We’ve arrived to the end of the regular season in the Cup series. For those uninitiated, there are playoffs in NASCAR and they start next weekend, with the top-16 drivers in the point standings making it and then progressing for the final 10 weeks of the season. So aside from it being the cutoff race in the Cup series, it’s also a Crown Jewel race in the Brickyard 400, despite the gaudy sponsorship title for the race. This race, along with the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and Southern 500 make up the Crown Jewels and so there is added pressure on the teams to perform and win this race at perhaps the most famous track in the world.

Talking about the race specifically, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a 2.5-mile flat rectangular oval and thus there are 160 laps that make up the scheduled 400-mile distance for the event. What I mean by flat is that the turns aren’t banked at more than nine degrees in all four corners, and the rectangular part comes from the fact that there are short straightaways, known as a short chutes, between the exit and entrance of Turn 1 to 2 and Turn 3 to 4. Without the banking, it forces drivers to brake on entry and it makes the turns non-passing zones, in general. That being said, as you’ll see in the table below, you can move up through the field here through pit strategy and passing on the straights, though this year being up front will still be king in this package.

Starting Spots For Winners

Starting Pos.Races WonStarting Pos.Races Won
14111
22131
33141
42151
51161
62191
71221
91241

There have been four pole-sitters to win here at the Brickyard in the 24 races that NASCAR has run at Indy since 1994 and the most recent was Kyle Busch in 2016 when he led 149 of 170 laps (they ran 10 in overtime). If you can run up front for the race, you can lead a bunch of laps, but that hasn’t been the norm over the last several races with the most being led in the other four races in the last five years totaling 87 laps and in last year’s edition no one led more than 37.

Track Data

Drivers To Watch This Week

Hot Pass Video coming soon…

Last Five Brickyard 400s

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch54.87.29.2-4.423444
Brad Keselowski511.211.48.42.812345
Denny Hamlin512.69.46.46.204445
Joey Logano57.49.26.21.203455
Kevin Harvick53.675.4-1.802555
Kyle Larson512.49.812.6-0.201344
Ryan Newman515.615.413.22.401244
Clint Bowyer51613.815.60.401223
Martin Truex Jr51116.222-1101222
Jimmie Johnson510.812.815-4.201134
Erik Jones2111316.5-5.501111
Paul Menard519.820.216.63.200234
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Austin Dillon518.417.617.4100222
Kurt Busch59.614.817.4-7.800223
Chris Buescher323.723167.700122
Daniel Suarez217.516.512.5500112
Matt DiBenedetto43232.529300111
Ryan Blaney416.51420.5-400022
Chase Elliott417.520.521.8-4.300023
Aric Almirola526.622.8242.600011
Ricky Stenhouse Jr520.622.228-7.400011
William Byron1221419300001
Ty Dillon22922.520900001
Michael McDowell527.426.2234.400002
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Landon Cassill531.828.225.8600001
Ross Chastain1322826600000
BJ McLeod2403531900000
David Ragan524.82831-6.200000
Corey LaJoie232.53533.5-100000
JJ Yeley335.335.3350.300000
Bubba Wallace1283338-1000000
Alex Bowman328.334.738.7-10.400000
Ryan Sieg0000000000
Matt Tifft0000000000
Ryan Preece0000000000
Garrett Smithley0000000000
Josh Bilicki0000000000
Reed Sorenson0000000000
Parker Kligerman0000000000
Daniel Hemric0000000000

