Brickyard 400 Preview 2015

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Saturday, July 25, 2015 | B3

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THAT TASTE: Jeff Gordon kisses the bricks along the start/finish line after winning his fifth Brickyard 400.

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TOUGH START: Indiana-native Tony Stewart hopes to turn his season around with a strong finish at the Brickyard.

Gordon looking to future Stewart trying to

By Jake Thompson jake.thompson@flyergroup.com

When Gordon announced prior to the season that he was walking away from ‘fulltime’ racing, it was fair to say even he thought he may drive part-time next year at select races. That narrative seems to have changed as this season has progressed.

A deal with FOX to work in the booth seems to have helped sway the 24-year veteran.

Gordon said initially he “set that up because too many drivers (he) respects and have raced with” said they were retiring and came back and wanted to race a few more times.

“That’s why I didn’t say it was my final year of ever competing at a single event,” Gordon said in May. “But it really, truly is. As I get further into the year, as things come together, I don’t see myself doing any races.

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With Jeff Gordon’s announcement in January that this would be his last full-time season behind the wheel, NASCAR fans bemoaned the loss of one of the sport’s greats.

Gordon’s resume speaks for itself as a four-time series champion and he is currently ranked third on the all-time win list with 92 victories.

Gordon has a long and illustrious career and has put together double digit wins in the 1996-98 seasons, along with 80 pole starts.

He has won nearly $150 million in race earnings and led close to 25,000 laps.

With all he has accomplished, the 43-year-old has sensed the end was approaching for some time.

“It’s certainly something

I’ve been thinking about for years,” Gordon said in January. “You’re always trying to, when you get to this point in your career and you’ve done as much as we’ve done as a team, trying to figure out when that right time to step away is.”

Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, has been with Gordon from the very beginning in 1992.

Winner of 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championships, Hendrick and Gordon have developed a bond throughout the years that goes deeper than the traditional owner/driver relationship.

“He’s just meant so much to me, the sport, the drivers, young guys owe him so much,” Hendrick said in January. “He broke a lot of barriers to help people get into the sport, and he’s just been an icon in our sport.”

“I don’t plan on doing any racing. I have no set plans to do any after Homestead.”

As the only five-time winner of the Brickyard 400, the Pittsboro-native has always said Indy was special to him. Gordon started in open-wheel racing and has always looked up to the likes of A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, Al Unser and the like.

Gordon said growing up viewing the Indy 500 “was the first real motorsports race” he’d ever seen on TV and “the one I watched every year.”

When NASCAR added the Brickyard 400 in 1994, to say Gordon was excited was an understatement. He built on that excitement and won the inaugural Brickyard 400.

“I didn’t get the opportu-

See GORDON | B5

get back on track

By Jake Thompson jake.thompson@flyergroup.com

Indiana native and NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is a busy man. So busy in fact, that he’s only been home eight days this year. That won’t change this week as the Stewart/Haas co-owner’ plate is full.

Stewart owns Eldora Speedway in Ohio, and the ‘Big E’ is hosting the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on July 22. This year marks 10 years of ownership for Stewart at the track.

Following that, Stewart returns home for another shot at the Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

See STEWART | B5

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“The first half of the week’s already taken with everything that’s going on at Eldora,” Stewart said recently. “I get back (from New Hampshire) on Sunday. I go all the way through Wednesday night, then we’re up to Indy on Thursday. It’s a long week that I look forward to. It’s a lot of stuff I’m real excited about.”

Stewart is in the middle of one of his worst seasons in NASCAR. The 17-year veteran has no wins, no poles and no top five finishes. He only has one top 10 finish in 18 races. Stewart has collected just one win in the past three seasons,coming at Dover in 2013.

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Race named after U.S. marine hero When tens of thousands of race fans visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for one of NASCAR’s biggest races of the summer, one name will stick out among the rest.

Come race day, not only will fans recognize the name within the Crown Royal Presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 race title, but they will also understand the reason why Jeff Kyle is being honored as an American hero.

