Ryan Blaney has highlighted the challenges posed by the narrow pit road at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of the 2025 Brickyard 400, emphasizing its potential to disrupt pit stops. With the race scheduled for July 27, Blaney’s insight focuses on the difficulties crews face navigating the constrained space during crucial pit stops.
The Indianapolis pit road is notably narrow, forcing crew chiefs to strategically pick pit boxes to avoid collisions. NASCAR teams have the option to select their pit spots based on qualifying order, and Blaney’s experience with the #12 Team Penske squad reveals the risks involved. Once, when choosing the #21 pit box near the end, Blaney’s crew experienced a dangerous incident when his rear tire carrier was struck during a stop.
Addressing the media, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion described the situation clearly:
“Pit road here is where it gets treacherous. It’s just so narrow. I wouldn’t say that the boxes are that long, but it’s the narrowest pit road.” —Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series Champion
“I think that’s why you see a lot of crew chiefs pick down at the end. We picked way down there at 21, and my rear carrier, Zach (Price), got hit, and he got hurt. I think that’s just the danger of it, and why a lot of guys try to pick down there so you’re not merging when cars are still coming into pit road. So that’s the biggest challenge,” he added.
Blaney will race at the iconic 2.5-mile oval where NASCAR returned in 2024 after a three-year break. His third-place finish last year marked a strong return to the track, which had been absent from the Cup Series schedule due to waning excitement. For the 2025 Brickyard 400, Blaney is set to start in row 12 beside Ford driver Ryan Preece. The pole position belongs to Chase Briscoe from Joe Gibbs Racing.
Ryan Blaney’s Outlook on the Upcoming Season and Upcoming Races
Looking ahead, Blaney remains cautiously optimistic about his prospects for the remainder of the season, especially with a race at Iowa Speedway approaching, a track where he enjoyed victory last year. Despite facing setbacks including seven Did Not Finish (DNF) results in 21 races—the highest number this year—he expresses confidence in his team’s overall pace and performance.
During the same discussion at Indianapolis, Blaney remarked:
“Hopefully, that goes well. I’ve been really proud of our speed this year, and I think we’ve had some great pace. We haven’t really finished many races as I would have liked, but I just try to always look for where our speed is at.” —Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
Currently seventh in the points standings, Blaney has accumulated one win at Nashville Superspeedway, along with seven top-five finishes and nine top-10s. With five races remaining in the regular season, his performance at the upcoming Illinois track will be crucial as he aims to secure a ninth consecutive playoff berth with Ford and Team Penske.
Blaney’s warnings about the narrow pit road at Indianapolis emphasize the ongoing strategic considerations drivers and crews must manage at one of NASCAR’s most challenging venues. As pit stops can significantly affect track position and race outcomes, safely navigating the tight pit road will be vital for contenders during the 2025 Brickyard 400.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Ryan Blaney have a 10 tattoo?
A. Similar to how he likes short tracks, the tattoo connects him to his family history and personal memories. Blaney shares, “I chose the number 10, my grandpa’s old racing number. It honors my grandfather, who passed away a few years before I got the tattoo. I see it every morning on my chest.”
Q. Has Ryan Blaney ever won Talladega?
A. Blaney claimed victory in the fall race at Talladega by just 0.007 seconds ahead of Ryan Newman. This win moved him into the Round of 8, despite an earlier spin on pit road.
Q. Has Ryan Blaney ever won a NASCAR race?
A. Blaney earned his first Cup title in 2023 after coming in second at Phoenix Raceway. He also secured an exhibition victory at the 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race in Texas.
Q. Has Ryan Blaney won a NASCAR race?
A. Blaney has won 14 races, starting with his first victory at Pocono Raceway in 2017, and his latest win was at Nashville Superspeedway in June 2025. He earned his first Cup title in 2023 after finishing second at Phoenix Raceway.