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Kyle Busch528256.415330.684%125764
Brad Keselowski56412.8183.674%97.8821
Denny Hamlin55511387.682%103.4820
Joey Logano5448.815385%101.7821
Kevin Harvick510921.8701489%113.8821
Kyle Larson55171.487%98.6808
Ryan Newman50030.655%79.6817
Clint Bowyer5408173.461%90.1801
Martin Truex Jr581.6336.657%86.4645
Jimmie Johnson50091.863%85.9812
Erik Jones21056371%88.7308
Paul Menard50020.431%70.4819
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Austin Dillon510.281.644%73.8816
Kurt Busch5193.8173.467%87.2802
Chris Buescher30010.310%66.6495
Daniel Suarez20010.548%76.3327
Matt DiBenedetto400004%40.1422
Ryan Blaney471.88258%81.9638
Chase Elliott4008239%68.8537
Aric Almirola50061.220%64.9815
Ricky Stenhouse Jr50010.221%61.3733
William Byron1332249%73.2160
Ty Dillon2000014%58.5325
Michael McDowell500007%54.5816
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Landon Cassill500005%46.9803
Ross Chastain100006%46.7158
BJ McLeod200000%32.4292
David Ragan55161.213%48.4654
Corey LaJoie200000%33.1167
JJ Yeley300000%33387
Bubba Wallace100000%3757
Alex Bowman300005%34.3376
Ryan Sieg00000000
Matt Tifft00000000
Ryan Preece00000000
Garrett Smithley00000000
Josh Bilicki00000000
Reed Sorenson00000000
Parker Kligerman00000000
Daniel Hemric00000000

Top-20 Drivers Over Last 10 Races at Indianapolis

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch1012.210.611.40.824888
Jimmie Johnson108.39.812-3.724468
Brad Keselowski911.813.211.10.712568
Ryan Newman1013.515.711.71.812489
Paul Menard1019.919.115.34.611378
Denny Hamlin1011.414.213.2-1.804568
Kevin Harvick1011.610.47.83.8037910
Joey Logano1012.312.911.80.503688
Clint Bowyer1017.214.314.82.402358
Kyle Larson512.49.812.6-0.201344
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Martin Truex Jr1016.516.319.6-3.101345
Erik Jones2111316.5-5.501111
Kurt Busch1012.516.319.5-700345
Austin Dillon618.718.818.8-0.100222
Chris Buescher323.723167.700122
Daniel Suarez217.516.512.5500112
Matt DiBenedetto43232.529300111
Ryan Blaney416.51420.5-400022
Chase Elliott417.520.521.8-4.300023
Aric Almirola722.621.422.30.300013

 

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Kyle Busch1028528.518718.777%109.8
Jimmie Johnson1019819.812612.674%102.2
Brad Keselowski910812475.2262%91.6
Ryan Newman10454.530351%84.5
Paul Menard10222.240.438%74.6
Denny Hamlin10868.6545.464%92
Kevin Harvick1011611.6767.673%101.6
Joey Logano10555.5222.264%90.2
Clint Bowyer10434.3262.657%87.5
Kyle Larson55171.487%98.6
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Martin Truex Jr1080.8363.650%82.6
Erik Jones21056371%88.7
Kurt Busch10191.9232.361%82.5
Austin Dillon610.1791.537%71.7
Chris Buescher30010.3310%66.6
Daniel Suarez20010.548%76.3
Matt DiBenedetto400004%40.1
Ryan Blaney471.758258%81.9
Chase Elliott4008239%68.8
Aric Almirola7007120%67.5

Top-20 Drivers At Similar Races (Indianapolis, Michigan, Pocono)

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch208.587.21.3510181819
Kyle Larson1914.510.612.12.437111314
Kevin Harvick207.57.16.70.8211161819
Brad Keselowski209.510.19.9-0.419131418
Denny Hamlin208.49.39.4-1.018131619
Martin Truex Jr2011.112.814.5-3.417101315
Joey Logano208.311.212.9-4.615121415
Ryan Blaney1813.112.214.1-1.01371313
Ryan Newman2013.915.413.20.71361517
Clint Bowyer2014.414.718.4-4.0135812
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Chris Buescher1723.823.419.54.3113611
Erik Jones1410.411.512.6-2.20671011
Chase Elliott1813.313.514.2-0.903111315
Kurt Busch2010.71313.2-2.50381416
Daniel Suarez141515.515.4-0.403689
Jimmie Johnson2015.31617.8-2.5025915
Austin Dillon2019.117.317.41.70141012
William Byron918.414.714.63.801458
Paul Menard2018.819.6180.8013815
Alex Bowman1216.419.922.2-5.801347