Recently in his home state, during a special reveal event at the Texas Rangers game, Kyle was announced as the winner of Crown Royal Canadian Whisky’s annual “Your Hero’s Name Here”

program, which awards naming rights to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to a deserving hero. As the program winner, Kyle’s name will be incorporated into the official race title, the Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard.

Kyle, of Lorena, Texas, was deployed multiple times to Iraq and Africa while serving in the military for eight years. During his time with the 3rd Marine Division, he received the Navy Achievement Medal for leading the first Marine detachment to transport a nuclear submarine through hostile waters.

through his involvement with a handful of organizations.

A board member of the Guardian For Heroes Foundation, Kyle oversees the stewardship of the charity that provides free, in-home fitness equipment, health

Since leaving the military, Sgt. Kyle has dedicated his life to helping his fellow servicemen and women through his tireless efforts to bring awareness to veterans’ needs. He advocates for veterans across the nation and provides support

club memberships, personal training, life coaching and support for the disabled. He also plays a large role with American Valor, the foundation that runs the memorial benefit to honor his brother, CPO and U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. In addition, Kyle is one of the founders of Texas Elite Tactical Academy and trains individuals in firearms safety through his passion to educate those in a safe environment.

“Honestly, I don’t feel like I’m deserving of this recognition,” said Kyle of being named the winner of the 2015 “Your Hero’s Name Here” program. “My true service to this country didn’t

begin until I got out of the military and I’m proud to be in the position I am.”

At Globe Life Park in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, more than 29,000 fans witnessed the announcement of Kyle as the 2015 “Your Hero’s Name Here” winner as the official race logo incorporating his name was unveiled during the pregame festivities. As Kyle made his way to the mound to throw the honorary first pitch, the logo was displayed across ever y screen in the stadium.

After the monumental moment, Kyle was greeted

second after leading four times for a race-high 110 laps.

Labonte’s winning margin of 4.2 seconds over Wallace was the biggest difference between the two over the final 60 laps.

On Lap 146, Labonte made the race-winning pass in Turn 1.

It was one of the pairs numerous on-track run-ins.

Busch climbed from his car and memorably gestured at Spencer’s No. 41 car twice during the caution laps.

See HERO | B5

HISTORY OF THE BRICKYARD second Brickyard 400, but only those in attendance A star is born, Gordon were able to witness it as it happened. wins inaugural Remnants of Hurricane Brickyard 400 Erin caused steady rain to Nearly 20 years ago, Jeff fall on race day and threatGordon’s NASCAR career ened to postpone the race. was in its infancy. The then Some media incorrectly 23-year-old won the first reported that the Saturday stock car race at the famed race would be postponed so Indianapolis Motor Speedmany fans left the IMS way and the first race held at grounds. But the skies sudthe track besides the Indiadenly cleared up at 3:30 napolis 500 since 1916. p.m. and the track was hastOnly five years removed ily dried. The green flag from graduating from neardropped at 4:25 p.m. with

by Tri-West High School, live coverage only available Gordon earned his second via the radio. ABC had career NASCAR Cup victory signed off before the race by leading a race-high 93 began and did not have an laps and prevailing through open satellite to broadcast a late-race battle against the race. Instead, the race Ernie Irvan. was shown tape delayed on Gordon and Irvan traded Sunday afternoon. the lead back and forth Earnhardt led the final 28 through the final 20 laps. laps en route to his BrickIrvan led with five laps to go, yard victory. Rusty Wallace but ran over a piece of finished second in a race debris down the main that was only slowed by one stretch. Irvan’s No. 28 Texa- caution. co/Havoline Ford slid high in Turn 1 and Gordon’s No. 1996 24 DuPont Chevrolet was Jarrett wins, starts there to capitalize.

Brett Bodine finished sec- tradition, outduels ond and led 10 laps but is Irvan down the stretch more remembered for a Dale Jarrett outdueled his wreck that happened.

