Andy Lally Indianapolis Race Report

Lally and TRG Motorsports Back in the Top 35

TRG Motorsports driver Andy Lally picked up a 26th place finish for the No. 71 Interstate Moving Services Ford Fusion yesterday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the running of the Brickyard 400.

Andy Lally and the No. 71 Interstate Moving Services Ford Fusion put down its fastest lap of the days leading up to the race right when it counted during qualifying. Getting locked into the field was a huge accomplishment for Andy on his debut visit to the Brickyard, but the icing on the cake was finishing on the lead lap and getting the team back in the Top 35.

Andy Lally, TRG Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Rookie driver Andy Lally was digging deep this weekend and gained speed during each session as the weekend progressed. “The team did a great job working hard and making the proper adjustments to get the car where I needed so that I could gain the speed for our qualifying laps. Once we were locked into the grid, I knew my focus needed to shift to the race on Sunday and fighting hard to get the team back into the Top 35. We took advantage of the off week last weekend and the team worked hard to make some great improvements back at the shop. This was an overall team effort and I’m really proud of us all. It’s great being back in the Top 35 again and heading back to Pocono knowing we are locked in”.

Crew Chief Doug Richert really had his work cut out for him on Sunday due to the unpredictable flow of the race and the final caution which changed the fuel strategy leading to the checkered flag. “Our guys worked really hard all weekend and the car had improved a bunch since we unloaded it on Friday morning. Andy did a great job adapting yet again to another new track for him. It was one of those situations where Andy gave us good feedback which allowed the team enough to get those valuable seconds that counted during qualifying. Due to the circumstances of the race this weekend and the last caution, it was a gamble deciding whether we wanted to keep the track position or top off on fuel with 1 lap to go. I think fueling up was the right call because we had less than 16oz. of fuel left in the tank at the checkered flag. Overall, we had a great weekend and we are back in the Top 35 which was our ultimate goal”.

Team owner Kevin Buckler was really proud of the team’s drive and spirit and eventually the incredible performance, throughout the race weekend, working so well together to get the job done. “I mean---this was it. EVERYONE had to come together to get this car in the show and it was a nail biter. Can you imagine…a rookie driver that has never even seen the track, a new engineer, our small tight team (and a very nervous owner) having to stick it in the show in qualifying. All veteran drivers in front of us and 5 guys going home. No do-overs here and the results of this moment will have huge repercussions of our future moving forward. Everyone came together and they delivered. It was awesome and Andy did a great job all weekend learning the Brickyard and I am really proud of his continued improvement every weekend. The Brickyard is known for the power teams dictating the pace and battling up front, but this race worked to our favor as we fought back from being two laps down and finishing on the lead lap after some good strategy, some clever fuel decisions and some really heads-up driving. The best news of the weekend is that we are back in the Top 35 and Andy brought the car home in one piece. I’m really happy with the team this weekend and our partners that have stuck with us and believe in us.”

By: trg motorsports