Reed Finishes 13th in Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis

Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association team finished 13th on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) after starting 15th in the main event.

“We made a lot of progress from where we started,” said Reed.  “Yesterday in practice we were like an 18th-place car, so I felt like at the end of the race we were a top-10 car.  We were passing top-10 cars and it was just tough.  We were behind and started behind.  We’ve got to unload off the truck better and we won’t be a few adjustments behind all weekend.  We’re learning.  That was by far my best run ever at Indy, so there is a bright side, but we want to knock down these top 10’s.”

Reed started the first heat race fifth after qualifying ninth on Saturday afternoon. He reported during the 20-lap heat race that the car was loose and he needed lateral grip. He finished the heat race eighth and told the team he needed right rear grip.

During the break, the team made a track bar and spring adjustment. Reed fired off 15th in the 60-lap main race for the Lilly Diabetes 250.

By Lap 6, Reed had raced his way up to the 13th position. By Lap 11, he was up to 12th and told the team that the car was really good. When the team pitted under green on Lap 26, they made no adjustments to the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang. They put on fresh tires and filled the car with fuel to send Reed back out.

By the halfway point in the race, Reed ran 16th and was back up to 13th with 20 laps to go. The first caution of the race flew eight laps later. Reed ran 13th and said he needed security in the rear of the car. The team brought Reed down pit road for fresh tires and fuel, sending him back out 13th for the restart with seven laps to go.

One lap after the restart, the caution flew for the second time. Reed was scored 13th, where he would restart for the green-white-checker finish and ultimately cross the finish line in the Lilly Diabetes 250 at IMS.

Reed remains 10th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Championship standings after the Lilly Diabetes 250 at IMS. Next up for Reed is Iowa Speedway on Saturday, July 30th.

RFR PR