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Kyle Busch2073636.846623.384%114.7
Kyle Larson1922611.91548.181%99.9
Kevin Harvick2052626.34002087%116.7
Brad Keselowski2030215.11688.481%100.8
Denny Hamlin201567.81567.883%99.8
Martin Truex Jr2028514.328914.569%96.2
Joey Logano2033316.779476%96.2
Ryan Blaney18472.6894.970%90
Ryan Newman20593351.850%78.6
Clint Bowyer20572.9562.861%85.7
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Chris Buescher17120.7120.713%60.4
Erik Jones14604.3694.974%93.4
Chase Elliott18482.71065.971%89.4
Kurt Busch20814.1713.669%88.5
Daniel Suarez14433.1372.653%79.7
Jimmie Johnson201286.4723.651%79.7
Austin Dillon20191261.346%72.4
William Byron9404.4202.265%81.1
Paul Menard2040.2211.130%68.5
Alex Bowman1200201.747%69.1

Team Averages at Indianapolis (since 2017)

 Avg.  TopTop
DriverFinishRacesWins510
Team Penske6.25133
Joe Gibbs Racing11.758035
Stewart-Haas Racing14.258024
Richard Childress Racing14.45012
Chip Ganassi Racing164001
Wood Brothers Racing162001
Leavine Family Racing192000

Momentum

The races shown in this week’s momentum section are the races run at Auto Club, Michigan, and Pocono this season.

Drivers

Driver Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Kyle Busch59.67.84.45.223555118.7
Denny Hamlin57.87.65.42.412455108.7
Kevin Harvick53.87.68-4.212444114.2
Joey Logano56.46.28-1.612345114
Martin Truex Jr517.211.610.66.60344498.1
Brad Keselowski57.69.87.6002445104.1
Daniel Suarez511.213.810.80.40234481.9
Kyle Larson516.811124.80224492.7
Erik Jones511.210.614.6-3.40222492
William Byron515.612.810.84.80134585.9
Ryan Blaney515.412.4123.40134488.3
Kurt Busch513.611.813.8-0.20123387.8
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Chase Elliott512.214.816.4-4.20123485.4
Clint Bowyer571725.2-18.20112279.4
Alex Bowman514.813.215.2-0.40023480.9
Aric Almirola56.612.816.2-9.60023486.4
Ryan Newman516.618.614.42.20013467.5
Daniel Hemric521.218.218.230013372.4
Austin Dillon518.818.421-2.20012367.7
Ryan Preece526.423.2233.40011155
Chris Buescher525.418.415.210.20002566.2
Paul Menard5141616.8-2.80002570.9
Jimmie Johnson51618.820-40002469.7
Ricky Stenhouse Jr514.420.222.8-8.40001259.3
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Ty Dillon522.425.823.2-0.80001150.4
Matt DiBenedetto522.42118.63.80000457.9
Michael McDowell527.624.423.640000150
Bayley Currey134282590000037.5
Bubba Wallace525.623.425.600000051
Matt Tifft525.827.226.2-0.40000044.3
Corey LaJoie532.429.227.450000040.1
Ross Chastain432.529.527.84.70000039.7
David Ragan521.825.628.2-6.40000146.9
Landon Cassill529.230.629.4-0.20000036.3
Quin Houff432.833.330.820000030.2
Reed Sorenson33633.731.34.70000031.1
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Austin Theriault23134.533-20000029
Garrett Smithley33634.733.72.30000027.7
JJ Yeley137353430000028.2
Cody Ware23434.53400000029.8
Josh Bilicki23033.534-40000029.4
Joey Gase138363530000025.5
BJ McLeod231.536.535-3.50000026.9
Kyle Weatherman1333536-30000026.7
Spencer Boyd1363738-20000023.2

