Blogs > Nascar: Beyond the Track

Find out what's really going on in NASCAR. Look here to find out why your driver really lost his ride, or the real reason those two drivers can't stand each other. Learn about the hidden motives and reasons for the things that happen in NASCAR, from the drivers to the team owners.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Indianapolis Motor Speedway — all the stats and history you need to know

History
·       Indianapolis Motor Speedway has existed since 1909, and is the original "Speedway," the first racing facility to incorporate the word into its name.
·       With a permanent seating capacity for more than 250,000-plus people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate 400,000, it is the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in history.
·       The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was August 6, 1994 – won by Jeff Gordon.
Notebook
·       There have been 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; one per year from 1994 through 2012.
·       128 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; 102 in more than one.
·       Four drivers have competed in all 19 races at Indianapolis: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
·       Rick Mast won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Indianapolis in 1994 with a speed of 172.414 mph.
·       16 drivers have Coors Light poles at Indianapolis, led by Jeff Gordon with three.
·       Two drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Indianapolis: Jeff Gordon (1995 and 1996) and Ernie Irvan (1997 and 1998).
·       Youngest Indianapolis Coors Light pole winner: Reed Sorenson (7/29/2007 – 21 years, 5 months, 24 days).
·       Oldest Indianapolis Coors Light pole winner: Mark Martin (7/26/2009 – 50 years, 6 months, 17 days).
·       11 different drivers have won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, led by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson with four each.
·       Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to have posted consecutive wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2008 and 2009).
·       Youngest Indianapolis winner: Jeff Gordon (8/6/1994 – 23 years, 0 months, 2 days).
·       Oldest Indianapolis winner: Bill Elliott (8/4/2002 – 50 years, 8 months, 11 days).
·       Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Indianapolis in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with eight; followed by Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing with three each.
·       Four different manufacturers have won at Indianapolis; led by Chevrolet with 14 victories; followed by Ford with three, Dodge and Pontiac each have one. Chevrolet has won the last 10 consecutive NSCS races at Indianapolis.
·       Only two of the 19 (10.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis have been won from the Coors Light pole: Kevin Harvick (2003) and Jimmie Johnson (2008).
·       The third starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (three) than any other starting position at Indianapolis.
·       Three of the 19 (15.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis have been won from the front row: two from the pole and once from second-place.
·       11 of the 19 (57.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis have been won from a top-10 starting position.
·       Three of the 19 (15.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
·       The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Indianapolis was 27th, by Jeff Gordon in 2001.
·       NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace leads the series in runner-up finishes at Indianapolis with three; followed by Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth with two each.
·       Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Indianapolis with 11; followed by Tony Stewart and Mark Martin with six each.
·       Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-10 finishes at Indianapolis with 15; followed by Mark Martin with 11.
·       Juan Pablo Montoya leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Indianapolis with a 6.167.
·       Tony Stewart leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Indianapolis with an 8.214.
·       Six of the seven active NASCAR Sprint Cup race winners at Indianapolis Motor Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon won the Brickyard 400 in his first start at Indianapolis. 
·       Jamie McMurray competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway seven times before winning in 2010; the longest span of any the seven active NASCAR Sprint Cup winners.
·       Mark Martin and Jeff Burton lead the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Indianapolis without visiting Victory Lane at 19.
·       Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the August 3, 1997 race won by Ricky Rudd over Bobby Labonte with a MOV of 0.183 second.
·       Only one of the NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): 2004 (160/161).
·       None of the 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions.
·       Qualifying has not been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
·       Reed Sorenson (07/29/07) is the only driver to post his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
·       Paul Menard (07/31/11) is the only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver to have posted his first career win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
·       Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Indianapolis with 477 laps led in 19 starts.
·       Danica Patrick will attempt to become the first female driver to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Patrick does have one start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at IMS; she started 20th and finished 35th (7/28/2012). Shawna Robinson (8/5/01) is the only other female driver to attempt to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis, but she failed to qualify for the event.
 
