| | By Ron Buck
ESPN.com
| FAST FACTS |
|
Event |
Brickyard 400 |
|
When |
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (ABC) |
|
Where |
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.5-mile oval, 12-degree banking in turns, 9-degree banking on straightaways).
Speedway, Ind.
|
|
Distance |
400 miles (160 laps) |
|
Defending champion |
Dale Jarrett |
|
1999 Pole Sitter |
Jeff Gordon, 170.451 mph
|
|
Qualifying |
Thursday, first round, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2); Friday, second round, noon ET |
|
Track Records |
Qualifying record: Jeff Gordon, 179.612 mph (1999)
Race record: Dale Earnhardt, 155.206 mph (1995)
|
On the Track
|
 |
|
|
Tuesday, Aug. 1
I don't know if the Brickyard 400 is ever going to be a
great race. But I know it's become one of Winston Cup's
most prestigious races in just six years.
Since the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is considered a
flat track by NASCAR standards, you're not likely to see
the type of side-by-side, wheel-to-wheel racing of a
Richmond. We also can't expect a finish like the one we
saw this year in Atlanta. But ask any driver, and they'd
trade a win at those tracks for one at Indy.
The Brickyard 400 is prestigious because of where it is
run. This is a trophy every driver wants to put on their
mantle. It may not be the Daytona 500, but it is a race
everyone wants to win.
Most everyone in Saturday's race isn't going to climb
behind an IRL car and drive the Indy 500. Sure, Tony
Stewart, John Andretti and Robby Gordon have driven in
both races, but Bobby Labonte, Jeff Gordon or Dale
Earnhardt isn't going to be in an open-wheel machine
come May. The Brickyard 400 is these drivers only
opportunity to win a race at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. It may pale in comparison to the Indy 500, but
it's their chance to win at Indy.
I don't have a problem mentioning the Brickyard 400 in
the same breath as the Coca-Cola 600 or Southern 500.
And, to be honest, what may make the Brickyard 400
stand out even more than those two races is the money
that will be handed out come Saturday. Last place at
Indy pays nearly as much as some races pay the winner.
Go back to Pocono two weeks ago when Rusty Wallace
won the Pennsylvania 500. Wallace cashed a check for
$125,745. A year ago, Chad Little earned $91,605 for
finishing last at Indy -- Dale Jarrett took home $712,240
as the winner. Money wise, everyone wants to cash that
Indy check.
February and the Daytona 500 was a long time ago.
Saturday is that next big race everyone has been pointing to since we left the beach.
|
|
|
Okay, so it's not the Daytona 500 -- or Indianapolis 500, for that matter. But the Brickyard 400 is fast becoming more than just another stop on the Winston Cup schedule.
In six years, the hallowed grounds of Gasoline Alley and the festival-like atmosphere of 16th Street outside the speedway, have become a sea of NASCAR fans each August. And to think, back in 1994, people of Indiana questioned whether or not Winston Cup belonged at The Brickyard.
If the Brickyard 400 has become anything, however, it's a stage for some of Winston Cup's superstars to shine. Three of the four drivers to win at Indy have also won Winston Cup championships. Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett have combined to win the first six races -- with Gordon and Jarrett each winning twice. This year, all four are legitimate contenders to reach Victory Lane again.
But Saturday's 400 miles also could just as easily produce a new Indiana hero -- say, points leader Bobby Labonte or Speedway favorite, and Indiana native, Tony Stewart. Labonte has steadily improved at Indy, finishing second to Jarrett last year and third in 1998. Stewart was seventh last year as a rookie, but certainly knows his way around the 2.5-mile superspeedway if you count his laps in May with the IRL boys.
Labonte holds a 58-point lead over Jarrett, who certainly could emerge with the lead based on his past performances at the Brickyard. The '99 Winston Cup champion, who first won the Brickyard 400 in 1996, has finished in the top 10 in each of the past 10 Winston Cup races.
The Brickyard has become one of Jarrett's personal playgrounds. Besides the two victories, he finished third in 1995 and 1997. Jarrett also held a healthy lead halfway through the 1998 race when his car ran out of gas. Oh, by the way, Jarrett was also fast during Ford testing last month at Indy. His fastest lap (179.204 mph) was the fourth best by a Ford driver during the test.
As for the Chevy drivers, like Jarrett, Earnhardt has a strong record at the Brickyard. He won in 1995, finished fifth in the inaugural race and 10th last year. Earnhardt also was second fastest among GM drivers in testing at the speedway with a fast lap of 180.253 mph, faster than Jeff Gordon's (stock car) track record of 179.612 mph set during qualifying last year.
It's almost impossible to draw up a list of contenders for Brickyard victory without Gordon. He may be eighth in the Winston Cup standings, 307 points behind Labonte, but he's always a threat to reach Indy's Victory Lane. Along with his two wins, he's also captured the pole in 1995, 1996 and last year.
10 Drivers to Watch
Jeff Gordon: Enters the race with five consecutive top-10s, his longest such streak of the season. Always a threat for victory at Indianapolis, where he has four top-5s, five top-10s and has led a lap in each event.
Dale Jarrett: Joined Gordon as two-time winner at the famed speedway with a nearly perfect race last year, beating Bobby Labonte to the checkered flag by 3.351 seconds. He wound up leading 117 of the 160 laps. Climbed past Dale Earnhardt into second place in the standings after finishing fourth in Pennsylvania 500.
Bobby Labonte: Consistency has helped him forge a 53-point lead over defending champion Jarrett entering. His only win, however, of 2000 came at Rockingham, N.C. But he has posted nine top-five finishes this year, putting him on top of the standings for the past 11 races.
Tony Stewart: An Indiana native, who would like nothing better than to win in front of friends and family. Leads the tour with three wins under his belt. Has started four Indianapolis 500 -- including one from the pole in 80th running of the famous race.
Rusty Wallace: Should be considered a contender for victory -- at least for the pole -- after posting fastest lap of 181.217 mph during testing in July. It would be his eighth pole of 2000. He has momentum on his side after winning the Pennsylvania 500 two weeks ago. Has finished among the top-10 in six of his seven starts at Indianapolis.
Dale Earnhardt: Has a solid record at the Brickyard with a victory in 1995, fifth in the inaugural race in 1994 and 10th last year. He was second fastest during GM testing in July. Also goes for the IROC championship again on Friday in the fourth and final race. Has a 12-point lead over Mark Martin and 14 on Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.
Ricky Rudd: Winner of the 1997 race, but has yet to win a race in 2000 while climbing to eighth place in the standings with six top-five finishes and nine top-10s. Finished ninth in this race last year. The No. 28 car seems to be due at Brickyard, as well.
Mark Martin: Has shown consistency at the Brickyard with a top-six finishes in each of past five races -- including a second-place finish in 1998. Was fourth last year. Will also compete in Friday's IROC race, and he has won both of the IROC races held at Indy since the series began racing there in 1998.
Bill Elliott: Recorded four top-10s in five races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Only has a pair of top-5s this year and four top-10s. Hasn't won since the 1994 Southern 500.
Ron Buck is ESPN.com's auto racing editor. | |
ALSO SEE
Furr: Brickyard bridges NASCAR's two worlds
Benson's white ride receives 'green' just in time for Brickyard
Rudd quickest on Ford's final day of Brickyard testing
|
