When a warning got here out with three of the unique 160 laps remaining in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was clear Keselowski didn’t have sufficient gas to make it to finish and would want to pit.
Nevertheless, Keselowski stayed on the monitor through the warning and remained on the entrance row with Blaney for the restart of the primary time beyond regulation. Simply as the sphere exited Flip 4, Keselowski dove onto pit street.
That allowed the automotive behind him – on this case Larson – to maneuver as much as the entrance row, regardless that he technically was going to restart third.
Larson powered previous Blaney and into the lead after taking the inexperienced, then secured the victory when he was main within the second time beyond regulation when a warning got here out on the ultimate lap.
Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske, MenardsAtlas Ford Mustang
Photograph by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Throughout a purple flag for a multi-car wreck within the second time beyond regulation, Blaney fumed over his radio over Larson being allowed to maneuver as much as the entrance row, though that’s sometimes how NASCAR guidelines such situations.
“I believed we put ourselves in an incredible spot,” a dejected Blaney stated after the race. “I do know (Keselowski) was in all probability going to expire if it went inexperienced. Got here to the restart, I couldn’t imagine they stayed out.
“I knew there was no approach they had been going to make it. So, I clearly selected the highest (lane) as a result of he would possibly run out within the restart zone. He runs out coming to the inexperienced, so he will get to go to pit street and (Larson) will get promoted.”
Annoyed with late restart name
Blaney stated he thought NASCAR ought to have known as off the restart as soon as Keselowski deserted his place on the monitor and had the sphere re-choose their lineup positions.
“With this, you’re selling the third-place man earlier than the second place man if the chief has issues. That’s not proper,” he stated. “It’s dumb luck, proper, of the place Brad ran out and stuff like this. At this race monitor the place the underside (lane) is most well-liked.
“I don’t know. I’m simply upset. That’s a heartbreaker. We did all the pieces proper at this time. I imply, was in prime place to win and simply didn’t work out for us. Simply acquired unfortunate.”
Nonetheless, Blaney’s third place run continued a scorching summer season for the driving force of the No. 12 Ford and your complete Penske group.
Blaney has 5 top-10 finishes – together with a win final week at Pocono – in his final six races and sits fifth within the sequence standings. All three Penske drivers have gained a race within the final eight weeks.
A win Sunday – on the iconic monitor owned by his group proprietor Roger Penske – would have been even higher.
“I don’t know what to be mad about. Mad at dropping this race as a result of I believed we had been within the good place,” Blaney stated. “As soon as I misplaced management of the race, clearly, I might have been on the underside (lane), however I believed (Keselowski) would run out within the restart zone or down the again, I don’t know.
“Stinks to lose in that approach. I hate we don’t get to have fun with Mr. Penske and everybody at Penske right here. That stings rather a lot.”