Denny Hamlin has spoken about battling one of his 23XI Racing drivers for a race win at the Brickyard 400 this weekend.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver and 23XI co-owner fell short of his first win at the crown jewel race, with part-timer Corey Heim taking the victory from Christopher Bell after a strong final restart.
Heim has now won two of his last three Cup Series starts after victory at Coronado last month, leading to Hamlin admitting that the No. 67 is the fastest 23XI car 'most times they're on the racetrack'.
Considering that 23XI's Tyler Reddick is second in the points standings and leads the Cup Series in race wins this year, that's quite a statement – one which Heim will have the chance to back up next year when he becomes a full-time Cup driver.
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Hamlin: Heim's Brickyard victory well deserved
Hamlin appeared to put his failure to win down to the failure of he and his Joe Gibbs Racing team-mates – Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe – to get properly linked up for a push at the final restart, with track position absolutely key at Indy.
"It’s earned on their side and it’s on us as a team on the other side," he said after the race. "I don’t know. I’m sure maybe I could have done something different on the restart with the timing of it.
"Man, just getting a shove so early just didn’t allow me to get my car straight before taking off. Logano really timed the bump to the No. 67.
"I don’t know what we do different. We’re part of circumstances where the inside line didn’t get organized. Really proud of 23XI overall. That part-time effort that Bootie and Corey is putting together, most times they’re on the racetrack, they’re our fastest car. They’re doing a heck of a job. Definitely a well-deserved victory."
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