Returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the first time since 2020, William Byron showed speed during Friday’s 50-minute practice. He continued that trend, qualifying fourth in the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. When the field went green on Sunday, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native slipped back to sixth initially. As the run went on, Byron radioed that he was “a bit tight overall.” Crew chief Rudy Fugle made the strategy call for his driver to come down pit road under green on lap 25 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. As the pit cycle continued gradually throughout the stage, Byron progressed his way through traffic. Once the cycle was complete, Byron was scored fourth and maintained that position until the end of stage one. Under the stage break, Byron came down pit road for four and tires and fuel with no adjustments.
With a mixed bag of strategies taking place, the 26-year-old driver lined up in 13th for the restart. Getting a great jump, Byron propelled his way up to ninth and maintained that spot until the caution came out on lap 68. Under the yellow, Byron came down pit road for four tires and fuel with no adjustments again. With differing strategies occurring again, Byron lined up 16th for the restart. Unfortunately, Byron was collected in an on-track incident when the field went back green, ending his day with a 38th-place finish.
Kyle Larson captured the win in Sunday’s Brickyard 400. Chase Elliott took home a 10th-place finish. Unfortunately both Alex Bowman and Byron were involved in on-track incidents resulting in a 31st and 38th-place results.
William Byron: “We got back there in traffic. It seemed like the pit stop sequence didn’t go our way there. The No. 14 (Chase Briscoe) was just being a squirrel back in the pack. He drove up in front of me. I had to lift way off the corner and I got run over. Hate it for our team. We had an amazing No. 24 Valvoline Chevy. We were running there on the right strategy in the top two or three; got back there in the pack and got wrecked. Appreciate everybody at Valvoline, Chevrolet. We had a great car. We’ll go on over the break and try to get some more wins.”