NASCAR was under heavy fire after the finish of Sunday’s Brickyard 400. As the race went into overtime, Ryan Preece spun seconds before the white flag was waved. However, the caution flag wasn’t waved until after the white flag, and Kyle Larson was officially named the race winner.
This led some fans to accuse NASCAR of favoring the Hendrick Motorsports driver by waiting so long for the caution flag to come. After the race, NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer explained why it ended up that way:
“Obviously, we want it to happen naturally. We as a team want to drive to the checkered flag. We did everything we could. Eyes on 41st place. He turned around. He really gave it his all and when he stopped, when he realized he probably had a flat left rear tire, he couldn’t move. “We had already put the white line on and we couldn’t cross it again. So, it was unfortunate, but it was the right decision,” Sawyer said.
When asked if the delayed reaction to the warning would have been the same if a similar situation had occurred earlier in the race, Sawyer cited safety. “In terms of safety, when there’s a car that’s slipping and trying to move, we’re going to do everything we can to maintain the green line,” Sawyer insisted.
He added that such scenarios are decided on a “case-by-case” basis and that there is a lot of hypothetical content in the question of whether a warning can be issued while still ensuring safety.
Current NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney left with a bitter taste after Brickyard 400
Before the yellow and white flags, Ryan Blaney battled with Kyle Larson for the lead. Chasing former teammate Brad Keselowski for the lead, Blaney saw his hopes disappear when Kyle Busch triggered a caution, forcing the No. 6 car to pit and relegating the No. 5 car to the inside of the front row.
After the race, Blaney spoke of his disappointment in finishing third. But the Team Penske driver said he didn’t know who to vent his frustration at.
“I’m angry. I told my boys I’m angry, but I don’t know who to vent my frustration at. “There’s no one to be mad at, it’s just luck that’s playing out. (Larson’s) luck and the difficulties we had when it happened at that time just ruined our race,” Blaney said.
The reigning NASCAR champion said he was in a “perfect position” to win the race, but unique circumstances favored Larson, dashing his hopes of winning. He added that he’s not mad at anyone in particular, just the “luck of the race.”
