Hamlin loses engine before turning a lap in Chicago

Denny Hamlin will not make a single lap Saturday at the Chicago street course after blowing an engine during his out lap in practice.

In the opening minutes of Cup Series practice, Hamlin had just left pit road in the first group of drivers to get on course. As he was approaching Turn 6, smoke started to emerge from the bottom of his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. When he turned into the corner, the car spun and came to a stop.

The incident red-flagged practice for the extensive cleanup of the fluid dropped. NASCAR added 10 additional minutes for teams once the track was reopened.

“I don’t know; I hadn’t even hit the gas yet,” Hamlin said. “I came off Turn 4, just started accelerating, and blew the whole bottom out.”

The engine change will keep Hamlin off course for the remainder of Saturday’s practice and qualifying session. He will start at the rear of the 40-car field Sunday afternoon in the third annual Chicago street course race.

“A lot of things that we want to be in control of as drivers,” said Hamlin of the frustration. “We want to be in control of our result. You don’t want to have processes or mechanics stop you from that. Obviously, this is a racetrack that is important to have reps, and we spend hours upon hours practicing and getting ready, and all that stuff, and couldn’t even make a pace lap before it blew up.”

Hamlin finished 11th and 30th in his two previous Chicago appearances.

Sunday will be only the second time Hamlin has turned left and right this season. He did not compete in the Mexico City road course event last month and finished 21st at Circuit of The Americas in March. In his career, Hamlin has one road course win (Watkins Glen in 2016).