Dale Earnhardt Jr. asserts “Brad Keselowski is not at fault” for Brickyard 400 re-start controversy
Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes in the defence of Brad Keselowski over Brickyard 400 strategy.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski (Via IMAGO)
The NASCAR Cup Series’ return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the first Brickyard 400 in three years resulted in a dramatic race. Kyle Larson won the event surviving few incidents and taking advantage of NASCAR not waving off the first overtime restart. The whole drama happened because of strategy call from Brad Keselowski.
The No:6 Ford team in an attempt to stretch fuel, didn’t pit when they should be and were forced to pit just before the green flag for the restart. This gifted the lead and important inside lane to Kyle Larson. NASCAR had the opportunity of waiving of the start and rearrange the grid, giving Ryan Blaney the lead, but they didn’t.
Now Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has come forward defending Keselowski’s strategy on the situation as he is getting criticized for it. He asserted that it wasn’t the 2012 Cuyp champion’s fault that they have to make the decision to pit just ahead of the green flag. They had no other option but come in at the situation.
I honestly feel like it played out the way it should have. Brad Keselowski is not at fault. They were trying to stretch fuel. They knew they were probably on the edge… It's their prerogative to bring their car to pit road whenever they choose, and it just so happened that they were coming to the green flag and decided to pit. Something happening inside the car let Brad know that he wasn't going to make another lap. They brought the car to pit road, and that's no fault of Brad's.Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. claims the situation didn’t deserve a waive off
Junior went on to discuss the claims that NASCAR has to waive off the restart and line the drivers up again. He asserted that though it would have been the okay call, Brad Keselowski pitting wasn’t big enough deal to stop the restart.
I would have not had a problem had NASCAR waived off the start. But they usually don’t do that. I mean, if Brad just runs out of gas and pulls to the side like he did entering pit road, that to me is not enough to waive off the start or get in the way of what’s playing out with the green flag.Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
The incident has created some controversy, but with the two weeks Olympics break fans would be over it. But at the same time NASCAR has to now take this decision as the benchmark and be consistent with the future calls.
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Justin P Joy
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