Penske gets 1-2 finish at the Brickyard

[media-credit name=”Credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]Brad Keselowski wins the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Penske Racing gets a 1-2 finish.  This win also gives Penske his first at Indianapolis and its 100th in NASCAR.

Sam Hornish Jr. was second, followed by Ty Dillon, Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon. The Dillon brothers are the grandsons of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress; Ty was making only his second career NNS start.

Danica Patrick’s day ended early after she collided with Reed Sorenson on lap 39.  Patrick appeared to tap Sorenson’s back bumper going into turn-1, causing the back end of Sorenson’s car to slide sideways. Sorenson nearly saved it, but his left-front wheel got into the infield grass, causing him to spin out. Patrick then hit Sorenson’s car, causing heavy damage.  “I got pretty close and I might have tapped him. I’m not sure.” Patrick said.

Kyle Busch dominated the first half of the race, but got shuffled back in the field during a round of pit stops on lap 63 and Hornish took the lead.

Keselowski then passed Hornish for the lead with 29 laps to go, and a caution came out shortly afterward. Busch was fourth on the subsequent restart but spun out right after the race went green. He managed to avoid major damage but lost his shot at the win.

Elliot Sadler got the black flag for a restart mistake after the final restart of the race.  With his crew pleading with NASCAR officials, Sadler stayed on the track instead of coming into the pits to serve the penalty.  Sadler finally came in with 12 laps to go, fuming over the radio to his crew as he gave up the race lead and handed it back to Keselowski.  Sadler finished 15th.

It was the first-ever NNS race at the historic oval, part of an effort by officials to drum up interest and boost sagging attendance at the Brickyard 400. Indianapolis also added a Grand Am Series sports car race on the track’s infield road course on Friday.