No. 26 GAINBRIDGE HONDA
STARTED 4 // FINISHED 14
CHAMPIONSHIP: 23 (138 pts.)
OF NOTE:
Led two laps and contended for a podium through the opening stints // During a late-race caution period, spun the No. 26 making contact with the 60-car // Hinchcliffe was served a drive-thru penalty on Lap 84 for avoidable contact
“In 16 years of racing cars, I’ve never spun out under caution before. Just my fault. The pace car was going really, really slow and it was super hard to keep heat in the tires. Going through the last corner there, I was making an adjustment on the wheel and just had one hand on the wheel. Even at 30mph, you’re going slower than pit lane speed and the thing spun. It’s my fault, but we were on the radio trying to get the pace car to go faster because the cars were almost harder to drive at pace car speed than they were at race speed. But, that’s on me. The worst part is that coming back on track I did it dangerously and, not only hit someone, but hit a (Andretti Technologies) teammate. That’s an even bigger black eye. To have a podium car – the guys did such a great job all weekend on the Gainbridge entry and I was really hoping to give them a strong result to end the year. I’m gutted for the whole team; I’m gutted for Jack (Harvey) – can’t be sorrier than I am for him. Not the way we wanted to end the year, but still some positives to take out of it. We had good pace in qualifying and the race. We had a podium car and just didn’t pull it off today – and that’s on me. Sorry to the team.”
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
