Drama in Chicago: Byron’s crash forces Hendrick team to start from back

William Byron started the NASCAR Cup Series practice in Chicago impressively — setting a time of 1:31.008 seconds faster than Shane van Gisbergen. However, his fortune changed when returning to the track in the final moments of the session.

The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet lost control at Turn 10 — hitting the wall and suffering damage to the left-rear toe-link. Byron was forced to return to the pits with the damaged car.

“I’m an idiot,” Byron told TNT Sports. “I just took a lot through there and had a lot of speed, and my tires were still not optimal after leaving pit road.”

The incident impacted the entire Hendrick Motorsports team — Chase Elliott contacted the wall at Turn 4, Alex Bowman had to replace a bent toe-link, and Kyle Larson also experienced issues. As a result, all four Hendrick drivers must start from the back alongside Denny Hamlin who suffered engine failure.