Kurt Busch paces opening Watkins Glen practice

FINGER LAKES 355 AT THE GLEN PRACTICE ONE

Kurt Busch led the way in Friday's Sprint Cup Series practice session at Watkins Glen International.

Rain washed out the day's early practice but NASCAR was able to hold a later session with Busch topping the speed charts in his Phoenix Racing Chevrolet. He turned a lap of 125.055 mph around the twisting upstate New York road course.

Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon rounded out the first five.

The session included a multi-car accident that was triggered when Patrick Long had engine issues and swept up Jeff Burton and Denny Hamlin. While Burton was able to get his back-up car up to speed, Hamlin's secondary machine started smoking when he made it back on track.

Kyle Busch also had an off course excursion when he slid off turn five.

NASCAR has added an early morning practice session on Saturday before qualifying to set the field for Sunday's race.