On Monday, July 27, the day following this year’s “Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 From The Brickyard” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I was invited to take a lap of the track in my personal vehicle. This opportunity was offered to those ticket-holders who have been purchasing tickets for at least 20 of the 22 races that have been held here. I couldn’t resist!
The video below is narrated by me during the lap. I have tried to share my impressions of the track, tried to point out some historical places around the track (although there are dozens more I could have added) and tried to re-create some significant events in Brickyard 400 history. The video and highlights as narrated are below:
0:23 – We enter the track by driving under the North Vista grandstand (this was the one viewers on TV saw the large Crown Royal banner over) between Turns 3 and 4. We enter through the very same gate that Jeff Gordon hit the day earlier, ending his quest for victory in his final Brickyard 400 race.
0:48 – This track surface is SMOOTH! Even at only 9 degrees of banking, you can feel it!
1:33 – Half-way through Turn 4, the trash in Grandstands J and H remains from yesterday.
1:43 – Dents in the SAFER barrier and marks on the wall are a reminder of where you don’t want to be on corner exit.
1:55 – The large grandstands on either side of the main straightaway give drivers a sense of tunnel vision, often making Turn 1 at the far end difficult to visualize clearly to hit your mark! Imagine this at 200 mph!
2:07 – Pit entrance.
2:14 – The site of Tony Stewart’s famous, “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty” call to Kevin Harvick in 2007.
2:23 – The Pagoda comes into focus.
2:28 – The grandstands are HUGE and very close to the track!
2:38 – Not narrated on video, but you can see the double and single orange cones on the right-hand side marking the re-start zone.
2:50 to 3:10 – Just some of the historical drivers and moments at the famous yard of bricks!
3:12 – Indy’s famous pole.
3:16 to 3:37 – The 3-2-1 countdown markings for braking zones are on the right-hand side.
3:53 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s marks in the Turn 1 grass from the race.
4:00 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s and Trevor Bayne’s marks on the Turn 1 SAFER barrier.
4:18 – Anonymous dents in the SAFER barrier. If they’re white, that means that the IMS staff has painted them over from a previous incident. They try to do this within 24 hours of each event.
4:36 – Short chute between Turns 1 and 2, with a nice Indy sunrise now visible.
4:57 – Site of Sterling Marlin’s car catching on fire in the 2004 race.
5:08 – Luxury suites overlooking the track at the exit of Turn 2. Several drivers own one of these condos.
5:27 – More contact with the SAFER barrier is evident at the exit of Turn 2.
5:34 – Sure easier to visualize Turn 3 at the end of the back straightaway than it was to focus on Turn 1 earlier.
5:55 – Once again, it is remarkable how smooth this surface is!
6:11 – The stand used by NASCAR and IndyCar officials during races on the inside middle of the back straightaway.
6:44 – Braking zone markings again.
6:57 – Preparing to enter Turn 3…. the site of the famous Kurt Busch v. Jimmy Spencer contact in 2002.
7:23 – The SAFER barrier for Turn 3 begins.
7:34 – Steel and Foam still look awful hard. Wouldn’t want to hit them or concrete.
7:45 – Almost done. That went by too quickly …
8:07 – I was directed to exit the track through the opening for race-day safety vehicles between Turns 3 and 4. The jet dryers (which were fortunately not needed this year) are on the left.
Thank you for watching! What is your favorite Brickyard or Indianapolis Motor Speedway moment? Please take a moment to comment below or reach out via social media!