Keselowski, Biffle back on track after early wreck (VIDEO) - MotorSportsTalk

Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and Greg Biffle have both returned to the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway after being caught in a multi-car incident that brought out the red flag at Lap 49.

Keselowski was running tenth at that point when Kurt Busch moved from the apron to the banked tri-oval, sliding into Keselowski and spinning him out. The No. 2 Penske Racing Ford skidded along before sliding up the track in Turn 1, where it was hit from behind by Greg Biffle in the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.

Keselowski and Biffle were running 36th and 38th respectively at Lap 200 of today’s race, each of them more than 100 laps down. On Lap 182, Keselowski was hit with a speeding penalty on pit road, adding to his trying day at a track where he won one year ago.

Before returning to action, Keselowski said he was trying to be “patient” leading up to the wreck with Biffle.

“We were trying to get patient, because it looked like we will get the whole race in before rain and there is no reason to drive like an animal,” he said. “Apparently, I am the only one that got that memo. It is one of those deals.”

Kurt Busch apologized for triggering the incident, but while Keselowski felt there was no malice on the Furniture Row Racing driver’s part, he believed there was no reason for him to be on the apron in the first place.

“I am still wrecked, so I don’t know,” Keselowski responded when asked about whether or not the apology affected his view on the matter. “He is smarter than that. He knows better than that.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”