In the rich history of NASCAR racing, many speedways have taken on a moniker that is recognized by every fan and driver. Daytona has been called the “World’s Center of Racing,” while Bristol has been deemed the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”
But, one track on the circuit is recognized across the world. It’s a place that has been in existence for 100 years, a track that has been etched literally in the bricks it was built on, and when a driver wins, their name is never forgotten. It’s known as the “World’s Greatest Speedway,” but to fans and drivers, it’s simply known as Indy.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is more recognized for the open-wheel cars that race Memorial Day weekend in the Indianapolis 500, but in 1994, a new tradition was started as NASCAR descended on the 2.5-mile rectangular shaped race track. Since then, the biggest names have put their names in victory lane, such as Earnhardt, Jarrett and Elliott.. This year, 43 more drivers would have the opportunity to drive into victory lane and to “kiss the bricks” in winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
Pole-sitter Mark Martin brought the field to the green flag and immediately got a good jump on second-place starter Juan Pablo Montoya. Unfortunately the race could not get into full-on racing as the caution flew on the very first lap. Robby Gordon spun in the fourth turn after saying he got into some oil on the track from Elliott Sadler’s car. Sadler was black-flagged and soon went to the garage with oil line issues.
The race restarted on lap five, and right on the restart Montoya got the jump on Martin, grabbing the top spot. What followed was Montoya showing the power and drivability of his Target Chevrolet as in only 15 laps, he stretched his lead to nearly two seconds. By the time the first round of green-flag pit stops began, Montoya’s lead was a second more.
Montoya gave up the lead for his pit stop on lap 32 to Tony Stewart. Montoya would regain the lead following pit stops on lap 35, but it was the same story as his lead over second place was once again stabilized at about two seconds.
His lead would not last as the second caution flag flew on lap 58. Kyle Busch, who had been fighting a loose race car, midway through the second run blew a right-front tire, sending him hard into the wall into turn three. The right side of his Snickers Toyota was wiped clean, and Busch went to the garage for repairs.
The leaders came into pit road for the first opportunity to work on the cars with the entire field getting service at once. Many cars were complaining of a loose condition, while Montoya was saying he was tight out front. The lead did not change hands as Montoya held his position with Martin right behind him.
On the restart, Montoya got the advantage and quickly got back to putting himself back on track for a win at Indianapolis. By the halfway point, Montoya led all but six laps of the race. His lead over Martin had expanded to over four seconds, with no one even close to him to challenge his lap times. Montoya was comfortable behind the wheel, and put himself in position to become the first driver to win both the Indy 500 and the Allstate 400.
The second round of green flag pit stops started on lap 91 as Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne came in among others. Montoya would make his stop two laps later, but he would not give up the position for long as he regained the lead two laps later. Not only did he regain the lead, his gap to second place had grown to almost six seconds. Drivers were competing for second place because Montoya was in a league of his own.
The race would continue running to another round of pit stops, and many of the teams were stating that they could make it to the end of the race with one pit stop. That idea would be tested as the leaders came in for service. Montoya made his pit stop on lap 126, had a fast stop and got back out front of Martin.
Suddenly, the entire race outlook changed in one mere instant. After getting back out on the track, it was announced that Montoya was clocked going too fast as he exited pit road. Montoya heard the announcement, and denied it ever happening, but NASCAR made the call, and Montoya was forced to come back to pit road for a pass-through penalty.
The second run down pit road put Montoya outside the top ten, but he caught a lucky break as the race’s third, and ultimately final, yellow flag came out on lap 128. Dale Earnhardt Jr, who had been running near the front all day, had his engine let go in a plume of smoke in the fourth turn, spreading oil on the track. Afterwards, Earnhardt admitted that it was his fault, possibly from missing a shift or burning up a piston coming out of pit lane. Whatever the case, it relegated NASCAR’s most popular driver to a 36th-place finish.
The leaders decided to stay on the track since they had just come in for service, and this time it was Martin and teammate Jimmie Johnson leading the field to the final restart of the afternoon.
On the restart, Johnson got a little more momentum and managed to get ahead of his teammate for the lead. Johnson was able to stretch his lead, but Martin kept the pressure on and it never got larger than one second. Late in the race, Martin began reeling in his teammate, trying to gain an advantage so he could make a pass. In one corner, he would gain, but in the next corner, Johnson would open it up again.
Coming to the white flag, Martin had one last opportunity to get by his teammate, but would not get any closer than a couple car lengths as Johnson held on to get his second consecutive win at Indianapolis.
In victory lane, Johnson was extremely grateful for his team, and even more grateful for what Martin had brought to the Hendrick organization. Soon after, the entire Lowe’s team got a victory lap around the track before making it back to the start/finish line for a tradition that started in 1996. Even after 400 miles, 160 laps, and nearly 200 sets of tires on the track, Johnson and his crew turned their hats around, knelt down and kissed the yard of bricks at Indianapolis.
Next week, the stars of NASCAR make their second trip to the Pocono mountains as it is the second race at the triangle-shaped track. Looking at how the race at Indy went, is will be hard to bet against Johnson, but my favorites are going to be Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards. Stewart won the first race at Pocono this year, and expect him to be a contender once again. Edwards won both races here in 2007 and Roush has always run well at Pocono, so keep an eye on the Aflac Ford.
As far as an underdog, I’ve got to go with the guy that missed out on winning at Indy, Montoya. Pocono has similar banking in the corners and the speeds are just as fast, so the setup should be similar. Coming off such disappointment, I look for a big rebound from Montoya. He could surprise a lot of people.
Coverage of the Pennsylvania 500 begins at 1 p.m. next Sunday on ESPN.
RESULTS: 1-Johnson 2-Martin 3-Stewart 4-Biffle 5-Vickers 6-Harvick 7-Kahne 8-Reutimann 9-Gordon 10-Kenseth
NOTABLE FINISHES: 12-Logano (R) 15-Edwards 25-Burton 27-Kurt Busch 34-Hamlin 36-Earnhardt Jr. 38-Kyle Busch
CAUTIONS: Three for 18 laps. Lap 1-4, 58-62, 128-136
LEADERS: Ten lead changes among seven drivers. Martin 1-4, Montoya 5-31, Stewart 32, Gilliland 33-34, Montoya 35-92, Mears 93-94, Montoya 95-125, Vickers 126, Mears 127, Martin 128-137, Johnson 138-160
POINTS (Six races until the Chase): 1-Stewart, 3054 points 2-Johnson, -192 3-Gordon, -207 4-Kurt Busch, -446 5-Edwards, -498 6-Hamlin, -536 7-Newman, -548 8-Kahne, -572 9-Martin, -583 10-Montoya, -593 11-Biffle, -609 12-Kenseth, -625