William Byron blames Chase Briscoe for Indy wreck: 'Back there with the squirrels'

A major wreck wiped out multiple drivers and ended their day at the Brickyard 400, including William Byron. Byron hit the wall hard after being spun out in the middle of a big pack.

The problem started with the No. 14 car of Chase Briscoe, according to Byron.

“We got back there in traffic,” William Byron said on the USA broadcast of the race. “It seemed like the pit-stop sequence didn’t go our way obviously there, and then the 14 was just being a squirrel back in the pack. Drove up in front of me, had the lift laid off the corner, got run over.”

The 14 caused Byron and a few other cars to bunch up. The No. 21 car of Harrison Burton was to Byron’s left.

Expecting that there was a chance to shoot the gap, the No. 41 car of Ryan Preece tried to force his way between Burton and Byron. Instead, he clipped both cars and sent them into a spin, with both vehicles careening off the track toward the infield wall.

William Byron slammed the wall particularly hard, with medical teams racing out to check on him. He was fine, later released from the infield care center.

But there was no doubt in Byron’s mind about who caused the wreck. Clearly to him, it was the fault of Briscoe.

“Yeah, I mean he lifted or he came up in front of me and choked me up and we’re just back there with the squirrels,” he said.

Unfortunately for William Byron, his day is now over at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Hate it for our team, we had an amazing car, running there on the right strategy,” he said. “Top two or three and get back there in the pack and get wrecked. So appreciate everybody, Valvoline, Chevrolet. Great car. We’ll go on after the break and try to get some more wins.”