The NASCAR Cup Series is rolling out its new 2019 rules package this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the first qualifying session of the year with the new setup delivered one of the wildest – and most polarizing – qualifying sessions ever.

NASCAR has uses a group qualifying format – similar to Formula 1 qualifying – since 2014. With cars running both tapered spacers and aero ducts in place, part of an aero package designed to create more side-by-side racing, and emphasize drafting, drivers were required to rely on the benefits of the draft moreso than the raw power of their cars. The result was a qualifying session that resembled a frantic two-lap race.

Bowman and Elliott were FAST, but their laps didn't count. Retweet to congratulate Kevin Harvick on his NASCAR Cup Series POLE in Vegas! pic.twitter.com/UjJDBreHhL — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 2, 2019

In the final round of qualifying, which lasts five minutes, the cars remaining waited on pit road with their engines off until 90 seconds remained session, then rushed off pit road to set a time. With no one willing to be the first car off – which is a severe disadvantage due to the draft – the jockeying for position off pit road left commentator Darrell Waltrip joking that the field was likely to crash before getting on the track.

Craziness on pit road to make moves for the #BuschPole. pic.twitter.com/KRCnprPQt8 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 2, 2019

Aside from what seems to be an increased risk of an accident happening, the current state of qualifying doesn’t actually reward the fastest cars – something many drivers pointed out after climbing from their cars. The car leading the pack has virtually no chance to post a top speed, and the race for the pole comes down to which car leaves pit road at the perfect time and gets the most help from whichever car is in front.

Kevin Harvick won the pole position for Sunday’s race.

Ryan Blaney, who failed to advance from Q2, blasted qualifying in an interview on FS1.

“I used to have fun on Fridays, and that wasn’t very fun.”

Drivers had mixed reactions at the track and on social media.

Kyle Busch says he doesn't like it and it's not fun. "Whatever the fans want, I guess." pic.twitter.com/M7wBLYgOcA — Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverAW) March 2, 2019

Single-car or group qualifying? Ryan Newman wants a return to single-car qualifying: pic.twitter.com/kBgBGKByws — Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 2, 2019

Well, @nascar related twitter will be fun tonight but I gotta say, I enjoyed watching that qualifying. — Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) March 2, 2019

Dibenedetto says "It's interesting. That's the word. Interesting." Is it fun. "No," he says with a laugh. He says it's hard to decide which car to follow to get a draft, especially when cars are slowing the peel off in 3 and 4. "I hope it's fun for the fans." pic.twitter.com/FDwGEGtmMO — Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverAW) March 2, 2019

All 24 at once! This is awesome @monsterenergy @Nascar Cup quals! Turn on @fs1 — Michael Waltrip (@MW55) March 2, 2019

Just missed the ole train by a little bit. Hey it’s 13 spots better than where we qualified last week. Headed the right way. — Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) March 2, 2019

I think what’s frustrating is that this lineup will be set by luck for the most part, not who’s the fastest. If it’s fun to watch though, who cares eh? But yeah, without a doubt the final lineup won’t be an indicator of who’s fast and who’s not. — Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) March 2, 2019

From a TV perspective, Las Vegas qualifying was far more chaotic than any qualifying has been in the past, which some fans enjoyed.

Everyone will judge based on what we saw today but all the teams will get better at this as we go along this season. Qualifying was a lot more exciting than ever before that’s for sure — Ryan Andrade (@Ku_Bball_Fan) March 2, 2019

Other fans are already calling for NASCAR to scrap the format.

This qualifying session and this aero package is such a joke. WTG, NASCAR 👏👏👏 #circusact #joke — Jake Heller (@jtheller2) March 2, 2019

Somebody's going to wreck 10 other cars in qualifying one of these weeks like Daytona 2015. Everybody will regret group qualifying with this new aero package. #NASCAR — NASCAR Guy (@MegaDriver86) March 2, 2019

Single car qualifying again, please. Sure, this is “entertaining”, but it’s going to turn into a real cluster #nascar — Brian on Racing (@brian_wiggins) March 2, 2019