Brickyard 400
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the famous Indianapolis 500 in late May, will feature its annual NASCAR race as part of the 2010 Sprint Cup Series on July 25th. The Brickyard 400, restoring its original title this year after a 5 year stint as the “Allstate 400 at the Brickyard,” takes its name from the historic track, originally paved in brick back in 1909 and still sporting a one-yard brick strip across the start/finish line.The original Brickyard 400, held in 1994, boasted the largest crowd in NASCAR history to date, playing off the popularity of motor sports in the Indianapolis area. Jeff Gordon took home the inaugural checkered flag in what was only his second year on the circuit. When Dale Jarrett won the race in 1996, he kissed the bricks at the start/finish line, now an Indy 500 tradition that actually began at the Brickyard 400. The large facility and race-loving culture of the Hoosier State has allowed the annual race to survive and thrive for 15 years, showcasing NASCAR drivers on one of racing’s most esteemed stages.Recent Brickyard 400s have been historic in their own right, marking monumental occasions for individual NASCAR drivers, the race and the track itself. In 2007, during his rookie year of Sprint Competition, Juan Pablo Montoya became the first driver to take home the title at all three major events hosted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400 and the U.S. Grand Prix). Jimmy Johnson made history in last year’s race becoming the first driver in to win the Brickyard 400 in back to back years and only the second ever three time champion, winning 3 of the last 4.This year, Johnson should face tough competition from points-leader Kevin Harvick, two time winner Tony Stewart and the race’s winningest driver Jeff Gordon, among others, as he tries to become the first driver ever to win 3 consecutive Brickyard 400s.