Robert Yates Racing teamOn Lap 100, brothers mate Ernie Irvan during the Brett and Geoff Bodine were final 25 laps to finish the first and second respectively 1996 Brickyard 400. on a restart. Geoff nudged Jarrett led at Lap 135 Brett’s bumper in Turn 3 before Irvan took the lead and Geoff took the lead. But at Lap 139 and held on for Brett quickly responded the next 15 laps. With six with a tap of his own in Turn laps to go, Irvan saw anoth4 and Geoff spun out in front er Brickyard victory slip of the field. Geoff hit the out- from his fingers when he side wall and finished 39th in drove too hard and Jarrett the inaugural Brickyard 400. drove past in Turn 2.

Brett later admitted he spun After celebrating in victoGeoff out on purpose. ry lane, Jarrett and his crew chief, Todd Parrott, started 1995 a tradition that Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 winIntimidator wins rain ners have followed since delayed 400 1996. Jarrett and Parrott went to the start-finish line, Dale Earnhardt won the

1994

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Dale Jarrett led at the halfpoint of the race by several seconds when he ran out of gas on the backstretch with one of the top cars of the day.

Jarrett went four laps down but came back to finish 16th and on the lead lap.

Gordon became the first two-time winner when the race ended under caution after a four-car accident with two laps to go.

1997 Rudd rolls dice, wins big Fuel strategy helped lift Ricky Rudd to victory in the fourth Brickyard 400 as he drove the final 46 laps without a pit stop.

Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin held the top three with 20 laps to go, but none could make it to the finish without fuel. Jeff Burton entered pit road after he ran over debris from Robby Gordon’s accident that brought out the caution with 15 laps remaining. Burton sped out of the pits with four fresh tires to try and beat the leaders but was penalized for speeding on pit road.

Rudd was one of a couple drivers who didn’t pit and his gamble put him in the leader. The driver of the No. 10 Tide Ford held off Bobby Labonte to win by 0.183 seconds, the closest margin of victory in Brickyard history.

Rudd became the only driver to win the Brickyard in a team he owned.

2001

2003 Harvick becomes first driver to win 400 from pole

Kevin Harvick became the first driver to win the Brickyard from the pole position.

Jeff Gordon won his third 1999 The driver of the No. 29 Brickyard 400 in eight years Goodwrench Chevrolet won in 2001 after leading 29 laps. the tenth Brickyard 400 as Jarrett earns Gordon took the lead he led twice for 33 laps. redemption in his from Sterling Marlin on a Harvick held off Cup second 400 victory restart on Lap 136 and nev- points leader Matt Kenseth Dale Jarrett made sure er looked back. Marlin led and rookie Jamie McMurnot to run out of gas in the on the restart but missed a ray on a 10-lap shoot off to 1999 Brickyard 400. gear near the start-finish win the race.

Jarrett, driver of the No. line. Gordon passed Marlin 88 Quality Care Service low entering Turn 1.

2004 Ford, led six times for a Marlin led 25 laps on the race-high 117 laps, includday and finished second.

Gordon wins fourth 2001 was the first year ing the last 43. Jarrett held 400 and first greenonto the lead after a two tire that the Brickyard 400 was white-checkered moved from its traditional pit stop on Lap 143 during Saturday spot to Sunday. finish the final caution period.

Bobby Labonte finished Jeff Gordon joined elite 2002 second and Jeff Gordan company by becoming the came in third. Rookie Tony fourth driver to record four Stewart finished seventh in Awesome Bill from wins at Indianapolis. his stock car debut at IMS. Dawsonville takes He joined the Indianapolis four-time club with A.J. 400 2000 Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Bill Elliott led five times Mears, who all earned their for a race-high 93 laps to Labonte pulls away win the 2002 Brickyard 400. victorious in the Indianapolis 500. from Wallace late A late debris caution set Gordon dominated the After three straight Top 3 up a four-lap sprint to the 2004 Brickyard 400 by leadfinishes, Bobby Labonte finish but Elliott pulled ing 124 laps, a race record. finally broke through and away from Rusty Wallace.

The 2004 Brickyard also won the 2000 Brickyard Wallace notched his third had 13 cautions, another 400. runner up finish and his Labonte had finished sec- eighth Top 10 in nine races race record.

It was the first race that ond, third and second at Indianapolis.

