Joey Logano’s strong start at the Brickyard 400 last Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway quickly unraveled when he suffered a right rear tire blowout with 25 laps remaining, leading to a disappointing 32nd-place finish. This setback was a significant moment in Logano’s ongoing Joey Logano Brickyard 400 struggle as he fought to secure his first victory in one of NASCAR’s most prestigious races.
During a conversation with Mike Bagley and Alex Hayden on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Logano detailed the unusual problem that followed the tire failure on pit road, where his car unexpectedly shut off. The sudden loss of power left him in a challenging position, unable to restart the vehicle through conventional means.
“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?” —Joey Logano
With no immediate technical solution, Logano resorted to a straightforward but unconventional tactic, tapping parts of his car’s cockpit much like troubleshooting a malfunctioning computer. Surprisingly, it was enough to bring the Mustang back to life, providing a brief moment of hope amid the chaos.
“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. —Joey Logano
Logano was one of eight competitors who failed to finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Currently, he stands 12th in the Cup Series driver standings with 532 points after 22 races, marking one win, along with two top-five and five top-10 finishes this season. His upcoming race is scheduled for August 3 at Iowa Speedway.
Joey Logano Reflects on the Elusive Brickyard 400 Victory
Despite being a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion with 37 overall wins and recognition as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, Joey Logano has yet to secure the Brickyard 400 title. This race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway remains one of the few crowning achievements missing from his resume, deepening his personal motivation each year.
Logano openly shared his determination to win the Brickyard 400, emphasizing that the desire is both professional and personal, rooted in competing for Team Penske and the legacy built by owner Roger Penske, as well as his own ambitions.
“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
Through 13 starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, nine of which were with Team Penske, Logano’s closest attempts at winning the Brickyard 400 ended in second-place finishes in 2015 and 2019. The near-misses have added to the frustration and fuelled his competitive spirit.
“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
Looking ahead, Logano’s next opportunity to chase victory comes at the Iowa Corn 350 on August 3 at Iowa Speedway. Fans can watch the race live on the USA Network starting at 3:30 pm ET or tune in to MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for exclusive coverage.
