Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing secured the pole position for the 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after setting the fastest qualifying time on Saturday. His teammate Denny Hamlin, who had initially been over two-tenths of a second faster, crashed heavily against the wall during his final lap, leaving him unable to complete a qualifying time and pushing him to start 39th.
Hamlin’s crash was severe enough to stop his No. 11 car on the track, nullifying his leading time and handing the advantage to Briscoe. The pole-winning time of 49.136 seconds by Briscoe narrowly beat Bubba Wallace by just 0.013 seconds, highlighting the competitive nature of the qualifying session.
Toyota Dominates Top Five Starting Positions at Indianapolis
The qualifying session saw a strong performance from Toyota-backed teams, with the top five spots exclusively occupied by Toyota drivers. After Briscoe and Wallace, Erik Jones claimed third place, followed by Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs in fourth and fifth positions respectively. This Toyota sweep demonstrated the manufacturer’s speed and strategy heading into the Brickyard 400.
Outside the top five, Chevrolet, Ford, and other manufacturers filled the rest of the field, but key competitors such as Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain faced setbacks by qualifying outside the top 20. Their disappointing results suggest challenges ahead for their race strategies on Sunday.
Complete Starting Lineup Highlights and Notable Qualifying Results
The full qualifying order reflects a tight battle for track positions, with many drivers separated by mere fractions of a second. Notable placements include:
- Chase Briscoe (No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) secured pole with a 49.136-second lap.
- Bubba Wallace (No. 23, 23XI Racing Toyota) was second, just 0.013 seconds behind.
- Erik Jones (No. 43, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) took third place.
- Tyler Reddick (No. 45, 23XI Racing Toyota) fourth.
- Ty Gibbs (No. 54, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) rounded out the top five.
- William Byron (No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) started sixth.
- Chris Buescher (No. 17, RFK Racing Ford) qualified seventh.
- Carson Hocevar (No. 77, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) was eighth.
- AJ Allmendinger (No. 16, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) earned ninth.
- Austin Cindric (No. 2, Team Penske Ford) completed the top 10.
The remainder of the field included experienced drivers such as Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Busch, and Kyle Larson, all starting in the mid-top 20 range. Meanwhile, Chase Elliott qualified 30th, and Ross Chastain struggled to 33rd. Denny Hamlin’s inability to post a time places him last at 39th.
Implications of Hamlin’s Crash for Sunday’s Race and Championship Battles
Denny Hamlin’s wreck during qualifying is a significant setback for both the driver and Joe Gibbs Racing, as starting near the back will create added challenges for overtaking and race strategy, especially at a historic track like Indianapolis. Hamlin had been on pace to claim the pole, which would have provided a crucial advantage at the season’s highlight event.
Chase Briscoe’s pole position offers Joe Gibbs Racing a morale boost and tactical edge, confirming their strong performance throughout the session. Toyota’s dominance in qualifying further underscores their competitive status heading into the race weekend.
The results also raise questions about the preparedness of other top drivers such as Blaney, Elliott, and Chastain, who now face uphill battles to secure strong finishes from deep in the field. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see how these factors influence the race itself and the broader NASCAR Cup Series championship picture.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How did Denny Hamlin get so rich?
A. Starting his full-time Cup Series career in 2006 with Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin has achieved 51 Cup Series victories. He also won the Daytona 500 three times (2016, 2019, 2020) and made millions during his career.
Q. Did Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish get married?
A. Denny Hamlin is set to marry Jordan Fish. Since her childhood, she loved dancing, which led her to perform for the NBA team then known as the Charlotte Bobcats, now called the Charlotte Hornets. She first met Hamlin while performing at a Bobcats game.
Q. How is Denny Hamlin so rich?
A. Denny Hamlin’s $65 million net worth comes from his successful NASCAR career. He has earned over $100 million through contracts and race winnings.
He also gains millions from endorsements with brands like FedEx, Jordan Brand, and Toyota. Additionally, Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing, a team now worth over $100 million.