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Data
Season Race #: 20 of 36 (7-21-13)
Track Size: 2.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 9 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 9 degrees
Banking/Straights: 0 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 3,330 feet
Backstretch Length:  3,300 feet
Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles
 
Top 12 Driver Rating at Indianapolis
Jimmie Johnson........................ 106.3
Tony Stewart............................ 102.8
Mark Martin.............................. 102.5
Jeff Gordon.............................. 101.8
Greg Biffle.................................. 98.6
Kyle Busch................................. 96.6
Juan Pablo Montoya................... 95.9
Matt Kenseth.............................. 94.7
Kasey Kahne.............................. 94.0
Kevin Harvick............................. 91.9
Denny Hamlin............................. 89.9
Jeff Burton................................. 87.9
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (eight total) among active drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
Qualifying/Race Data
2012 pole winner:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 182.763 mph, 49.244 secs. 7-27-12
 
2012 race winner:
Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 137.680 mph, (02:54:19), 7-29-12
 
Track qualifying record:
Casey Mears, Dodge, 186.293 mph, 48.311 secs. 8-7-04
 
Track race record:
Bobby Labonte, Pontiac, 155.912 mph, (02:33:56), 8-5-00
NASCAR in Indiana
·       There have been 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in Indiana.
Track Name
City
NSCS
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Speedway
19
Funks Speedway
Winchester
1
Playland Park Speedway
South Bend
1
·       79 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Indiana. Eight of 79 have posted a win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Driver
NSCS
NNS
NCWTS
Tony Stewart
48
11
2
Ryan Newman
16
7
1
Darel Dieringer
7
0
0
Charlie Glotzbach
4
0
0
John Andretti
2
0
0
Earl Balmer
1
0
0
Larry Frank
1
0
0
Dick Passwater
1
0
0
Tony Raines
0
0
4
Kenny Irwin Jr
0
0
2
 
INDIANAPOLIS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
 
Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Safety Ford)
· Three top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 12.1
· Average Running Position of 10.2, second-best
· Driver Rating of 98.6, fifth-best
· 58 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 392 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.605 mph, sixth-fastest
· 1,027 Laps in the Top 15 (80.2%), second-most
· 205 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), sixth-most
 
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 RK Motors Charlotte Toyota)
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 12.3
· Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 86.7, 13th-best
· 410 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· 694 Laps in the Top 15 (62.0%), 11th-most
· 154 Quality Passes, 13th-most
 
Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
· One top five, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 19.2
· Average Running Position of 14.1, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.9, 12th-best
· 37 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.350 mph, 10th-fastest
 
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Red-White-Blue M-Prove America Toyota)
· Two top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 11.8
· Average Running Position of 12.9, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 96.6, sixth-best
· 39 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 408 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.565 mph, seventh-fastest
· 909 Laps in the Top 15 (71.0%), sixth-most
· 219 Quality Passes, fourth-most
 
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Pepsi Max Chevrolet)
· Four wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 8.8
· Average Running Position of 11.9, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 101.8, fourth-best
· 98 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 406 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.056 mph, second-fastest
· 961 Laps in the Top 15 (75.1%), third-most
· Series-high 240 Quality Passes
 
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)
· One top five, three top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.7
· Driver Rating of 89.9, 11th-best
· 40 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.793 mph, fourth-fastest
· 652 Laps in the Top 15 (58.2%), 12th-most
· 166 Quality Passes, 12th-most
 
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Jimmie John’s Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.3
· Average Running Position of 14.2, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.9, 10th-best
· 28 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 393 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· 850 Laps in the Top 15 (66.4%), ninth-most
· 190 Quality Passes, ninth-most
 
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet)
· Four wins, four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.8
· Average Running Position of 11.8, fourth-best
· Series-best Driver Rating of 106.3
· Series-high 144 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 170.173 mph
 
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 15.4
· Driver Rating of 94.0, ninth-best
· 58 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 926 Laps in the Top 15 (72.3%), fifth-most
· 210 Quality Passes, fifth-most
 
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)
· Five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 15.8
· Average Running Position of 12.9, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 94.7, eighth-best
· 943 Laps in the Top 15 (73.7%), fourth-most
 
Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
· Six top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.8
· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.4
· Driver Rating of 102.5, third-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.688 mph, fifth-fastest
· Series-high 1,067 Laps in the Top 15 (83.4%)
· 220 Quality Passes, third-most
 
Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
· One top five, one top 10; one pole
· Average finish of 22.2
· Driver Rating of 95.9, seventh-best
· 105 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
 
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 8.2
· Average Running Position of 11.7, third-best
· Driver Rating of 102.8, second-best
· Series-high 488 Green Flag Passes
· 238 Quality Passes, second-most
 
