Brad Keselowski takes issue with NASCAR over same penalty as Chase Elliott
Well, it isn’t only Chase Elliott who is mad at NASCAR. Brad Keselowski can’t believe he was penalized at Indianapolis. The “blend-line violation” has gotten these two drivers fuming mad this Sunday afternoon.
Drivers are not to come up onto the “racing surface” as they leave pit road. There has been a little misunderstanding about what constitutes the “racing surface.”
Brad Keselowski couldn’t believe that he was given the penalty and resulting pass-through on pit road.
“I don’t understand, what’s the penalty for?” Keselowski asked, via Davey Segal.
“That’s not what the damn email said,” Keselowski responded when he was explained the penalty. “I was not in the racing line.”
Brad Keselowski then asked his team to re-read the rule to him just so he understood it completely. That still didn’t do it for Keselowski.
“Either I don’t know how to read or they don’t know how to officiate. One of the two.”
This penalty is causing drivers to lose their minds. Chase Elliott was dropping all kinds of f-bombs and other things. With so much on the line, a crown jewel, the return to the Brickyard 400 – you can imagine why these drivers would feel this way.
Right now, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott have to focus. While the penalties hurt, it is still very early in the race all things considered.
Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott fume at NASCAR
Prior to Brad Keselowski getting his penalty, Chase Elliott was the first victim. He went above one line on the track and NASCAR automatically hit him with the penalty, despite his team trying to appeal.
Elliott disagreed with NASCAR’s decision. He did more than disagree. He was absolutely fuming, he had been racing for the lead prior to green flag stops.
After the penalty and his pass-through on pit road, Elliott came out a lap down and mad as hell.
“That’s not right,” Chase Elliott said on the radio. “I did exactly what the f***ing sheet said to do.”
He didn’t stop there, either. While Elliott’s team complained, NASCAR didn’t care much.
“I mean what the f***?! … I do exactly what they f***ing tell us to do. They didn’t say line, they said racing surface, so you tell me how the f*** I was on the racing surface.”
Harsh words from NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver.
I think that this reaction goes to show how important this race is for these drivers. Winning at the Brickyard is all that they care about. After three years of not being able to claim a win on the oval, these drivers are dying to kiss the bricks.