Practice and qualifying proved to be a bit of trouble for some in the road-course “ringers” group at Circuit of The Americas this week.
Former NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year and sports car ace Andy Lally did not get to make a qualifying lap and will have to serve a penalty at the beginning of Sunday’s race because of an inspection violation for his No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Ford. He will start last in the 39-car field.
COTA: Inspection failures | Starting lineup for Sunday
Joey Hand, another standout IMSA road-course racer, had a tire problem in practice and the crew was unable to repair the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford in time for him to make a qualifying lap, so he will also start from the rear of the field in 38th place.
One of the sport’s most popular drivers, Boris Said, is returning to competition — making his first Cup Series start since a 30th-place finish in 2017 at his hometown track, Watkins Glen International. Said’s best-career Cup showing was third at Watkins Glen in 2005. He won a NASCAR Xfinity race in 2010 at Montreal.
Said, who has now been racing for four decades, will start the No. 66 Motorsports Business Management Ford 37th of the 39 cars.