Fast Forward ~ The Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 Powered By
BigMachineRecords.com
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
The Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Season Race #: 20 of 36 (07-27-14)
Track Size: 2.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 9 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 9 degrees
Banking/Straights: 0 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 3,330 feet
Backstretch Length: 3,300 feet
The Race: The Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at The Brickyard Powered By BigMachineRecords.com
Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles
Defending Champion: Ryan Newman, 153.485 MPH
Most recent winner: Ryan Newman, 153.485 MPH
Track Record: Bobby Labonte, August 2000, 155.912 MPH
Race Record: Bobby Labonte, August 2000, 155.912 MPH
Qualifying record: Ryan Newman, August 2013, 187.531 MPH
2013 Purse: $9,265,009
TV: ESPN, 1:00PM EST 7/27/2014
Radio: IMS Racing Network, Sirius XM 90
The History
Indianapolis Motor Speedway has existed since 1909, and is the original "Speedway," the first racing facility to incorporate the word into its name.
With a permanent seating capacity for more than 250,000-plus people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate 400,000, it is the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in history.
August 6, 1994- Jeff Gordon wins the first Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis. This win set Gordon as the youngest race winner at the track.
August 3, 1997-Closest Margin Of Victory: Ricky Rudd over Bobby Labonte by 0.183 seconds.
August 4th, 2002- Bill Elliott becomes the oldest winner at Indy, 46 years, 9 months, 27 days.
The Contenders:
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Indianapolis
Jimmie Johnson........................ 109.8
Tony Stewart............................. 104.1
Jeff Gordon.............................. 102.0
Juan Pablo Montoya................... 96.7
Kyle Busch................................. 96.5
Kasey Kahne.............................. 96.4
Matt Kenseth.............................. 95.8
Greg Biffle.................................. 94.6
Kevin Harvick.............................. 90.2
Denny Hamlin............................. 88.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (nine total) among active drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Picks: As always, before we get into this week’s picks, let’s see how we all did at New Hampshire…seems so long ago…
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
|
Mr. Pole |
18 |
43 |
748 |
791 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
|
Mr. Seven |
14 |
37 |
749 |
786 |
-5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Vivian |
2 |
48 |
694 |
742 |
-49 |
3 |
2 |
|
Mr. Winner |
55 |
23 |
695 |
718 |
-73 |
1 |
2 |
|
Darrell |
11 |
37 |
678 |
715 |
-76 |
2 |
2 |
|
PattyKay Lilley |
11 |
37 |
665 |
702 |
-89 |
1 |
0 |
|
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
2 |
689 |
691 |
-100 |
0 |
2 |
|
Nate |
22 |
5 |
675 |
680 |
-111 |
0 |
2 |
|
Barbara |
78 |
32 |
632 |
664 |
-127 |
1 |
2 |
|
Brian Marchetti |
48 |
2 |
634 |
636 |
-155 |
0 |
2 |
|
Alabama Fitz |
20 |
41 |
564 |
605 |
-186 |
1 |
4 |
|
Kevin Abraham |
15 |
39 |
562 |
601 |
-190 |
1 |
4 |
|
If Playoff Started Today |
|
|||||||
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Mr. Pole |
18 |
43 |
748 |
791 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
2012 |
Vivian |
2 |
48 |
694 |
742 |
-49 |
3 |
2 |
2009 |
Darrell |
11 |
37 |
678 |
715 |
-76 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Mr. Winner |
55 |
23 |
695 |
718 |
-73 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
PattyKay Lilley |
11 |
37 |
665 |
702 |
-89 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Barbara |
78 |
32 |
632 |
664 |
-127 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Alabama Fitz |
20 |
41 |
564 |
605 |
-186 |
1 |
4 |
2003 |
Kevin Abraham |
15 |
39 |
562 |
601 |
-190 |
1 |
4 |
2003 |
Mr. Seven |
14 |
37 |
749 |
786 |
-5 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
2 |
689 |
691 |
-100 |
0 |
2 |
2000 |
Nate |
22 |
5 |
675 |
680 |
-111 |
0 |
2 |
2000 |
Brian Marchetti |
48 |
2 |
634 |
636 |
-155 |
0 |
2 |
2000 |
JIM FITZGERALD: Now, onto the picks for this week’s race at Indy.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Indy. The track of legends. This week there are many who have had their careers made by winning this race. The drivers many will pick are Johnson and Gordon. I look at the past and cannot overlook the fact that Penske has not won the 400. My question is which driver will win it first, Keselowski, Logano or Montoya? I need to think on this a little further as all 3 have what it takes to win at Indy.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Did everyone enjoy the Chase Elliott benefit show in Joliet this weekend? That kid is nothing short of... oh, dare I say it... Awesome! Wonder where he gets it from. What a pity he's not racing at Indy this next weekend... but in his absence, Mama will go with the logic already touched upon by Kevin... the lack of Brickyard wins in the Penske column. I guess that JPM is slated to make another appearance at this race, but after recounting all of his previous performances at Indy, he had one good one... and NASCAR penalized him right out of an almost sure win. No thanks. The other two lads seem to have knock-out qualifying down to a science, and on a track this size, position is almost everything. Joey will still be out there looking for revenge on Morgan Shepherd, while Brad, who is now the recognized senior statesman of the Penske Camp, will be saving gas as only he can do, and rolling home to take the checkers far ahead of whoever runs second. Put Mama down for a ride in the Blue Deuce with Brad Keselowski come Sunday. Meanwhile... bring on Eldora! Roll that beautiful truck footage!
