Keselowski Finishes 25th in 2009 Cup Series Season Finale
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 22, 2009) - Penske Racing driver Brad Keselowski
completed a successful weekend with a solid 25th-place finish in the Ford
400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, driving the No. 12 Penske Dodge
Charger.
Keselowski took the green flag on Sunday afternoon under almost perfect
South Florida conditions at the 1.5-mile speedway. The 25-year-old driver
struggled with a loose-handling race car during the early portion of the
267-lap event. He radioed crew chief Roy McCauley to explain that the car
was extremely loose under power, which hurt Keselowski's ability to generate
straightaway speed in the Penske Dodge. McCauley and the team went to work
to determine the changes the crew would make to the car during the first pit
stop of the night.
The No.12 Penske Dodge team prepared to see its machine on pit lane under
green flag conditions for the first pit stop of the evening on lap 52. The
team changed four tires and filled the car with fuel.
Keselowski told the team five laps later that the car was much better and
the changes really helped the No. 12 come to life. He explained that the car
was very responsive in the corners and he could really be aggressive with
the gas pedal.
By lap 100, the Michigan native had the Penske Dodge Charger positioned in
21st place. He reported that the car was still a bit loose-handling in the
middle of the corners, but he was searching the track for a line which was
both fast and responsive.
When the caution flag was displayed to the field on lap 116 for an incident
coming out of turn 4, the No. 12 Penske Dodge team prepared for another
round of pit stops. Keselowski brought the car into the pit stall on lap 117
for service. The team changed four tires and filled the car with racing
fuel. It also made a slight air pressure adjustment to both left side tires
as the crew tried to dial in the car for the next green flag segment.
The field took the green flag race restart on lap 123 and Keselowski found
himself in the 26th spot, but he was on a mission towards the front of the
pack. In one lap, Keselowski passed seven cars using the outside line of the
racing surface. His forward progress catapulted the Penske Dodge into the
top-20.
With just 67 laps remaining in the event, Keselowski found himself in the
20th spot. He radioed McCauley to explain that the balance of the car was
good, but it was lacking grip, which hindered Keselowski from being
aggressive with the accelerator. He got all he could out of the car for the
remaining laps and produced a 25th-place result.
"We fought hard all night; we just didn't quite have enough," said
Keselowski after the 267 lap race. "The No. 12 team put in a great effort.
We just couldn't get the speed out of the car that we needed. I've learned a
lot in the few races that I have been in the seat of the 12 car. I'm excited
about the off-season. We have a lot to build on for next year and we'll be
ready to go by the time that we get to Daytona."
The No. 12 Penske Dodge team, which finished the season ranked 30th in the
Cup Series owner point standings, will return to action in February at the
2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for the 52nd running of the Daytona
500
-credit: pr
