Statistically speaking: a look at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series makes its yearly visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a.k.a. the Brickyard, this weekend for the Brickyard 400. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event. Jeff Gordon, then in his second full year of Winston (now-Sprint) Cup competition, won the first NASCAR race at the Brickyard in 1994, and has gone on to compile stats that include four top-level NASCAR wins at Indy.
In the years since, Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jimmie Johnson, has found victory lane at Indianapolis several times, matching his mentor’s track win total with four. They’re the two winningest drivers in NASCAR competition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Among drivers who’ll take the checkered flag on Sunday, Tony Stewart is also a multi-time winner at the famed and historic track in his home state of Indiana. Stewart has two Brickyard 400 victories.
Here’s a statistical look at how some of the top drivers have fared in the Brickyard 400 (stats provided by NASCAR Media Services):
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Three top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 13.2
· Average Running Position of 11.8, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 94.6, eighth-best
· 58 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· 472 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.929 mph, seventh-fastest
· 1,027 Laps in the Top 15 (71.3%), seventh-most
· 205 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 10th-most
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 13.3
· Average Running Position of 14.8, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 84.6, 11th-best
· 487 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· 727 Laps in the Top 15 (56.8%), 11th-most
· 172 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 11.6
· Average Running Position of 12.8, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 96.5, fifth-best
· 48 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 502 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.047 mph, fifth-fastest
· 1,044 Laps in the Top 15 (72.5%), fifth-most
· 265 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· One top five, three top 10s
· Average finish of 13.2
· Driver Rating of 84.4, 12th-best
· 44 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 519 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· 721 Laps in the Top 15 (50.1%), 12th-most
· 234 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Four wins, 11 top fives, 16 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 8.8
· Average Running Position of 11.5, third-best
· Driver Rating of 102.0, third-best
· 105 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 497 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.505 mph, second-fastest
· Series-high 1,105 Laps in the Top 15 (76.7%)
· 284 Quality Passes, second-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· One top five, three top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.9
· Driver Rating of 88.3, 10th-best
· 41 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.004 mph, sixth-fastest
· 738 Laps in the Top 15 (57.7%), 10th-most
· 190 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.9
· Average Running Position of 14.4, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 90.2, ninth-best
· 904 Laps in the Top 15 (62.8%), eighth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Four wins, five top fives, six top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.6
· Series-best Average Running Position of 10.8
· Series-best Driver Rating of 109.8
· Series-high 173 Fastest Laps Run
· 1,057 Laps in the Top 15 (73.4%), fourth-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 14.2
· Average Running Position of 12.8, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 96.4, sixth-best
· 78 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 1,085 Laps in the Top 15 (75.3%), third-most
· 271 Quality Passes, third-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Six top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 15.1
· Average Running Position of 12.4, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.8, seventh-best
· 1,100 Laps in the Top 15 (76.4%), second-most
· 247 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)
· One top five, two top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 20.3
· Average Running Position of 12.5, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 96.7, fourth-best
· 106 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 7.9
· Average Running Position of 11.1, second-best
· Driver Rating of 104.1, second-best
· Series-high 571 Green Flag Passes
· 1,037 Laps in the Top 15 (72.0%), sixth-most
· Series-high 292 Quality Passes
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.
Qualifying/Race Data
2013 pole winner:
Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
187.531 mph, 47.992 secs. 07-26-13
2013 race winner:
Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
153.485 mph, (02:36:22), 07-28-13
Track qualifying record:
Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
187.531 mph, 47.992 secs. 07-26-13
Track race record:
Bobby Labonte, Pontiac
155.912 mph, (02:33:56), 08-05-00
Follow Stock Car Spin on Twitter @SCSblog or like Stock Car Spin on Facebook. Amanda’s also on Twitter @NASCARexaminer and has a fan/like page on Facebook: NASCAR Examiner