He collected poles in Sprint Cup and Xfinity series.
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Points leader Kevin Harvick was second at 184.268 miles per hour on the 2.5-mile oval, followed by Kyle Larson in third at 183.767.
“I just wish I could do a lap … one more time and not clip the apron in (Turn) 4; I think we could have been on the pole”, Stewart said after climbing from his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet.
Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday.
“It means a lot”, Busch said. He has a win, and two top-fives in the last two.
Kyle Busch (18) heads into the first turn during the NASCAR Xfinity auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, July 23, 2016.
HOT STREAK: After sweeping both Indy races previous year, Busch could do it again.
“I’m probably more prepared for a Brickyard than I have been any other year”, Stewart said. The lap that secured the top spot (184.634 mph) edged Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards (184.547 mph) with another teammate, Denny Hamlin, fourth at 184.079 miles per hour.
It’s all added up to give Busch a large helping of confidence at Indy flat track.
“What we learned today for qualifying, we are going to have to take some of that and try to make a vehicle a little better for tomorrow”. I feel like we had a really good tire test here.
“I didn’t anticipate this”, said Gordon through a smile. “That was a good lap for him – I mean, that was a good lap that he ran because I felt like my lap was pretty good – but, yeah, it’s frustrating right now to be second because it’s so close and the pole position is obviously huge here”. “Definitely been figuring a couple things out, I guess I’d say, and making the most of the opportunities presented to me”.
– Last season was supposed to be the final season for Gordon, who announced his retirement before the start of the season, but when former teammate Earnhardt Jr. developed concussion-like symptoms, Gordon stepped in to fill his place for at least the next two races. Four-time race victor Jimmie Johnson did it in 2008 and 2009 though the first win in that sequence came during the tire fiasco that forced caution flags to come out every 10 or 11 laps.
“We just have been plugging away”, he said. Everybody thinks Sonoma (where he won four races ago) was the game changer and it wasn’t. “It’s going to be an emotional weekend with Dale not being there and seeing Jeff back behind the wheel”.
The race billed as “Farewell Smoke” has been somewhat overshadowed by Jeff Gordon’s comeback bid in the No. 88 auto. He will start 21st. That was good enough to advance, but he was eliminated after going just 181.851 in Round 2. “So that’s a little bit different, I suppose”. “We bailed out on the first attempt and the second was bad”. It wasn’t like that in the first round. I think they brought the same vehicle back. “So, today I feel more relaxed and comfortable in the vehicle”. I would have liked to have been started further forward, but you know we have some work to do. “I saw Harvick pull out (but he didn’t challenge)”.
Busch won with a speed of 184.634 miles per hour.
(19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 184.547 miles per hour.
After an east coast swing, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series is heading to the central part of the country for the Brickyard 400.
(11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 184.079 miles per hour. Brad Keselowski ($9,800) has never won at the track in six career starts, but he has been a contender.
(31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 183.202 miles per hour.
(78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 182.500 miles per hour.
Jamie McMurray ($7,400) is another low-cost driver with a win under his belt at the Brickyard 400.
Kyle Larson ($8,600) isn’t as great a value anymore, as his DFS salary continues to creep up due to good results on track.
(3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 182.286 miles per hour.
(22) Joey Logano, Ford, 183.273 miles per hour. So the Rainbow Warrior is back, although he’ll be driving the No. 88 and not his familiar No. 24, as that’s Chase Elliott’s ($9,200) ride now.
(20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 182.223 miles per hour.
Rounding out the bargain bin, Roush Fenway Racing’s Greg Biffle ($7,300) is on a hot streak with three straight Top 10s, including a fifth-place showing in Loudon last week.
(88) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 181.851 miles per hour.
(47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 183.169 miles per hour. Don’t forget Kasey Kahne ($7,700), who is a bargain at this price tag.
(7) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 178.356 miles per hour.
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1 drivers failed to qualify.
