NASCAR Racing the Road Course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday

Posted on July 28, 2022
Start of NASCAR Cup Series inaugural Brickyard 200 at Indianapolis Road Course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 08-15-21
Start of NASCAR Cup Series inaugural Brickyard 200 at Indianapolis Road Course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 08-15-21 (Photo credit: YouTube)

For the second time ever the NASCAR Cup Series will race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course this week.

The Verizon 200 at the Brickyard will take place this Sunday (7/31). Last year was the first ever Cup Series race on the winding road course at the historic track known as “The Brickyard.”

This scenario has played out often this year. The drivers and teams have very limited experience on this track. They are also figuring out the new version of the Next Gen Car this year. Combine all of that uncertainty and it could spell disaster for some drivers. It could also spell opportunity for others.

Here is what is known about this weekend’s track and race.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Data
Track Size: 2.439-miles
Track Type: Asphalt Paved Road Course
Number of Turns: 14

Verizon 200 at the Brickyard Data
Season Race #: 22 of 36 (07-31-22)
Race Length: 82 laps / 199.998 miles
Stage 1 Length: 15 laps
Stage 2 Length: 20 laps
Final Stage Length: 47 laps

Here are the top 10 active drivers in overall driver rating based on just the one race last year on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

  1. Kyle Larson – 127.7
  2. Chase Elliott – 115.8
  3. AJ Allmendinger – 103.0
  4. William Byron – 98.8
  5. Denny Hamlin – 96.5
  6. Ryan Blaney – 90.0
  7. Joey Logano – 89.3
  8. Cole Custer – 87.4
  9. Kyle Busch – 86.8
  10. Kurt Busch – 82.0

So far AJ Almendinger is the only driver to have won a NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

Last year it was incidents on the track near the end of the race that allowed AJ to score the win. This could again become a wild card race. With just five races remaining before the start of the NASCAR Playoffs (including this weekend’s race), drivers are going to be very aggressive to make the post-season.

There are two remaining spots in the 16-driver Playoffs grid that are not filled with a driver that has won. The WIN is going to be the most important thing for drivers in the 16 and below the 16. That could lead to some very exciting racing action for fans to watch.

We’ll see it all unfold Sunday, July 31st starting at 1:30 p.m. central time (2:30 p.m. eastern time) in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

By: Buck Stevens

Buck Stevens

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