INDIANAPOLIS – When Austin Cindric was just a toddler his parents used to take him to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he spent his time in the Racing 4 Kids Day Care under the grandstands at the speedway.
Meanwhile, his father went to work in Gasoline Alley helping to prepare the fastest race cars on the property for Team Penske.
Of course, Austin’s father is Tim Cindric, the president of Team Penske.
When young Cindric was 2 years old, Helio Castroneves won the first of his four Indianapolis 500s. A famous family photo has young Cindric nearly knocking down the Borg-Warner Trophy at the Yard of Bricks the morning after Castroneves won his first Indianapolis 500 in 2001.
Cindric eventually went into the family business and became a race driver himself. In fact, he is the defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion.
On Friday, Cindric took a step closer to become a winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was fastest in Friday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series practice session for Saturday’s Pennzoil 150.
Cindric ran a lap at 95.153 mph around the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 22 PPG Ford for Team Penske.
RESULTS: NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 Practice
“As much as I would like to tell you practice matters, it really doesn’t,” Cindric said. “I want to get the boss a win at this race track. We have a lot of good data points on the tire we are using. It has thrown us a bit of a loop but probably won’t know more about it until tomorrow.”
Sam Mayer was second in the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet at 94.965 mph.
“I have to go out there, qualify well, lead some laps, hopefully the last one,” Mayer said. “It’s about making some moves at the right time. Here, you have to be smart, and it has been a learning curve for me and hopefully I’m starting to pick it up.”
Justin Haley of nearby Winamac, Ind., was third in the LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet at 94.819 mph. Kevin Harvick, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 winner, was fourth at 94.729 mph in the No. 99 Unibet Sports Book Ford.
A.J. Allmendinger rounded out the top-five in the No. 16 Hyperice Chevrolet at 94.710 mph.
Qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 takes place Saturday at 10:05 a.m. Eastern Time. The Pennzoil 150 takes the green flag at 4 p.m. ET.