. LarsonHendrick Motorsports 5 Chevrolet 17

+0.222

1'34.246

0.091 92.439
6 C. BuescherRFK Racing 17 Ford 18

+0.234

1'34.258

0.012 92.427
7 J. LoganoTeam Penske 22 Ford 19

+0.261

1'34.285

0.027 92.401
8 R. ChastainTrackHouse Racing 1 Chevrolet 20

+0.314

1'34.338

0.053 92.349
9 S. van GisbergenTrackHouse Racing 88 Chevrolet 16

+0.333

1'34.357

0.019 92.330
10 T. GillilandFront Row Motorsports 34 Ford 20

+0.388

1'34.412

0.055 92.276
11
J. BerryWood Brothers Racing
21 Ford 19

+0.452

1'34.476

0.064 92.214
12 D. SuarezTrackHouse Racing 99 Chevrolet 19

+0.455

1'34.479

0.003 92.211
13 C. BellJoe Gibbs Racing 20 Toyota 21

+0.476

1'34.500

0.021 92.190
14 R. PreeceRFK Racing 60 Ford 20

+0.509

1'34.533

0.033 92.158
15 K. BuschRichard Childress Racing 8 Chevrolet 16

+0.583

1'34.607

0.074 92.086
16 C. ElliottHendrick Motorsports 9 Chevrolet 20

+0.606

1'34.630

0.023 92.064
17 C. HocevarSpire Motorsports 77 Chevrolet 14

+0.636

1'34.660

0.030 92.035
18 T. Reddick23XI Racing 45 Toyota 24

+0.659

1'34.683

0.023 92.012
19 B. KeselowskiRFK Racing 6 Ford 16

+0.702

1'34.726

0.043 91.971
20 R. Herbst23XI Racing 35 Toyota 20

+0.702

1'34.726

0.000 91.971
21 N. GragsonFront Row Motorsports 4 Ford 3

+0.725

1'34.749

0.023 91.948
22 R. BlaneyTeam Penske 12 Ford 18

+0.725

1'34.749

0.000 91.948
23 W. ByronHendrick Motorsports 24 Chevrolet 13

+0.777

1'34.801

0.052 91.898
24 B. Wallace23XI Racing 23 Toyota 21

+0.790

1'34.814

0.013 91.885
25 C. CusterHaas Factory Team 41 Ford 15

+0.796

1'34.820

0.006 91.879
26 Z. SmithFront Row Motorsports 38 Ford 18

+0.818

1'34.842

0.022 91.858
27 E. JonesLegacy Motor Club 43 Toyota 14

+0.834

1'34.858

0.016 91.843
28 J. NemechekLegacy Motor Club 42 Toyota 18

+0.887

1'34.911

0.053 91.791
29 A. BowmanHendrick Motorsports 48 Chevrolet 14

+0.927

1'34.951

0.040 91.753
30 A. AllmendingerKaulig Racing 16 Chevrolet 13

+0.943

1'34.967

0.016 91.737
31 J. HaleySpire Motorsports 7 Chevrolet 19

+1.022

1'35.046

0.079 91.661
32 A. DillonRichard Childress Racing 3 Chevrolet 19

+1.232

1'35.256

0.210 91.459
33 T. DillonKaulig Racing 10 Chevrolet 17

+1.256

1'35.280

0.024 91.436
34 R. Stenhouse JrHyak Motorsports 47 Chevrolet 21

+1.426

1'35.450

0.170 91.273
35 C. WareRick Ware Racing 51 Ford 13

+1.763

1'35.787

0.337 90.952
36 R. TruexJoe Gibbs Racing 11 Toyota 19

+1.769

1'35.793

0.006 90.946
37 K. LeggeLive Fast Motorsports 78 Chevrolet 15

+3.891

1'37.915

2.122 88.975

Practice #2 results

Cla Driver # Manufacturer Laps Time Interval Mph
1 T. GillilandFront Row Motorsports 34 Ford 6

