Daniel Suarez, the driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 16, 2018, in Fontana, California. Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Daniel Suárez ran afoul of the primary hazard at Auto Club Speedway and, as a consequence, will start Sunday’s Auto Club 400 from the rear of the field in a backup No. 19 Toyota.

During Friday’s opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at the two-mile track, Suárez was in the middle of a mock qualifying run when he hit one of the slick seams that separate the lanes of well-worn asphalt and slid into the outside wall.

With his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry damaged beyond repair, Suárez was forced to the backup car for the rest of the weekend. Current NASCAR rules require the car to drop to the rear for the start of the race regardless of where Suárez qualifies in the backup.

“I just got loose,” Suárez said. “I was loose as soon as I hit the seam. I couldn’t handle the seam. I thought I was fine… but as soon as I hit the seam I wasn’t anymore.”