NASCAR used its greenrespectively in the three Homegrown hero Tony white-checkered finish. The previous Brickyard’s. The Stewart started from the green-white-checkered was 2000 Brickyard is the fastest pole, led 43 laps and fincreated so that races do not Brickyard in its 19-year his- ished 12th. end under caution and that tory with an average speed Kurt Busch and Jimmy of 155.918 mph. It also took Spencer’s rivalry was on full they can be extended with two hours, 33 minutes and to ensure a race ends racing display after Spencer’s Tar56 seconds to finish the 160 get Dodge sent Busch’s to the checkered flag. laps.

Rubbermaid Ford into the Turn 3 wall.

See HISTORY | B5 Rusty Wallace finished

1998 Jarrett runs out of gas, Gordon takes advantage Jeff Gordon led a racehigh 97 laps as he won his second Brickyard 400 and took home a fat paycheck as well.

Gordon earned the $1,637,625 check for winning because of the bonus from the $1 million Winston No Bull 5 bonus, which was a special program that rewarded drivers for racing well at most prestigious

Gordon wins third 400 on late restart

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Stewart Continued from B3 In 2011, Stewart won five of the last 10 races of the season and won the series championship after going through a similar slump.

He hopes the same thing may hold true again this year.

“Honestly, you know, when we had the improvements in 2011, it literally was overnight,” Stewart said. “I didn’t see that coming, obviously, then. I don’t care how we get there, I don’t care if it takes one week or if it takes six weeks to get there, the main thing is just getting there.”

Stewart has won at the

“I’m always excited to race at the Brickyard,” Stewart said. “That’s just a place that’s special to me.”

While things are not going well, it could be worse for Stewart and his team heading into the Brickyard.

“It’s disheartening that we’re not running good,” Stewart said. “But I guess it would be a ton worse if we were really running well and all of the sudden we got FILE PHOTO to the Brickyard and didn’t run well at the Brickyard.

BETTER TIMES: Tony Stewart exits his car at the That would be the worst start/finish line of a past Brickyard 400 with fist in case scenario.” the air as fans and photographers take in the mo-

ment.

Follow Westside Flyer Brickyard twice, in 2005 Gordon (5), Jimmie John- Sports Editor Jake Thompand ‘07 and is one of only son (4) and Dale Jarrett (2) son on Twitter @JacobEfour two-time winners. Jeff are the others.

Thompson.

to victory lane.

Johnson passed crowd favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. Continued from B4 with six laps remaining to Two-time 400 winner Dale become the second driver to win both the Daytona 500 Jarrett finished second. and Brickyard 400 in the same season.

2005 Matt Kenseth finished second and registered his Hometown hero fourth Top 5 in five years.

Stewart finally wins

History

FILE PHOTO

FAREWELL TOUR: After 24 years of racing, Jeff Gordon has decided to retire from the sport. should go out in his 24th year. He’s given back in so many ways and left a legacy for many to follow and remember.

“I always said I wanted to step away on my own terms if possible, and I want to be competitive out there, and I hoped I could do that all the way through my final year,” Gordon said.

Gordon Continued from B3

nity to race in the Indy 500, but when I heard the announcement that they were going to have the Brickyard 400 … that to me was a very special moment in my life because one of my dreams was finally going to come true,” Gordon said.

“To go and win that race, it Follow Westside Flyer just blew my mind.”

Sports Editor Jake ThompFor the driver of the No. son on Twitter @JacobE24 car, it seems fitting he Thompson.

Hero Continued from B4 off the field by his closest family and friends who surprised him in celebration of the honor, alongside representatives from Crown Royal and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kyle’s wife and parents were in attendance, as well as Kyle’s personal hero and nominator for the program, 2014 “Your Hero’s Name Here” race namesake and Green Beret John Wayne Walding.

“Jeff has made his sacrifice time and time again, whether he’s serving his country overseas, locally or nationally,” Walding said.

“After everything he has done living his life for others, having something that is just for him will be really special.”

