NASCAR CUP SERIES: BRICKYARD 400 PRESENTED BY PPG

July 21, 2024

Ryan Blaney

Pit Lane Interview

Q. Ryan, losing one that way, how hard is it to process?

RYAN BLANEY: It's no fun. Had a really good shot to win today. Appreciate Menards, Atlas and Ford and the 12 group for putting us in position. Our car was fast. Thought we had really good strategy. Kind of was the front guy having to save a little bit of gas. I thought we put ourselves in a great spot.

I know the 6 was probably going to run out if it went green. Came to the restart, I couldn't believe they stayed out. I knew there was no way they were going to make it. So I obviously chose the top because he might run out in the restart zone. He runs out coming to the green so he gets to do to pit road and the 5 gets promoted.

Luck of the day right there, I guess. I don't know. I don't know what to be mad about. Mad at losing this race because I thought we were in the perfect position. Once I lost control of the race, obviously I would have been on the bottom, but I thought the 6 would run out in the restart zone or down the back, I don't know. Stinks to lose in that way.

Appreciate the effort. I hate we don't get to celebrate with Mr. Penske and everyone at Penske here. That stings a lot. Just try to keep going. That's all you can do.

Q. Do you see any way of changing that restart situation?

RYAN BLANEY: Call it off and rechoose because now you're promoting the third place guy before the second place guy if the leader has problems. That's not right. It's dumb luck, right, of where Brad ran out and stuff like this. At this racetrack where the bottom is preferred...

Something. I don't know. I'm just upset. That's a heartbreaker. We did everything right today. I mean, was in prime position to win and just didn't work out for us. Just got unlucky.

Gosh, not going to sleep very good tonight, I can tell you that. Like I said, I appreciate Team Penske and everybody for the fast car. Gosh, we've been super fast. It definitely showed again today. Just wasn't meant to be.