Pole-sitter Jeff Gordon will go to a backup car after it was damaged when Danica Patrick’s car spun late in Saturday’s final practice session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Patrick spun and Gordon hit Patrick’s car. The damage forced Gordon’s team to go to a backup car. He’ll start at the rear of the field because of the move.
Gordon raced his backup car last season at Chicagoland, Charlotte and Texas. He finished second at Chicagoland and Charlotte during the Chase. He was racing for the lead late at Texas before contact with Brad Keselowski saddled Gordon with a 29th-place finish.
Also, David Ragan, driving for the injured Kyle Busch, hit the Turn 2 wall in the final minutes of the practice session.
The Joe Gibbs Racing team rolled out a backup car for Ragan.
Due to damage in final practice, @JeffGordonWeb will go to backup car for race. 24-907 raced at Chicago, Charlotte and Texas in '14.
— Jon Edwards (@JonEdwards24) March 7, 2015
Just when u think everything is starting to go your way 10 spins in front of u & ruins ur day & the @3MRacing @TeamChevy. Going to backup!
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) March 7, 2015
Had a handful on last run and slapped the wall. We will be ready to roll from the back tomorrow. Cars 2 pass and moves to make!
— David Ragan (@DavidRagan) March 7, 2015
Snapshot on RaceDay of @DanicaPatrick @JeffGordonWeb incident from Sat. JG starting from rear in backup. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/XC83mNO6Bg
— John Morris (@JMorrisTV) March 8, 2015