Team

Team Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Team#StartPosFinishDiff.W5101520
Chip Ganassi Racing1015.211.412.92.303477
Front Row Motorsports1525.125.726.0-0.900002
Hendrick Motorsports2014.714.915.6-0.90271217
Joe Gibbs Racing2011.59.48.82.7310151618
JTG Daugherty Racing1025.920.819.16.800136
Richard Childress Racing1020.018.319.60.400256
Roush Fenway Racing1015.519.418.6-3.100146
Stewart-Haas Racing157.212.815.1-7.915101314
Team Penske159.89.59.20.615101214

DraftKings Scoring Averages

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch42.2518.75107.2576.756030.5061.0065.88
Denny Hamlin67.2515.541.551.57641.3850.3542.87
Martin Truex Jr-33-644.54919-19.5014.7051.18
Kyle Larson23.513.54531.547.2518.5032.1539.17
Kevin Harvick56.536.543.574.753546.5049.2546.35
Brad Keselowski54.7556.7521.2563.7523.555.7544.0046.32
Joey Logano234347.5534733.0042.7046.22
Erik Jones55.50.5   28.0028.0036.14
Kurt Busch46.75-22342.5-322.3821.4541.07
Chase Elliott25-183237 3.5019.0040.2
Aric Almirola124723-9.543.529.5023.2031.34
Ryan Blaney31.7513-1150 22.3820.9436.3
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Clint Bowyer58.75-3.5333928.7527.6331.2028.4
Ryan Newman41.546.5-126526.544.0033.5035.73
Jimmie Johnson26-65229.52710.0025.7028.98
William Byron29.75    29.7529.7529.54
Alex Bowman-7  -7-1-7.00-5.0036.07
Daniel Suarez2845.5   36.7536.7532.86
Matt DiBenedetto355-620 29.0018.0030.75
Chris Buescher175238.5  34.5035.8331.86
Ricky Stenhouse Jr-8-5363.517-6.508.7021.53
Paul Menard46294727537.5030.8028.88
Austin Dillon1823.539.51942.2520.7528.4521.57
Ty Dillon3234   33.0033.0026.94
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Daniel Hemric       18.83
Bubba Wallace-4    -4.00-4.0021.1
Ryan Preece       22.69
David Ragan21-2-29.25129.507.6515.81
Michael McDowell363225142034.0025.4016.04
Ross Chastain24    24.0024.0021.92
Corey LaJoie23-4   9.509.5023.04
Matt Tifft       21.25
Parker Kligerman       23.8
Ryan Sieg       0
Landon Cassill163137162123.5024.2017.95
JJ Yeley213 4 12.009.3322.7
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Reed Sorenson26 17 1026.0017.6715.67
Garrett Smithley       13
BJ McLeod2420   22.0022.0013.9
Josh Bilicki       10.3

