Kyle Larson’s rally to win the Brickyard 400 collapsed after a blistered tire sent his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsport Chevy into the outer wall.
Race‑day loss
Larson had seeded the field by starting tenth and, following an early pit stop, moved up to stand a lap out of the Stage 1 lead. In Turn 3 the rear of the car snapped loose, the left‑rear tire blew, and the car slammed the turn’s outside barrier. The driver radioed the crew that a left‑rear tyre “let go.”
Crew chief Cliff Daniels, visibly stunned, later spoke with Goodyear representatives. Larson, still chasing a first win since the 2025 Indy 500, finished 39th and collected only one point, deepening a winless streak that now spans three of the last four races.
Championship ramifications
Entering the Daytona round, Larson sits sixth in the points tally but the blow could drop him several places. In the tightly packed standings every position counts for the Chase reset after Daytona, a month from now. His Brickyard race adds a 34th‑place finish to the tally of poor results in his current run.
Meanwhile, teammate Chase Elliott also suffered an exit after a collision with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., forcing the No. 9 Chevy into the wall and endangering the track’s configuration.
Despite the streak, Larson noted “just a little bit bad luck” and thanked his crew for their efforts, hinting that Iowa will offer a chance to rebound.
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