Wow, talk about crazy moments. The hottest driver in NASCAR over the last couple of months — Denny Hamlin — became the driver with the hottest car on Saturday, literally.
Hamlin’s No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry caught fire on the cool down lap of practice.
Absolute scenes from @IMS.@DennyHamlin‘s car catches fire at the end of final practice, and the rest of the @NASCAR drivers stop to make sure he’s OK and gets out. pic.twitter.com/ToHCBU6RoJ
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 7, 2019
After climbing from the car, Hamlin explained to NBCSN that the issue was a blown right front tire, which caused him to slam hard into the outside wall on the exit of turn four. Hamlin will need to go to a backup car and will start at the rear of Sunday’s Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard.
FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass posted video of his chat with Hamlin following the incident:
Denny Hamlin about the wreck, his backup and why he might want a certain qualifying result tomorrow despite starting in the back and pits being chosen (hint: qualifying order next week): pic.twitter.com/el5g4C1mnV
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 7, 2019
The No. 11 team was 15th-fastest in final practice with the primary car. They now face a Sunday morning qualifying session in a car that Hamlin has not put on track this weekend.