This will mark the ninth time the Crown Royal brand has awarded NASCAR race naming rights to an adult fan. After receiving hundreds of entries during the nomination period, five heroes were chosen as finalists and adult fans had the

opportunity to cast their votes for the person they felt was most deserving of the honor. In addition to Kyle, program finalists included Benjamin Parker, retired Army Staff Sergeant from Cincinnati, Ohio; Hector Manley, community leader from Bonita Springs, Fla.; Brendan Marrocco, retired Army Sergeant from Staten Island, N.Y.; and Margy Bons, founder of the Military Assistance Mission from Phoenix, Ariz.

“Jeff Kyle’s dedication to helping veterans in Texas and across the country is a testament to his selfless nature,” said Matt Pechman, brand director for Crown Royal Canadian Whisky.

“The race on July 26 will mark a special event for Kyle as he’ll experience his first NASCAR race in an incredibly unique way — as the namesake.”

As the “Your Hero’s Name Here” winner, Kyle will receive the ultimate VIP race weekend, including garage tours and pace car rides, before delivering the trophy bearing his name to the race winner in Victory Lane.

Farmers’ Market On The Square

at Indy Tony Stewart’s boyhood dream came true on August 7, 2005 — he finally won at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Columbus native led a race-high 44 laps and outdueled Kasey Kahne down the stretch to win the 2005 Brickyard 400. Kahne led from Laps 134-149 before Stewart made the race winning pass in Turn 2, in front of a suite filled with his friends and family.

After racing five times in the Indianapolis 500 without a victory, Stewart’s win in a stock car set off one of the race’s most memorable celebrations.

Stewart did a Polish victory lap (a backward lap) with his fists pumping in the air and a grin unremovable from his face.

As his crew started climbing the fence in celebration, Stewart stopped at his Turn 2 suite where he climbed the wall and took a few gulps of Coca-Cola as chants of “Tony, Tony, Tony” rang out across the track.

Stewart drove back to the start/finish line where he joyfully climbed the fence and high-fived his team.

Exhausted from the race and climb, Stewart did the victory lane interview from his back as he laid on the outside wall.

2006 Johnson rebounds from early trouble, wins first 400

2007 Stewart celebrates second 400 win, drops obscenity postrace Tony Stewart led a racehigh 65 laps on the way to his second Brickyard 400 win.

After his victory, Stewart on live television dedicated the race to the fans.

“This one’s for every one of those fans in the stands who pull for me every week and take all the bull— from everybody else,” Stewart said to the ESPN reporter.

The driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet battled his close friend Kevin Harvick for the victory in the final 30 laps of the race.

Stewart and Harvick’s car touched in the short chute between Turns 1 and 2, but Stewart made the race winning pass with 10 laps to go.

With seven laps remaining and crossing the start/ finish line, TV cameras showed Stewart with his hands off the wheel and driving with his knee momentarily as he adjusted his water bottle.

Rookie Juan Pablo Montoya finished second in the 2007 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and became the first driver to race in the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400 and Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix.

2008

Jimmie Johnson won the 2006 Allstate 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after blowing a left front tire early in the race.

Johnson came back from 38th to lead 33 laps and take the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet

Saturday, July 25, 2015 | B5

Tire debacle overshadows Johnson’s second 400 win

for the cars.

The Goodyear tires wore to the chords with little track time and caused blowouts in some cars after 10 laps of racing. NASCAR put out competition cautions at close to 10-lap intervals so teams could change tires. A whopping 32.5 percent of the race was ran under a race record 52 caution laps.

The average green flag run was only nine laps.

Jimmie Johnson won his second Brickyard 400 as he led eight different times for 71 laps. Carl Edwards finished second.

The 2008 race is the slowest in Brickyard history with an average speed of 115.117 mph with 11 cautions.

2009 Montoya falters in pits, Johnson swoops in for third victory Juan Pablo Montoya dominated 2009’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard as he led a race-high 116 laps but a mishap cost him the prestigious victory.

With 35 laps to go and a five-second lead, Montoya was penalized for speeding in the pits and he begrudgingly served his infraction with a drive-thru penalty.

Jimmie Johnson capitalized on Montoya’s mistake to become the first back-toback winner of the 400.

