NASCAR Cup Series driver makes 'idiot' admission after Hendrick Motorsports disaster

Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron will start from the back of the field at Chicago on Sunday, and made an admission about the issue after practice.

The No. 24 driver called himself an 'idiot' for getting heavily into the wall in practice, breaking his left-rear toe-link and damaging the car badly enough that he didn't make a qualifying run.

Byron wasn't the only Hendrick driver to touch the wall on Saturday though, with the team announcing after qualifying that all of their four drivers will start from the back on Sunday.

That was obvious for Chase Elliott, who also failed to make a qualifying run after damaging his car in practice, but Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson will also take the drop down the field due to having their cars repaired after qualifying.

READ MORE: NASCAR confirm Cup Series driver will MISS Chicago race

Byron: I'm an idiot

Speaking after his impact in practice, Byron said: "I'm an idiot. I just took a lot through there and (had) a lot of speed. I was just getting my tires cleaned back off from leaving pit road.

"I had just pitted, so my tires were probably just coming up to temp again. I took it easy the first half of the lap and I was starting to push, being close to the alternate start/finish (line) and just lost traction."

He insisted that he maintains hope that he can work his way up the field in what looks likely to be a chaotic race on Sunday, but admitted: "Just sucks starting from the back...just don't like crashing."

Shane van Gisbergen will start the race from pole after dominating qualifying, with Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar rounding out the top three.

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