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Keselowski hails Kahne for driving "a hell of a race"

Brad Keselowski was so close he could taste a Brickyard 400 victory.

Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford

Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford

Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford
Race winner Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Race winner Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford
Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet takes the checkered flag
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Trevor Bayne, Roush Fenway Racing Ford crash
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford

“I had a taste of it in my mouth,” he said, “but I didn’t get to eat it.”

More than six hours, a nearly two-hour rain delay and three red-flags after Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway began, Keselowski emerged from his No. 2 Team Penske Ford just shy of handing team owner Roger Penske his first Brickyard win.

“It was a long one – another 10 minutes or so and we may have been out of daylight,” Keselowski said.

Battle with Kahne

At the start of double overtime, Kasey Kahne dove under Keselowski to take the lead through Turn 1. Just as they exited Turn 2, another multi-car wreck erupted behind them.

NASCAR, however, elected not to throw the caution until after Kahne had reached the overtime line, thus sealing his victory and preventing a third two-lap overtime period from deciding the outcome of the race.

“Kasey did a heck of a job today and drove a hell of a race,” Keselowski said. “I’m happy for him. I thought we were in the right spot. You had seen the same thing all day when you’d get somebody on the outside and in the corner you got real loose.

“He drove in there and it just stuck. I don’t know. I may have had the wrong lane there or made the wrong call, I’m not sure. The car was on edge and then some.”

Agression at Indy

Asked if he was surprised by how aggressive the end of Sunday’s race became, Keselowski said, “That’s how it’s got to be. That’s how NASCAR racing should be. I think that’s a good thing. The fastest car doesn’t always win.

“I think (Kyle Busch) and (Martin Truex Jr.) were the two fastest cars and they didn’t win because of all the aggression and the things we saw. That’s the part that makes this racing fun.”

Keselowski’s runner-up finish was his second consecutive top-10 finish after a pair of crashes that dropped him to eighth in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings.

Although he is already securely in the playoffs thanks to his two victories early in the season, Keselowski has now rebounded to sixth in the standings. The top 10 in points at the end of the regular season earn additional playoff points.

“I’m happy and proud to have a team that’s capable of running up front, and when not capable of running up front, executing to get me up front and put me in position (to win) like they did today,” Keselowski said.

 

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