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LONDON, N.H. (AP) -- NASCAR did not allow championship contender Kurt Busch to participate in the first 15 minutes of Saturday's first practice as a penalty for being caught with an extra set of tires. 

A NASCAR official stood in front of Busch's No. 2 Dodge as it sat idle on pit road. The driver was forced to sit inside the cockpit as cars zoomed around him. 

Also held on pit road was the car owned by Gunselman Motorsports because Busch's team was caught with a set of Gunselman's tires on Friday. 

NASCAR allows each team six sets of tires to be used for practice and qualifying for Friday and Saturday. Busch's team was
found to have seven sets. 

As part of NASCAR's penalty, Busch's team had to forfeit a set of tires for Saturday. He now has five sets to use over two practice sessions.

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