Cindric and Chastain lead opening Daytona 500 practice

Austin Cindric and Ross Chastain were the fastest duo in opening practice for the Daytona 500.

Cindric (pictured above) ran 13 laps in practice and laid down the fastest lap of 187.402 mph (48.025s). Chastain, on the other hand, ran six laps. His fastest lap clocked in at 186.931 mph.

It was an uneventful 50-minute session to kick off the week, and it was the first time teams were on track before the single-car qualifying scheduled for Wednesday night. The front row for the Daytona 500 and the fastest two Open teams will be locked in by qualifying.

Corey LaJoie, in a fourth RFK Racing car, was third fastest at 186.517 mph. Bubba Wallace, 186.482 mph, was fourth fastest and Daniel Suarez, 185.590 mph, completed the top five.

Alex Bowman was sixth fastest at 185.483 mph, Erik Jones was seventh fastest at 185.242 mph and Corey Heim, in a fourth 23XI Racing car, was eighth fastest at 185.189 mph. Kyle Larson rounded out the top 10 at 184.885 mph.

William Byron was 34th fastest in practice. Byron is the two-time and defending race winner.

Of the 45 drivers who are entered in the Daytona 500, there were two who chose not to participate in practice. They were Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland.

The drivers who have to qualify their way into the Daytona 500 are: LaJoie, Heim, Justin Allgaier, Anthony Alfredo, Chandler Smith, BJ McLeod, Casey Mears and JJ Yeley.

UP NEXT: Daytona 500 single-car qualifying at 8:15pm ET.