SVG tops Cup Series practice on COTA's short course

Shane van Gisbergen was fastest in NASCAR Cup Series practice Saturday at Circuit of The Americas, topping the board at 87.408mph (98.846s). William Byron was second fastest at 86.891mph and Carson Hocevar rounded out the top three at 86.853mph.

Ryan Blaney ran fourth at 86.801mph and Alex Bowman, fifth at 86.741mph.

It was an extended practice for teams -- two 20 minute sessions. Speedway Motorsports chose to go with the shorter course for the weekend’s event, with a different set of corners as drivers leave the esses. Goodyear also brought a different tire compound for this weekend.

Chase Elliott was sixth fastest at 86.701mph, Kyle Larson was seventh at 86.640mph, Kyle Busch eighth at 86.626mph, Daniel Suarez ninth at 86.621mph and Ross Chastain 10th at 86.573mph.

Outside the top 10 were AJ Allmendinger (11th), Chase Briscoe (12th), Michael McDowell (13th), Chris Buescher (14th), and Justin Haley (15th). Tyler Reddick was 16th.

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Connor Zilisch was 17th fastest in practice at 86.397mph. Zilisch is making his Cup Series debut this weekend.

Austin Cindric was 18th and Christopher Bell was 21st. Joey Logano was 22nd.

Further back, Denny Hamlin was only 32nd, with Brad Keselowski 33rd.

Larson was the fastest in the best 10 consecutive lap average. He topped Elliott, Bowman, Blaney, and Suarez.

There were no significant incidents.

A total of 37 teams are entered at COTA and all will make the field. The one Open team is the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet with Zilisch, which is a fourth entry for Trackhouse Racing.

NEXT: Cup Series qualifying at COTA at 12:30 p.m. ET.