Johnson also joined his teammate Jeff Gordon as the only three-time winners of the Brickyard.

Pole sitter Mark Martin challenged Johnson over the final five laps but was never able to get around his Hendricks Motorsports teammate.

Johnson won $448,001 and Montoya earned $224,048 for his 11th place finish.

2010 McMurray gives Ganassi special triple crown

NASCAR’s new Car of Team owner Chip GanasTomorrow debuted at India- si sure enjoyed watching his napolis and the tire wear drivers in 2010.

Jamie McMurray won presented massive problems

NASCAR’s season opening Daytona 500, Dario Franchitti won IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500 and then McMurray gave Ganassi a victory in the 2010 Brickyard 400 — a special, never been done before three-peat in three of the world’s most prestigious auto racing events.

McMurray led the final 11 laps and helped to make up for his teammate Juan Pablo Montoya’s misfortunes.

Montoya dominated Indy for the second year in a row as he led 86 laps, but he lost the lead when he took four tires on a late pit stop. He restarted the race seventh with 18 laps to go but wrecked two laps later trying to charge to the front.

On the final caution, Kevin Harvick was passed by McMurray to join Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jimmie Johnson (2006) as the only drivers to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same season.

2011 Fuel strategy gives Menard surprise first career victory The biggest surprise victory in Brickyard history came in 2011 when Paul Menard earned his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory on the hallowed ground of IMS. As the leaders shuffled through their final pit stops, Menard took the lead on Lap 145. Jamie McMurray claimed the lead on Lap 152 but only held the top spot for five laps before Menard quit conserving fuel and took the lead for good on Lap 157.

Jeff Gordon had two newer tires and was tearing through the field before running out time and finishing second.

Menard is the first and only driver to record his first Sprint Cup win in the Brickyard 400.

Menard led 21 laps on the day, including the last four.

Kasey Kahne led a racehigh 48 laps and finished 18th.

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IMS opens gates for 22nd year to NASCAR

By Matt Anderson and Jeff Robison

The annual NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway returns for its 22nd outing on July 26, and change seems to be inevitable each year.

Debuting as the Brickyard 400 in 1994, it was the first race since 1916 to race at the IMS other than the Indianapolis 500. Starting in 2005 it became known as the Allstate 400 for four years before reverting Brickyard back into its title.

In 2012, Crown Royal took over as the main sponsor and has used a unique marketing campaign each year since. The “Your Hero’s Name Here” marketing tool honors a select hero each year. This year’s race is called the ‘Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle Brickyard 400.’

When NASCAR first

arrived at Indianapolis, it came with much fanfare.

A sellout crowd showed up in 1994, and the majority cheered loudly as a young driver with local roots — then rising-star and former Pittsboro resident Jeff Gordon — took the checkered flag and earned the right to kiss the bricks.

Why has Brickyard stuck to its name? On Dec. 14, 1909, workers placed the last of the 3.2 million 10-pound bricks that paved IMS. Since then, most of that brick has been buried under asphalt, but one yard remains exposed at the start-finish line. Kissing those bricks after a successful race remains a tradition among drivers.

Two current drivers hold the top two spots for most wins at the Brickyard. Gordon is the defending champion and has won the race five times (1994, ‘98, 2001,

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ners, including former NASCAR champions Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott, Bobby LaBonte, Tony Stewart, South Bendnative Ryan Newman, Gordon and Johnson.

Hendrick Motorsports has won the race nine times, while a Chevrolet has won a dominating 16 times. The winner of the Brickyard 400

has gone on to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship eight times. The last one to do so was Jimmie Johnson in 2009.

The race consists of 160 laps or 400 miles. The winner is awarded with the second highest purse of the season, second only to the Daytona 500.

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Gordon also has the most top 5s (12), top 10s (17), poles (3), most laps completed (3,329) and most laps led (528).

Jimmie Johnson has won at Indy four times (2006, ‘08, ‘09, ‘12). Tony Stewart has captured the PPG trophy twice (2005, ‘07).

The Brickyard has a “Who’s Who” of past win-

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