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race review

• Joey Logano started sixth, won the opening stage and finished third in Sunday’s weather shortened race at Circuit of the Americas. Logano led a race-high 14 laps on the afternoon, before the weather conditions forced an early end to the debut NASCAR Cup Series race at the Texas road course.
• Logano brought the Shell-Pennzoil Mustang to pit road on the opening lap for four Goodyear wet weather tires as rain began to fall after the green flag flew to start the race. Logano continued his forward charge, as he captured the race lead and won Stage 1 for the third stage win of the year for the Shell-Pennzoil Ford team.
• After a lengthy delay for a multi-vehicle accident and water cleanup on the backstretch, the team elected to pit and made an air pressure and trackbar adjustment for Logano. The Shell-Pennzoil Mustang restarted in the 25th position and Logano fought back to finish Stage 2 in 12th place.
• Logano restarted the final stage in the ninth position but worked his way up to third by lap 38, setting the potential final pit stop of the race. Logano visited pit road at the completion of lap 44 for four tires and two rounds of trackbar changes.
• As the rain continued to intensify, Logano continued to advance as he patiently working his way into the top five as other cars came to pit lane. Logano moved into the fourth position and was told by the team that two of the three cars in front of him may not make it to the end on fuel. Unfortunately, rain brought an early end to the race at lap 54 with Logano running in the third position.

 

quote

“Yeah, it was tough, but it was fun. I had a blast. It was mentally draining, mentally very, very challenging out there because the track changed so much from lap to lap. One lap it’s pouring. The next lap it’s raining a little bit and then you’re hydroplaning everywhere and you’re really slipping and sliding, and tires meant something, which I think was surprising to everybody — that tires meant something. You saw the 18 car drive through the field one time. We put tires on and were able to drive through the field, so it was kind of fun. We’re all learning together and trying to figure it all out at the same time.”

 


Texas Grand Prix