Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023
Race 22 of 33: Pennzoil 150 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
Track Specs: 2.439-mile road course / 62 laps
Race Winner: Ty Gibbs
Paludo’s finish: 22nd
Miguel Paludo and the No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture team rebounded for a 22nd-place finish in Saturday’s Pennzoil 150 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Paludo, making his third Xfinity Series start of the season, was in position for a stronger run but contact from a competitor late in the race sent the No. 88 off course and left the team little time to claw back into contention.
Race Rundown
- Starting 22nd on the day, Paludo made quick and decisive moves in the race’s early going and improved to the 19th spot by the first caution and subsequent lighting delay on lap 6.
- Paludo reported early that his BRANDT Professional Agriculture machine was “good but snappy loose on some of the curbs.”
- When the field went green again following the delay, Paludo was scored in 17th and cycled to ninth as other competitors pitted to swap out rain tire for racing slicks. The No. 88 team followed suite and came to pit road on lap 15, finishing out Stage One in 18th.
- Paludo radioed the team that the car’s handling was “building tight but snappy loose on exit.” The team pitted a second time under caution for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment.
- Paludo restarted 13th and spent the bulk of Stage Two running inside the top 20 prior to a fuel-only pit stop lap 37. He concluded the stage in 23rd.
- After a number of green-flag laps, Paludo reported a severe tire vibration that necessitated another trip to pit road and put the team off its initial strategy.
- Then in the closing laps, the No. 48 of Parker Kligerman forced Paludo off track in Turn 13, dropping Paludo from 16th to 27th. With only a few laps remaining, Paludo climbed back to the 22nd position for the checkered flag.
Miguel Paludo, driver No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet team
“A big thanks to the whole BRANDT team for all their hard work this weekend. We worked hard to get our BRANDT Professional Agriculture in position for a better finish today. We would have produced a better result but after we were run off track, there was little time to try and get back to where we were running before the incident.”