Just hours after being the fastest car in practice, and one day after signing a multi-year deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, Denny Hamlin’s Brickyard 400 weekend took an unfortunate turn. During his qualifying run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 11 Toyota suffered a hard crash. Hamlin crashed into the wall and will start from a backup car in 39th position for Sunday’s big NASCAR Cup Series race.
💥 Qualifying Crash Sends Hamlin Backwards
Hamlin looked fast on his qualifying lap, but he brushed the outside wall off of Turn 2 and lost control of the car as he entered the backstretch, and then crashed the front of his car into the inside wall. The crash was hard enough to damage the front of his Toyota Camry and ruin any chance for a front row start.
Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed that Hamlin was cleared after a check from the infield care center and reported no injuries.
🚗 Backup Car, Steep Climb Ahead
Unfortunately for Hamlin, because of the crash, he will start towards the back of the field (39th) at a track where track position is extremely important. Because of the narrow zones to pass and high-speed straightaways at Indy, moving through the pack will not be easy, even for a seasoned veteran like Hamlin.
📈 Up-and-Down Season
Hamlin’s crash came less than 24 hours after Hamlin and JGR announced a contract extension through the end of 2027, locking in the 44-year-old to remain with the company he has raced for his entire Cup career.
Presently, among the series best, Hamlin is the series wins leader, with four wins in the year, including a statement win last weekend at Dover. Hamlin came into the Brickyard weekend with a lot of serious momentum and now faces one of the biggest comebacks in his 2024 campaign.
🗣️ What’s Next for the No.11 Team?
Hamlin still has the same fast car from practice and a great crew to get him on a good race day, but Sunday will be a big challenge for Hamlin with traffic issues, tire wear, and strategize how to recover positions in a vain where clean air means so much.
From pole favorite to the back of the pack, Denny Hamlin’s weekend at Indy just got a lot more complicated. But if anyone can turn disaster into victory — it’s the driver of the No. 11.
