The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves on to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard, one of the season’s biggest races and the circuit’s only visit to one of the world’s iconic race tracks.
Four story lines as NASCAR approaches the bricks:
WILL HE OR WON’T HE?
It’s a question no one anticipated.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed Sunday’s race at Loudon, N.H., while recovering from concussion-like symptoms and is scheduled to undergo more medical tests early this week. Hendrick Motorsports officials say if Earnhardt Jr. is not cleared by doctors to return to the cockpit of the No. 88 Chevrolet at Indy, the replacement driver will be Jeff Gordon, who retired at the end of last season.
A decision is expected by Wednesday.
If Gordon drives at Indianapolis, his appearance will be one of the year’s biggest motorsports stories. Although Gordon said when he retired that he wasn’t ruling out driving again in selected events, no one expected that he might buckle in once more at Indy.
“I would rather see Dale Junior get back in the car because the Brickyard is a special place,” said Tony Stewart. “But if Jeff gets back, it’s going to be really cool to race him one more time.”
SPEAKING OF STEWART
Before the Earnhardt Jr./Gordon story took wing over the New Hampshire weekend, the fact that this week’s Brickyard race will be Stewart’s final one at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was going to carry the event’s headlines. Now, either the return of Earnhardt or the return of Gordon is likely to be the top story.
And that’s OK with Stewart. His star has been rising in recent weeks, and one final run at Indy, where he has won twice, without so much exposure would please the Indiana native.
“Some of the greatest race car drivers in the world, whether it was IndyCar, Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, they've run and won at the Brickyard, so that in itself makes it special,” Stewart said.
“I grew up in Indiana. I didn't move to Indiana. I didn't move away from Indiana. I'm the only NASCAR driver in the Cup Series that's from Indiana that still lives in Indiana, and I'm proud of where I was born. I'm proud to be back. I still live in the town I was raised in.
“I take a lot of pride in that. I think the state of Indiana takes a lot of pride in that, and that's why it makes it a big weekend.”
JOHNSON REDUX?
Jimmie Johnson owns four wins at Indianapolis. A fifth this week would be most welcome.
Johnson has not had a fun summer. His best finish over the past six races is Sunday’s 12th at New Hampshire. He won the pole for Sunday’s race but led only the first lap.
TOYOTA TIME
Toyota won its first Sprint Cup championship last season when Kyle Busch rallied from injuries to win the title.
Now the manufacturer is aligning its forces to pursue a second championship. Toyotas have won nine of the season’s 19 races, and Sunday’s victory by Matt Kenseth put a Camry back in victory lane after five straight wins by Chevrolet and Ford. Earlier in the season, Toyotas won four in a row and seven of eight.
Toyota’s Kyle Busch ended a 12-year winning streak by Chevrolet by visiting victory lane at Indianapolis last season.
