41.5 F
Indianapolis
Friday, March 29, 2024

Picking Brickyard 400 winner is easier than you think

More by this author

The annual NASCAR pilgrimage to Indianapolis is once again upon us and while I always look forward to their arrival, the suspense of it all has been largely removed some time ago.

While there are a vast number of drivers capable of taming the legendary oval, the fact is the usual suspects will more than likely prevail and they all probably will be powered by the same mount.

For the last 10 years, Chevrolet has found its way to Victory Lane and the names that guided those chariots to prosperity are, shall we say, rather familiar indeed.

To begin with, there is the current stranglehold being applied by Jimmie Johnson. The ultra talented Hendrick Motorsports driver has made the Indianapolis Motor Speedway his personal playground, racking up a mind boggling four wins in the last seven years to join teammate Jeff Gordon as the only four-time winner of the event.

Johnsonā€™s Brickyard dominance is not so startling as, after all, he has won the Sprint Cup Championship five times in the last seven years, but the dominance by Chevrolet is a different story. Both Ford and Toyota have experienced success at other tracks in the Sprint Cup series with the ownership likes of Jack Roush and Joe Gibbs in their respective folds, so it only makes sense that some serious head scratching is going on from those on the outside of Victory Lane looking in.

Despite the aforementioned dominance, this is NASCAR and there is always plenty of story lines to choose from. Will Indiana favorites Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart claim yet another Brickyard trophy? Can the ever-popular Dale Earnhardt Jr. get the monkey off his back at the IMS and join his late father as a winner?

Perhaps defending Sprint Cup Champion Brad Keselowski can give owner Roger Penske his first Brickyard title, allowing him to join Chip Ganassi as the only owners to win the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and the coveted Indianapolis 500.

Is this the year that former Indy 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya finally gets some good luck and after nearly winning the race twice finds the spoils that accompany a win? Will those in attendance witness a first time winner such as Matt Kenseth or Kyle Busch? Again, no shortage of potential drama here, and if you follow NASCAR you know that is just the way they like it.

Notes: While the Brickyard 400 is the main course this weekend, IMS is offering a plethora of events and has again dubbed it ā€œThe Super Weekend At The Brickyard.ā€ Ā On July 26 you can enjoy a GRAND-AM Road Racing event, followed on Saturday by the NASCAR Nationwide Series Indiana 250. There are also a number of fan friendly events throughout this time including driver autograph sessions, free concerts, and various activities for children as well. Tickets are still available and you can learn more by logging on to Indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

* * * * *

For those of you who cannot attend the race, it will be carried locally and can be viewed on ESPN.

* * * * *

With all of the rumors surrounding the proposed enhancements of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there can be no doubt that there will be lights installed for night racing at the iconic oval. Look for the 2015 Brickyard 400 to be run in prime time under the lights as a precursor for the famed Indianapolis 500 to try it shortly after that. As a racing purist I do not like it, but this is business and the television money and sponsorship opportunities will be enormous. The 500 can always go back to a day race if warranted and having lights for lengthy rain delays is sound logic.

* * * * *

In 2014, the Brickyard 400 will mark its 20th anniversary, and while many scoffed at Tony George for setting the open wheel tradition aside and welcoming NASCAR to IMS, the event has more than stood the test of time. Georgeā€™s bravado paid off big time financially and while the race no longer sells out, it will once again (as always) be the largest audience the series races in front of.

* * * * *

Hats off to the Hulman-George family for continuing the commitment to bring the race to us.

* * * * *

To give everyone a clearer perspective about how long this high profile event has taken place at IMS, consider the following. A truly baby-faced Jeff Gordon won the inaugural running in 1994 and yours truly had a waistline south of 38 inches and a full head of hair. Alas, those were the days.

Danny Bridges, who is picking Kyle Busch to break the Chevrolet stranglehold and win the Brickyard 400, can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.

- Advertisement -
ads:

Upcoming Online Townhalls

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest local news.

Stay connected

1FansLike
1FollowersFollow
1FollowersFollow
1SubscribersSubscribe

Related articles

Popular articles

EspaƱol + Translate Ā»
Skip to content