The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).
The first practice session was held on Friday, June 11, at 10:15 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes.[3]Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.598 and an average speed of 186.538mph (300.204km/h).[4]
The second practice session was held on Friday, June 11, at 1:15 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes.[3]Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.489 and an average speed of 187.066mph (301.054km/h).[5]
The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 12, after the preliminary 1999 Michigan ARCA 200. The session would last for one hour.[3]Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.766 and an average speed of 181.059mph (291.386km/h).[6]
Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 11, at 3:30 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, June 12, at 11:15 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[3] Positions 26-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[7]
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 38.514 and an average speed of 186.945 miles per hour (300.859km/h).[8]
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