1'33.496

  93.180
2 R. ChastainTrackHouse Racing 1 Chevrolet 14

+0.140

1'33.636

0.140 93.041
3 T. GibbsJoe Gibbs Racing 54 Toyota 11

+0.318

1'33.814

0.178 92.865
4 R. BlaneyTeam Penske 12 Ford 12

+0.346

1'33.842

0.028 92.837
5 C. BuescherRFK Racing 17 Ford 15

+0.458

1'33.954

0.112 92.726
6 R. PreeceRFK Racing 60 Ford 11

+0.516

1'34.012

0.058 92.669
7 A. CindricTeam Penske 2 Ford 15

+0.534

1'34.030

0.018 92.651
8 J. LoganoTeam Penske 22 Ford 13

+0.544

1'34.040

0.010 92.641
9 D. SuarezTrackHouse Racing 99 Chevrolet 11

+0.553

1'34.049

0.009 92.633
10 S. van GisbergenTrackHouse Racing 88 Chevrolet 8

+0.585

1'34.081

0.032 92.601
11 C. BellJoe Gibbs Racing 20 Toyota 12

+0.698

1'34.194

0.113 92.490
12 C. ElliottHendrick Motorsports 9 Chevrolet 13

+0.741

1'34.237

0.043 92.448
13 B. KeselowskiRFK Racing 6 Ford 14

+0.814

1'34.310

0.073 92.376
14 C. BriscoeJoe Gibbs Racing 19 Toyota 10

+0.837

1'34.333

0.023 92.354
15
J. BerryWood Brothers Racing
21 Ford 13

+0.844

1'34.340

0.007 92.347
16 W. ByronHendrick Motorsports 24 Chevrolet 11

+0.846

1'34.342

0.002 92.345
17 R. Stenhouse JrHyak Motorsports 47 Chevrolet 9

+0.854

1'34.350

0.008 92.337
18 B. Wallace23XI Racing 23 Toyota 9

+0.872

1'34.368

0.018 92.319
19 K. LarsonHendrick Motorsports 5 Chevrolet 15

+0.877

1'34.373

0.005 92.315
20 A. DillonRichard Childress Racing 3 Chevrolet 13

+0.906

1'34.402

0.029 92.286
21 A. AllmendingerKaulig Racing 16 Chevrolet 9

+0.969

1'34.465

0.063 92.225
22 E. JonesLegacy Motor Club 43 Toyota 13

+0.974

1'34.470

0.005 92.220
23 Z. SmithFront Row Motorsports 38 Ford 11

+0.986

1'34.482

0.012 92.208
24 C. CusterHaas Factory Team 41 Ford 10

+1.031

1'34.527

0.045 92.164
25 M. McDowellSpire Motorsports 71 Chevrolet 6

+1.032

1'34.528

0.001 92.163
26 A. BowmanHendrick Motorsports 48 Chevrolet 12

+1.033

1'34.529

0.001 92.162
27 R. Herbst23XI Racing 35 Toyota 10

+1.035

1'34.531

0.002 92.160
28 K. BuschRichard Childress Racing 8 Chevrolet 10

+1.036

1'34.532

0.001 92.159
29 C. HocevarSpire Motorsports 77 Chevrolet 10

+1.070

1'34.566

0.034 92.126
30 T. DillonKaulig Racing 10 Chevrolet 14

+1.073

1'34.569

0.003 92.123
31 J. HaleySpire Motorsports 7 Chevrolet 9

+1.101

1'34.597

0.028 92.096
32 T. Reddick23XI Racing 45 Toyota 11

+1.297

1'34.793

0.196 91.906
33 J. NemechekLegacy Motor Club 42 Toyota 10

+1.352

1'34.848

0.055 91.852
34 C. WareRick Ware Racing 51 Ford 10

+1.772

1'35.268

0.420 91.447
35 R. TruexJoe Gibbs Racing 11 Toyota 13

+2.025

1'35.521

0.253 91.205
36 K. LeggeLive Fast Motorsports 78 Chevrolet 12

+2.707

1'36.203

0.682 90.559
In this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Todd Gilliland
Front Row Motorsports
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