Denny Hamlin crashes in Indianapolis qualifying after appearing on pace for the fastest lap, handing pole position for the 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe. The qualifying round saw a dramatic finish as Toyota drivers took the top five positions and Hamlin’s accident meant a last-row start for Sunday’s high-stakes NASCAR Cup Series race.
Briscoe Earns Pole as Hamlin Crashes Out
Chase Briscoe will lead the field when the green flag drops on the Brickyard 400 after he set the fastest qualifying time, clocking in at 49.136 seconds. Throughout the session, Denny Hamlin looked set to unseat his teammate, with the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing car running over two-tenths of a second ahead of Briscoe’s best mark on the final lap. However, Hamlin’s qualifying run ended abruptly when he crashed heavily into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway wall, causing extensive damage and preventing him from completing his lap. As a result, Hamlin failed to record a time and is set to start from the 39th position.
Briscoe’s pole position stands as a significant achievement, particularly as it was secured under the shadow of his teammate’s mishap. The race for the top qualifying spot proved tight, with Briscoe’s No. 19 edging out Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota by a razor-thin 0.013-second margin. This close finish highlights how competitive the field was, with qualifying times separated by mere hundredths of a second among the front runners, especially for Toyota teams.
Toyota Dominates Top Qualifying Spots
The qualifying session was notable for Toyota’s sweep of the upper grid. Bubba Wallace took the second starting slot for 23XI Racing, followed by Erik Jones for Legacy Motor Club in third. Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing and Ty Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing rounded out the top five, underscoring Toyota’s dominance heading into the race. Briscoe, Wallace, Jones, Reddick, and Gibbs all demonstrated both speed and consistency, giving their manufacturer complete control at the front of the grid.
Meanwhile, the session was disappointing for accomplished drivers further down the order. Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain all missed out on top-20 starting positions. These drivers, representing teams like Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports, and Trackhouse Racing, will need to work their way through the field if they hope to contend for victory.
Full Indianapolis Brickyard 400 Starting Lineup
The official grid for the 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after qualifying is as follows:
1. Chase Briscoe (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – 49.136
2. Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota – +0.013
3. Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Toyota – +0.112
4. Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota – +0.131
5. Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – +0.194
6. William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – +0.306
7. Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford – +0.311
8. Carson Hocevar (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – +0.359
9. AJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet – +0.363
10. Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford – +0.450
11. Shane van Gisbergen (88), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet – +0.455
12. Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet – +0.459
13. Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – +0.481
14. Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford – +0.493
15. Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford – +0.557
16. Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – +0.659
17. Josh Berry (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford – +0.694
18. Noah Gragson (4), Front Row Motorsports Ford – +0.758
19. Todd Gilliland (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford – +0.805
20. Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet – +0.813
21. Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – +0.831
22. Michael McDowell (71), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – +0.838
23. Ryan Preece (60), RFK Racing Ford – +0.843
24. Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford – +0.856
25. Riley Herbst (35), 23XI Racing Toyota – +0.876
26. Ty Dillon (10), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet – +0.915
27. Zane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford – +0.925
28. Justin Haley (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – +0.931
29. Cole Custer (41), Haas Factory Team Ford – +0.952
30. Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – +0.978
31. Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet – +1.065
32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet – +1.174
33. Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet – +1.197
34. Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford – +1.452
35. Jesse Love (62), Beard Motorsports Chevrolet – +1.665
36. John H. Nemechek (42), Legacy Motor Club Toyota – +1.853
37. Josh Bilicki (66), Garage 66 Ford – +5.429
38. Katherine Legge (78), Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet – +7.827
39. Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – No Time
Unexpected Turns Ahead for Key Drivers
As the field prepares for Sunday’s Brickyard 400, the storylines extend beyond the front rows. Denny Hamlin’s crash puts him in a difficult spot, starting last despite what looked like a pole-winning lap, while drivers such as Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain will have to navigate their way forward from challenging grid positions. Established teams, including Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske, face the task of adjusting their strategies to work through traffic and capitalize on race-day opportunities.
Looking ahead, the dominance of Toyota in qualifying puts the pressure on Chevrolet and Ford teams to make up ground during the race. With Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s unique demands and the drama of qualifying fresh in mind, fans can expect an eventful race featuring comebacks, close battles, and possible shifts in championship momentum.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How did Denny Hamlin get so rich?
A. Beginning his full-time Cup Series journey in 2006 with Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin has created an impressive career. He has secured 51 Cup Series victories and won the Daytona 500 three times in 2016, 2019, and 2020. Alongside his success, he has also earned millions in the process.
Q. Did Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish get married?
A. Denny Hamlin is going to marry Jordan Fish. She loved dancing as a child, which eventually led her to dance for the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. While dancing at one of their games, she met Hamlin. The team is now known as the Charlotte Hornets.
Q. How is Denny Hamlin so rich?
A. Denny Hamlin’s net worth of $65 million comes from many sources. He has earned more than $100 million through NASCAR contracts and race winnings. He also has big endorsements from companies like FedEx, Jordan Brand, and Toyota. Additionally, he co-owns 23XI Racing, a team now worth over $100 million.
