2007 Allstate 400 at The Brickyard:
The 2007 Allstate 400 at The Brickyard is one of the biggest events on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule. The Brickyard 400 brings out the best in NASCAR's best as the huge crowds and huge purse make a NEXTEL Cup victory at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway even more special.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office 317-492-6700 or 800-822-INDY
The Track:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2.5 mile rectangle is one of the most famous race courses in the world. Unfortunately it wasn't built for stock cars as it has only 9 degrees of banking in the four distinct corners and very long straightaways. This makes passing very difficult and track position is everything. As a result, this fast, flat track isn't a great place for stock car racing.
Race Distance:
160 Laps = 400 Miles
The Big Picture:
Not much movement as a result of the Chicagoland race two weeks ago. Jeff Gordon still leads comfortably and Dale Earnhardt Jr. still holds down the twelfth and final Chase qualifying spot.
Ryan Newman is currently thirteenth overall, just thirty points behind Earnhardt.
The top twelve are now:
- Jeff Gordon -0
- Denny Hamlin -303
- Matt Kenseth -346
- Jeff Burton -420
- Carl Edwards -438
- Tony Stewart -482
- Jimmie Johnson -488
- Kevin Harvick -574
- Kyle Busch -597
- Clint Bowyer -630
- Martin Truex Jr. -703
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -760
Storylines:
The Allstate 400 seems to bring out the best in NASCAR's biggest stars. Six times in the 13 year history of the Brickyard 400 the winner of this race has gone on to win the Championship.
- 1998 - Jeff Gordon
- 1999 - Dale Jarrett
- 2000 - Bobby Labonte
- 2001 - Jeff Gordon
- 2005 - Tony Stewart
- 2006 - Jimmie Johnson
There is something about this race that causes the cream to rise to the top. Is there something special about the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway that brings out the champions?
Media Coverage:
TV: ESPN Sunday, July 29th, 1:00PM Eastern.
Actual Race: 2:40PM Eastern
Posted Awards:
$9,533,587
Last Year:
The 2006 Allstate 400 at The Brickyard didn't have a lot of drama as the narrow, flat racing surface didn't yield much passing. Jimmie Johnson's team made the right call at the right time to take the big win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Late in the race Johnson's crew decided to take four tires which put him back in the field. Jimmie was able to work his way through traffic and score the easy win.
Predictions:
Given the history of this track in order to pick the winner in this race you need to also consider who you think could win the championship.
Jeff Gordon has won the Brickyard 400 a record four times. Two of those wins foreshadowed Championships for his Rainbow Warriors. Gordon has been having an incredible 2007 season and clearly knows how to win in Indianapolis. Jeff Gordon has to be one of the favorites this weekend at the Brickyard. Gordon makes a great top pick.
I am picking Matt Kenseth for my backup this week. This might be a bit of a surprise for some. Even though Kenseth has never won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway he has had four top five finishes in the last five races. This includes a runner-up finish in 2003 and again last year. Matt Kenseth is my backup pick for the 2007 Brickyard 400.