FanDuel Scoring Averages

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch48.210.274.965.36129.2051.9264.22
Denny Hamlin61.234.65458.467.847.9055.2056.67
Martin Truex Jr-13.46.35057.932-3.5526.5658.66
Kyle Larson39.526.955.546.454.533.2044.5650.69
Kevin Harvick54.249.752.563.446.751.9553.3053.72
Brad Keselowski62.463.536.559.640.562.9552.5055.87
Joey Logano4055.255.159.25547.6052.9058.22
Erik Jones61.518.3   39.9039.9051.26
Kurt Busch51.918.439.552.418.435.1536.1256.31
Chase Elliott40-5.24344.4 17.4030.5552.63
Aric Almirola28.452.734.811.14640.5534.6048.99
Ryan Blaney45.128.310.754.4 36.7034.6351.25
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Clint Bowyer57.216.341.951.941.336.7541.7246.95
Ryan Newman50.557.214.162.442.553.8545.3454.19
Jimmie Johnson4018.36040.941.529.1540.1449.41
William Byron39.8    39.8039.8049.41
Alex Bowman13.2  4.814.113.2010.7052.36
Daniel Suarez4054.7   47.3547.3550.87
Matt DiBenedetto11.459.2-3.629.2 35.3024.0548.26
Chris Buescher30.857.248  44.0045.3351.03
Ricky Stenhouse Jr11.69.64819.131.510.6023.9643.17
Paul Menard5342.254.541.920.347.6042.3849.46
Austin Dillon3335.750.532.450.634.3540.4442.22
Ty Dillon40.543   41.7541.7547.06
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Daniel Hemric       40.52
Bubba Wallace3.7    3.703.7041.27
Ryan Preece       43.01
David Ragan33.44.611.227.923.319.0020.0838.09
Michael McDowell44.542.636.826.73243.5536.5236.73
Ross Chastain33.8    33.8033.8038.87
Corey LaJoie32.8-2.1   15.3515.3541.74
Matt Tifft       40.59
Parker Kligerman       38.38
Ryan Sieg       0.00
Landon Cassill26.539.744.430.430.333.1034.2636.41
JJ Yeley30.79 17.5 19.8519.0731.40
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Reed Sorenson33.8 27.5 20.633.8027.3032.24
Garrett Smithley       27.57
BJ McLeod31.726.5   29.1029.1029.02

Weekly Rankings (1=Best, 40=Worst)

The Race History, Momentum, Indy History, and Track Type History columns are ranked based on average finish in those spans from best to worst.

DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryMomentumDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5Indy HistoryTrack Type History
Kyle Busch$12,000$15,5005111231532
Denny Hamlin$11,400$14,00032442193
Martin Truex Jr$10,700$12,500206333327261712
Kyle Larson$10,300$11,70079242110985
Kevin Harvick$10,000$13,60014233211
Brad Keselowski$9,800$13,30043114424
Joey Logano$9,600$12,20024955357
Erik Jones$9,400$11,300121315121515136
Kurt Busch$9,200$10,700141120172218168
Chase Elliott$9,000$10,3001917292824232011
Aric Almirola$8,700$8,0002216131120202121
Ryan Blaney$8,500$10,200189201523191910
Clint Bowyer$8,300$9,6001028161411121019
Ryan Newman$8,200$8,300812328748
Jimmie Johnson$8,000$9,20092126241614617
William Byron$7,800$8,600167121313161514
Alex Bowman$7,600$8,8003214323033323222
Daniel Suarez$7,500$7,900676766715
Matt DiBenedetto$7,300$6,8002620141625272729
Chris Buescher$7,100$7,300111478781220
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$6,900$7,0002523313130282424
Paul Menard$6,800$6,50013185512101118
Austin Dillon$6,600$7,5001422231814131416
Ty Dillon$6,400$6,00017259109111822
Daniel Hemric$6,200$5,5004019404040404012
Bubba Wallace$6,100$5,0003129303232333128
Ryan Preece$6,000$4,5004024404040404025
David Ragan$5,900$4,0002733272731292630
Michael McDowell$5,800$4,00021268917172526
Ross Chastain$5,700$3,0002432181919222231
Corey LaJoie$5,600$3,5002931272928312933
Matt Tifft$5,500$3,0004030404040404027
Parker Kligerman$5,300$3,00040 404040404040
Ryan Sieg$5,200$2,00040 404040404034
Landon Cassill$5,100$3,0002334192218212332
JJ Yeley$4,900$2,5003039252629303035
Reed Sorenson$4,800$2,5004036171926254040
Garrett Smithley$4,700$2,0004038404040404035
BJ McLeod$4,600$2,0002742222521242838
Josh Bilicki$4,500#N/A4039404040404035