Team Penske’s Joey Logano set the fastest lap during NASCAR Cup Series practice at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Friday afternoon.
The No. 22 Ford traveled the one-mile, tri-oval track in 27.446 seconds (131.167 mph).
It’s worth noting that Logano has been the fastest qualifier at two out of three races this season, flashing considerable speed in the new Mustang Dark Horse. However, a few on-track issues have left him deep in the standings (24th) heading into the Shriners Children’s 500 on Sunday.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin was second in practice with a 27.464-second lap (131.081 mph).
“We are not our normal three tenths off in practice that we are usually are. We made some big setup changes, from our car in the past over the last couple of years, just trying something different to try to get better at this track. It’s been the 11’s car by far weakest oval, so trying to get better at it. I think we’ve taken a step in the right direction,” Hamlin said.
He was one of six Toyotas in the top 10.
23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick was third (27.467 seconds, 131.066 mph) in the No. 45 Toyota and Legacy Motor Club’s John Hunter Nemechek was fourth (27.484 seconds, 130.985 mph) in his No. 42 Toyota.
Austin Cindric was fifth fastest in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford.
Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace and Carson Hocevar completed the top 10.