The Brickyard 400 delivered one of the most thrilling finishes of the 2025 NASCAR season. Tension built lap after lap until the checkered flag finally flew after two overtimes.
While Bubba Wallace celebrated his long-awaited victory after 101 winless starts — the first by a Black driver at Indianapolis — Kyle Larson found himself analyzing what might have been different in those crucial final moments.
Why Did Bubba Wallace’s Restart Strategy Give Him the Edge Over Kyle Larson?
The battle between these two drivers came down to split-second decisions and strategic positioning on the restarts. Reflecting on the race immediately afterward, Kyle Larson broke down exactly how Wallace managed to stay ahead when it mattered most.
While speaking to the press, Larson dissected both critical restarts that determined the race outcome. The No. 5 driver also explained winner Bubba Wallace’s tactical approach and how it frustrated his own attempts to take the lead.
“He was first gear on both of them, but in the first one, he was just a little bit faster to the restart zone. I stayed in second gear, and he got a launch. I was able to just barely hang on his right rear quarter and then drag him back and kind of pull my momentum to halfway past him,” Larson explained.
That first restart showed just how close these two competitors were running. Larson managed to pull alongside Wallace, hoping the 23XI Racing driver would struggle with his car’s handling and create an opening. However, Wallace maintained his composure and track position.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bubba Wallace becomes the first Black driver to win on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s oval, taking the Brickyard 400.
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 27, 2025
The second restart proved even more challenging for Larson’s championship hopes. Wallace adjusted his strategy, forcing Larson to match his approach rather than stick with his original plan.
“Then, in the second one, he brought the pace down so much that I had to be in first gear as well and just launch with him. So, I had no momentum that time. But I had as good a momentum as one could have during the first restart and still couldn’t clear him. So, it was going to be hard no matter what,” Larson continued.
How Did Track Characteristics Shape the Final Battle?
Larson acknowledged that Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s unique layout significantly influenced the race’s outcome. The difficulty of passing at this track meant that track position became even more valuable than usual.
The No. 5 driver highlighted that Indy’s characteristics often create situations where overtaking becomes extremely challenging, regardless of car speed or driver skill. However, he found a positive angle in this reality.
“But it’s also kind of fun because of the team strategy and pit crew. And all that comes into play and matters,” he noted.
Despite finishing second, Larson expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance. The Hendrick Motorsports driver emphasized that while the start wasn’t ideal, his crew executed their strategy effectively throughout the race.
“I wasn’t really expecting the guys on two tires to come out in front of me like that, but it is what it is. Maybe if I could have gotten by Reddick a little sooner, I would have had a better opportunity. But, like I said, it’s hard to pass here.”
The fuel situation added another layer of complexity to the race’s conclusion. Larson mentioned that fuel calculations involved significant guesswork, even for Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota. While he hoped Wallace might run out of fuel in the closing laps, Larson ultimately accepted how the race played out and felt good about his team’s effort at Indianapolis.