Joey Logano Brickyard 400 heartbreak was on full display at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when, after showing promise in the opening stages and even leading laps, a late-race flat tire and a dramatic struggle on pit road ended his chances of taking home his first Brickyard victory. Despite a spirited and unconventional attempt to restart his car, Logano could only manage a 32nd place finish, keeping his long-held dream of winning NASCAR’s storied race out of reach for another year.
Strong Start Deflates with Late-Race Trouble
Joey Logano opened the race with promise on Sunday, at the legendary Indianapolis track, demonstrating early speed and controlling parts of the event in pursuit of the elusive Brickyard 400 victory. As the reigning Cup Series champion, he seemed poised to contend for the win. However, with only 25 laps remaining, disaster struck when he lost his right rear tire, forcing an unscheduled pit stop and dropping him sharply down the field.
While discussing the sequence with Mike Bagley and Alex Hayden on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Logano recounted how complications multiplied once he reached the pits. A sudden malfunction caused his ford/”>Ford Mustang to completely shut down, leaving him momentarily stranded and without power.
“Can’t crank it, can’t nothing,” Logano recalled. “I’m like, huh, it’s off, like everything’s off. And so I’m like, what do you do when nothing works? You just start—I mean, I don’t know—eventually, once you start going through the cycle of stuff, and you just hit all the switches, what do you do next?”
In a moment of frustration and improvisation, Logano instinctively began pressing switches and striking parts of the cockpit, treating the car’s electronics like a stubborn computer in need of a reset. To his and his team’s surprise, the tactic worked and the car roared back to life.
“I’m hitting something, like, you know, it’s like when your computer doesn’t work, you just give it a smack sometimes, and it might come back to life. Well, golly, it did—oh, I’m back,” Logano laughed as Bagley and Hayden joined.
Despite the brief revival, the damage was done. Logano was classified among the eight drivers who did not finish (DNF) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The result left him in 12th place in the drivers’ standings, holding 532 points. Over the course of 22 races this season, he has claimed a single win, adding two top-five finishes and five top-10s to his tally. Looking ahead, Logano’s next challenge is scheduled at Iowa Speedway on August 3.
The Brickyard: A Missing Jewel in Logano’s Trophy Case
With three NASCAR Cup Series championships and 37 career wins, Joey Logano’s resume places him among the greatest drivers in the sport. Recognized as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, Logano has conquered many of NASCAR’s toughest races. Yet the Brickyard 400 remains notably absent from his long list of achievements, making each attempt at Indianapolis Motor Speedway especially significant for the Connecticut native.
Discussing his thoughts on the event and its importance to him, Logano shared candidly that while team owner Roger Penske has guided many to success at the Brickyard, his personal motivation to win there is especially strong.
“Obviously, I want to win for Roger (Penske) everywhere, and I want to continue the things that he’s built here, adding to this exhibit. But I want to win the Brickyard for me. That’s one that, for me, is on the list. I get we all enjoy it, but I have a selfish motive behind this race a little bit, that I really want to win.” —Joey Logano, Driver
Since his debut at Indianapolis, Logano has appeared in 13 Brickyard 400 starts, with nine of those efforts in Team Penske colors. Twice he has come within reach of victory, finishing as runner-up in both 2015 and 2019, but the top step of the podium—and the tradition of kissing the yard of bricks—has slipped from his grasp each time.
“I’m human: I get jealous every time I see someone kiss the bricks because I haven’t done it. I want to know what that feels like. I’m human, too, and I want to win. I see that, and it makes me mad. It’s like, ‘Ugh, I want to do that,” he added. —Joey Logano, Driver
Ahead to Iowa, but Indianapolis Haunts Remain
The disappointment of Indianapolis lingers for Joey Logano and his supporters, as another year passes without a Brickyard triumph to add to his decorated career. The emotional weight of chasing a signature win and the unpredictable heartbreak that characterizes motorsport were on full display, with the chaotic pit road episode underlining both the volatility and drama unique to the Brickyard 400.
With the season continuing, Logano’s attention now turns to the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, where he will aim to recover lost momentum. Fans can catch the action on the USA network or listen in on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, hoping to witness Logano put Indianapolis behind him as he hunts for further success in the 2024 Cup Series campaign.
