By alley - Sep 22, 2017, 12:44 PM ET

Elliott, Johnson bend metal in first New Hampshire practice

Hendrick Motorsports teammates and championship contenders Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott will be in backup cars for Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Johnson crashed on just his second lap of practice in Turn 3. The No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet suffered heavy right-side damage when Johnson could not hang onto his car as it drifted above the third groove. Before the accident, Johnson had put down the second fastest lap.

"I had a good first lap and entering Turn 3 for my second lap just got in there with a lot of speed anticipated it sticking – didn't quite stick and then once I got out of the PJ1 there was just really no slowing down or directing it off the wall at that point," Johnson said.

"Came around and it got the fence. Definitely not the way we wanted to start. Frustrating, but we will take it and go figure it out."

"I don't know, just got kind of loose into Turn 3 and got up the track and ran out of room," Elliott said. "I hate it. That is not what we needed we are behind this weekend now, so that is never good, but it's Friday, so we've got another day and a half to get things turned around and try to get it fixed."

The No. 24 team is already behind the eight-ball this weekend. Elliott is working with Kenny Francis after

crew chief Alan Gustafson was suspended for one race

when NASCAR ruled earlier this week the team had affected the aerodynamics of the car last weekend at Chicagoland.

"It's been fine. I've worked with Kenny before, so no surprises – he is a good guy and does a good job," Elliott said. "I hate to put everybody in this situation this weekend. That is never good, but we will go to work."

The good news is both Johnson and Elliott are above the playoff cutline entering New Hampshire, the second race in the Round of 16.