18INDY1mt1362

theracereview

· Joey Logano started fifth and finished 13th in Monday afternoon’s Big Machine Vodka 400 At The Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion for Team Penske. During the opening 10-lap run, Logano reported his Ford Fusion was tight through the center of the corners and extremely loose on corner exit. On the first pit stop at lap 12, the team elected to adjust with two rounds of wedge, adding fuel and changing four tires.

· During the second run of the race, Logano reported that the front of the car simply would not turn. Crew chief Todd Gordon elected to make a left front shock change on the second stop, with air pressure adjustments to the front tires and adding tape to the nose. Logano had fallen from the top-five to the 18th position. The lengthy pit stop would line Logano up in 34th position for the restart.

· Logano and the team would pit an additional time on a caution period right before the conclusion of stage 1, putting them in position to stay out with only four laps on their tires at the stage break. The team would restart in the 10th position with Logano settling in to 12th before a caution flag at lap 56. Logano again reported he was struggling with center turn and drive off the corners.

· Through the second stage, Logano continued to battle a tight car in the center of the turns while being free off. Through pit strategy, the team cycled forward, finishing the stage in the fourth position. Under the stage ending caution, crew chief Todd Gordon called for a substantial wedge and air pressure adjustment to the left side of the car, looking to give Logano the mechanical grip he needed.

· Logano reported the overall handling of the Shell-Pennzoil Ford had improved through the race with the team’s adjustments, and with a caution at lap 144, the team elected to pit and make another substantial air pressure adjustment. The team would restart in the 17th position with mixed strategies ahead of the team.

· Late contact with the No. 3 car dropped Logano to the 22nd position, forcing him to battle back to the 20th position before another caution at lap 153. Logano and the team would rally back to finish 13th, putting the cap on a day where their championship perseverance was put to the test.

 

quote

“Obviously a huge win for Team Penske. The first Brickyard 400 for the company and congratulations to my teammate Brad (Keselowski) on that win. It’s a race Roger has wanted to win for a long time and I’m happy for him, and win 499 for the team. We had our struggles today on the 22 team, but the Shell-Pennzoil guys never gave up and they worked hard all race long to try and improve our car. We’ll focus on the starting the playoffs strong at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next week.”

 


Brickyard 400