Chase Contenders
The Top 10
Following Race 19 of 36
Rank Season
Last Driver
Driver
Points
Wins
Poles
Week
Rating
1. Jimmie Johnson
696
4
1
1
114.6
2. Clint Bowyer
640
0
0
2
94.5
3. Carl Edwards
623
1
1
3
92.3
4. Kevin Harvick
622
2
0
4
93.8
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
578
0
1
5
94.6
6. Matt Kenseth
576
4
2
6
112.2
7. Kyle Busch
545
2
3
7
102.9
8. Greg Biffle
545
1
0
8
81.9
9. Brad Keselowski
529
0
1
13
90.6
10. Kasey Kahne
523
1
0
12
99.7
 
ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
 
11. Martin Truex Jr.
521
32. David Reutimann
279
12. Jeff Gordon
521
33. JJ Yeley
272
13. Tony Stewart
518
34. David Stremme
267
14. Kurt Busch
516
35. Travis Kvapil
240
15. Jamie McMurray
507
36. AJ Allmendinger
211
16. Aric Almirola
502
37. Michael Waltrip
102
17. Jeff Burton
498
38. Michael McDowell
93
18. Joey Logano
487
39. Scott Speed
91
19. Ryan Newman
487
40. Timmy Hill
80
20. Paul Menard
487
41. Terry Labonte
77
21. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
476
42. Ken Schrader
68
22. Marcos Ambrose
440
43. Boris Said
26
23. Juan Pablo Montoya
424
44. Ron Fellows
22
24. Casey Mears
403
45. Justin Marks
14
25. Denny Hamlin
361
46. Scott Riggs
10
26. David Gilliland
354
47. Victor Gonzalez Jr.
7
27. Danica Patrick
350
48. Tomy Drissi
6
28. David Ragan
342
49. Brian Keselowski
4
29. Mark Martin
314
50. Alex Kennedy
4
30. Bobby Labonte
295
51. Jacques Villeneuve
3
31. Dave Blaney
283
52. Jason Leffler
1
Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.
 
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2013 Top 12 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
1
Jimmie Johnson
11
1
4
4
5
3
16.8
106.3
2
Clint Bowyer
7
0
0
2
2
0
12.3
86.7
3
Carl Edwards
8
0
0
1
3
0
13.3
82.7
4
Kevin Harvick
12
1
1
4
7
0
10.3
91.9
5
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
13
0
0
1
3
3
20.3
80.2
6
Matt Kenseth
13
0
0
5
7
2
15.8
94.7
7
Kyle Busch
8
0
0
2
6
0
11.8
96.6
8
Greg Biffle
10
0
0
3
6
0
12.1
98.6
9
Brad Keselowski
3
0
0
0
2
0
12.3
84.7
10
Kasey Kahne
9
0
0
2
4
2
15.4
94.0
11
Martin Truex Jr.
8
0
0
0
1
1
21.5
73.3
12
Jeff Gordon
19
3
4
11
15
1
8.8
101.8
* – Based on last eight races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
The NASCAR Sprint Cup 2013 Wild Card Standings Following New Hampshire
Pos
Driver
Wins
Pts Pos
Points
Pts From 10th
Starts
Poles
T5s
T10s
DNFs
1
Martin Truex Jr.
1
11
521
-2
19
0
4
8
2
2
Tony Stewart
1
13
518
-5
19
0
4
6
0
3
Jeff Gordon
0
12
521
-2
19
0
4
7
5
4
Kurt Busch
0
14
516
-7
19
1
4
8
2
5
Jamie McMurray
0
15
507
-16
19
1
1
5
0
6
Aric Almirola
0
16
502
-21
19
0
1
5
3
7
Jeff Burton
0
17
498
-25
19
0
2
4
1
8
Joey Logano
0
18
487
-36
19
0
5
8
2
9
Ryan Newman
0
19
487
-36
19
0
2
8
5
10
Paul Menard
0
20
487
-36
19
0
0
4
1
11
David Ragan
1
28
342
-181
19
0
1
1
3
The top-10 drivers will make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.  Positions 11 and 12 in the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are Wild Cards, and will go to drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, as long as they are ranked in the top 20 in points. If multiple drivers outside the top 10 tie for wins, the tie-breaker will go to the race winner with the highest points position.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home