Logano: Duel result earned respect

Logano has replaced double Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart at Joe Gibbs Racing this season, the 18-year-old having wowed NASCAR when he won the Kentucky Speedway Nationwide Series race last year.

But while he impressed in the second-tier championship, Logano failed to shine in a handful of Cup outings with Hall of Fame Racing, leading to suggestions that he had been over-hyped.

He was then taken out of the Bud Shootout in an early multi-car crash, before rebounding in the Duel to take fourth place - just behind past and current champions Jeff Gordon, Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.

"I think we accomplished everything we needed to," said Logano. "Our main goal was to go out there and finish the race - that was more than we got in the Shootout.

"Just kind of keep going, gain some respect from these guys like I've been saying all week. I feel like we accomplished that, now we can work on our car a little bit more and get ready for the 500."

When asked if he felt he had now earned the experienced drivers' trust, Logano replied: "Yeah, I think I have a little bit. It's just going to take time.

"I think this run (in the Duel) helped, getting up there at the end helped a lot. But yeah, that stuff just takes time."

He said he did not necessarily expect the established drivers to help him in the draft yet.

"I understand if someone wouldn't, there's an excuse not to," said Logano. "But at the same time, I feel like I'm getting treated fairly. I'm not getting dumped out there or anything like that. Pretty fair."