INDIANAPOLIS —
The run for the Brickyard 400 pole will be the main event today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Qualifying for the 17th NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis is slated to begin at 10:10 a.m., with the fastest on the field starting in the No. 1 position in Sunday’s race.
Jeff Gordon has won the race four times and been on the pole three times — the last being 1999. The only other driver to win the pole more than once was Ernie Irvan, who did it in 1997 and 1998.
Two drivers have gone on to win the race from the pole. Kevin Harvick did it in 2003 and Jimmie Johnson won one of his three races from the No. 1 slot two years ago.
Mark Martin was the pole-sitter in 2009 and ran well in the race before finishing sixth.
Kyle Busch says qualifying is important at Indianapolis.
“You definitely have to qualify up front at Indy — that’s the biggest thing — it’s hard to pass and get through traffic,” he said.
Jacques Villeneuve, a former winner of the Indianapolis 500, also has competed at IMS in Formula One races. He will attempt to make his first Brickyard 400 race, driving the No. 32 car for Braun Racing.
“It’s great to be back on the oval. Fifteen years ago, winning the 500 is an amazing memory … it helped me the rest of my career,” said the 1997 Formula One world champ.
He said driving an Indy car and a stock car are completely different.
“Qualifying, the whole lap, was flat out with just a little lifting [in an Indy car]. In NASCAR, you have to brake. It will take a few laps to get the braking,” he said.
If Villeneuve makes the field, he and Juan Pablo Montoya will be the only drivers to compete in all three major auto races at the Speedway.
Drivers took turns meeting with the media before and after practice sessions Friday. Much of the conversation centered on an incident in last week’s Nationwide Series race involving Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski.
Edwards was fined $25,000 and lost 60 Nationwide Series points. Both drivers were put on probation.
Edwards says he does not plan to appeal the penalties.
“I understand and respect that those other teams were caught up in the wreck that Brad and I had initiated … those guys are working hard,” he said.
“I’m going to do what I normally do — try to pass him the best way I know how,” Keselowski said when asked what to expect this weekend at the track.
Juan Pablo Montoya was fastest in two one-hour practice sessions Friday with a top speed of 179.756 miles per hour. Jamie McMurray was second on the speed list and Martin third.
Drivers will have two sessions to practice today following qualifications. They begin at 2 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday’s race is slated to begin at 1:20 p.m.
Pit passes — Luke Bryan will be the headliner at a concert following qualifications today. It begins at noon.
• Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark will be grand marshal for the race.
• General-admission tickets are being sold for the first time for the NASCAR race. They are $40 and may be purchased at the gate on race day.
Brickyard 400 pole winners
1994 — Rick Mast
1995 — Jeff Gordon
1996 — Jeff Gordon
1997 — Ernie Irvan
1998 — Ernie Irvan
1999 — Jeff Gordon
2000 — Ricky Rudd
2001 — Jimmy Spencer
2002 — Tony Stewart
2003 — Kevin Harvick
2004 — Casey Mears
2005 — Elliott Sadler
2006 — Jeff Burton
2007 — Reed Sorenson
2008 — Jimmie Johnson
2009 — Mark Martin
Auto Racing
Heat is on for Brickyard qualifying
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
And the crowd went wild.
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Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
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East gets jump at SUMAR Classic
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Hurtubise, Sumar races on Action Track slate this weekend
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Momentum, an element that can be as elusive to a race driver as that perfect setup, can spell the difference in winning or running at the rear of the pack.
It’s a force difficult to achieve and maybe even harder to maintain. One learns quickly to make the most of the opportunity when it comes his way.
It’s something Chase Stockon will carry with him coming into today’s Jim Hurtubise Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track.
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JJ joins hero Mears among four-time winners of Brickyard
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Hamlin wins Brickyard 400 pole position
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Keselowski gives Penske first stock-car win at IMS
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Bordais, Popow take checkered flag after downpour
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Red-hot Hunter-Reay goes for fourth straight at Edmonton
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Clayton wins at Don Smith Classic
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The King of Speed
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Jones occupies driver’s seat: Six-time THAT winner leads Sprint Week series
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Kenny Wallace realizes Action Track dream
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TRACKSIDE: Summer heat has made this ‘The Hell Tour’
It is fittingly billed as “The Hell Tour” for many of the Midwest’s leading late model stock car drivers and their crews.
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Franchitti mired in post-Indy 500 slump
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Atchison, Virgilio win weekend races at Crossroads Dragway
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TRACKSIDE: Clauson bucks the IndyCar trend
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