JIM FITZGERALD: You can trust me, Jay!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Well, there we have it guys... proof that Jim is awake and alert and survived the weekend. He recognized Duke, the Bush Beans dog! Good boy Jim...
JIM FITZGERALD: Bark.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: So... have I got this right? No one is playing this week aside from me? Terrific! Mama Wins! Love that game! Seriously guys, did you all move to an off-channel somewhere and not tell me? Monday is usually chock full of chatter and ideas that loosely pass for thoughts. Was my article so boring that you all nodded off to dreamland?
JIM FITZGERALD: Not at all…just gearing up! Okay kids,,,we're back at Indy. Sure wish they use the road course here. Anyway, back at it for the snoozer 400 following an off week. NASCAR sure knows how to keep the excitement up, you know? MY pick for The Race Formerly Known As The Brickyard 400 But Is Now The Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Powered By BigMachineRecords.com.org.gov.us.dot is....after all that, I forgot. Oh, I have it now....it's hometown boy Jeff Gordon!
BRIAN MARCHETTI: Umm, it’s pronounced “GorDOUGHN.”
PATTYKAY LILLEY: I think we can all agree that one has gone past crazy and straight away on to ridiculous. Still, it does give us something to giggle over, unlike the crowd that won't be filling those stands ever again for a race not named the Indianapolis 500.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: I’m taking Keselowski. No way can I go against the hottest driver in NASCAR right now.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: I keep looking at Jimmie Johnson, and the other Hendrick cars, as statistically, one would think picking a Hendrick car for damn near any race is a safe bet. JJ is ranked #1 in Driver Rating at Indy, but he has failed me twice in recent weeks. I sincerely believe this whole restructured Chase thing is a big ole pile of BS, because once you are locked in, you're locked in, and then you get to play around and experiment. That's not racing to me. Gordon and Earnhardt Jr both run well here, both seem to be with good crews, running good cars, and oddly, are First and Second in Current Points. So is it a toss up? Funny thing, I've had a running bet with a good friend of mine for over 10 years, on who would win the next Championship, Gordon or Earnhardt, as I am a long time fan of the Rainbow Warrior, and he is a proud member of the JR Nation. Guess that puts me with Gordon this week, to continue to promote my long term bet with my bud, Joe Gamez. We each have agreed to wear the others hat for one year, if our driver wins the Cup, and I just don't see me in an 88 hat this Christmas.
ALABAMA FITZ: I did consider Danica due to her experience here, which is a total of one race in this series, but I was also thinking of her open wheel driving. To make a long story short, I also looked at a few others and even though he has not been very consistent this year, he has a decent record here. Not spectacular, but worth noting. This guy, before his bad run last year reeled off five consecutive TOP 10s, including two 3rds and a 4th. I'm riding with the 16 of Greg Biffle this week, and if you ask nicely, we might share our Biffleberry pie in Victory Lane.
JIM FITZGERALD: Ah, smooth Biff beer and easy drinkin’ Biff Light, along with two for Keselowski and two for Gordon. Let’s see what our fans think!
Barbara: Not a tough call here. I’m taking Jimmy Johnson.
Nate: Well...I was thinking about going with Johnson, but nope, I'm going with Jeffy this week!
Darrell: Ok if my boy is gonna get a win it better be here. Too many times close but no cigar! Kahne will do it this time!
Vivian: Since Chevrolet has dominated at Indy for many years, it is only right that someone who drives a Chevy should win this one. Therefore I am going with Dale Earnhardt, Jr to win the Crown Royal/Brickyard 400.
Well, there are the picks. Three for Gordon, one for Johnson, one for Kahne, two for Keselowski, one for Biffle and one for Earnhardt, Jr. Who wins Indy? We’ll find out this weekend, and then come back here next week to recap and see who is in and who is out of our own Championship. Until then, keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin AbrahamTotal Wins: 3 This Year: 1
|
Alabama FitzTotal Wins: 2 This Year: 1
|
Jim FitzgeraldTotal Wins: 7 This Year: 0
|
PattyKay LilleyTotal Wins: 5 This Year: 1
|
Brian MarchettiTotal Wins: 3 This Year: 0
|
DarrellTotal Wins: 2 This Year: 2
|
NateTotal Wins: 0 This Year: 0
|
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Sunday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!