Daily Trackside Report - Sunday, July 25

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Sunday, July 25, 2010

Welcome to the 2010 Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Brickyard 400 is the 20th race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Notes, quotes, trivia, historical information and other items will appear on these pages through Sunday, July 25. Our Media Center staff, headed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway Manager of Public Relations Eric Powell, is here to assist you and answer your questions during this event.

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ORDER OF THE DAY:

7 a.m. Public Gates Open
9:45 a.m. Q&A Session with Jamie McMurray, Chevy Display
10 a.m. Q&A Session with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevy Display
10:30 a.m. Q&A Session with Jimmie Johnson, Chevy Display
11 a.m. Live Music by Casey Jamerson, Plaza Stage
11:30 a.m. Pre-Race Ceremonies Begin
12:30 p.m. Driver Introductions
12:50 p.m. “America the Beautiful,” Casey Jamerson
1 p.m. Invocation by Rev. Howard Brammer, Traders Point Christian Church
1:01 p.m. National Anthem, Steven Curtis Chapman
1:02 p.m. Flyover, Four T-38 Talon jets, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
1:07 p.m. Command to Start Engines, Mari Hulman George, IMS Chairman of the Board
1:19 p.m. Green Flag, Start of 2010 Brickyard 400
6 p.m. Track Closes

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Kyle Busch won the Kroger 200 benefitting Riley Hospital for Children NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday night at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Fellow Brickyard 400 starter Carl Edwards finished second.

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IZOD IndyCar Series team owner/driver Sarah Fisher is attending the Brickyard 400 today to support the Braun Racing/Dollar General entry driven by 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve.
Dollar General is the primary sponsor of Fisher’s entry in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

SARAH FISHER: “We're very excited that Jacques Villeneuve is in the show. We're happy to be here at the Brickyard. I have a very unique sponsor with Dollar General in that they're in both IndyCar and NASCAR. I was at ORP with them last night and again here today at the Brickyard. I miss not being at Edmonton, but this is definitely an awesome place to come. It's really neat to be here with the partners on the IndyCar side.” (About her stock car career): "They're really fun to drive. I spent a year out in the West Series. They're most like a sprint car, which is what I grew up racing. I enjoy driving them, but I put all my heart and soul into my IndyCar team. That's my primary focus.”

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Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear points leader Conor Daly is visiting Gasoline Alley today. Daly, from nearby Noblesville, Ind., has four wins this year in the series, part of the IZOD IndyCar Series’ “Road to Indy” ladder system. Daly, 18, is the son of Indianapolis 500 veteran Derek Daly.

CONOR DALY: “I haven't been to the Brickyard 400 in about 10 years. I'm here with one of my sponsors, Electric Sunglasses, to support Kyle Busch. It's great to come out for the day, have some fun and see what happens.”

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Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark, selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time after the 2009 season, will serve as the grand marshal of the Brickyard 400.

Clark will wave the green flag to send the field of 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers at speed into Turn 1 at IMS. He met with the media this morning in the Media Center.

DALLAS CLARK: “I’m still trying to figure out why they picked me, but I’m excited to be a part of it. It’s a fantastic event. It’s really cool to be able to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes with the drivers and the crews. My family is here with me, and everything has just been a lot of fun. Everyone had treated us really well, and I can’t wait to help get this event started.” (On the Indianapolis Motor Speedway): “I’ve been out here before for the Indy 500, but this is the first time I’ve been involved with NASCAR. We’ve always been in training camp during the race, so this is a really cool opportunity. When we came out here for the “500,” we went to the Museum and everything, and that was definitely a cool experience. This place is just a phenomenal place to be at, and if people haven’t been out here before, they definitely need to come here and experience everything that it has to offer. There’s so many different things out here to see and experience that anyone at any age can come out here and really enjoy the day.”

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1992 Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year Lyn St. James, the founder of the Women in the Winner’s Circle Academy, visited the Speedway today with her guest Kerry Graham, past president of the LPGA.

LYN ST. JAMES: “I’ve been coming to most of these; I’m still a race fan besides being a racer. I’m here with Kerry Graham, and I’m showing her around. She has never been to a NASCAR race. I’m also here to see friends and to see a great race. This always a great race; it’s a little slower than our (IZOD IndyCar Series) races. I’ve got some old buddies like Bill Elliott that I always like to see do well here and then Tony (Stewart) and some of the other guys I know that I would like to see in the winner’s circle. Our Women in the Winner’s Circle Academy have had almost 300 drivers go through it. I’m always looking to talk to team owners and crew members about the type of experience they are looking for, that these drivers can have, so I can be a better mentor and coach.”

KERRY GRAHAM: “This is my first visit to NASCAR and to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and it is just fabulous. Friday we went out to the NASCAR truck race (AAA Insurance 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park) and we spent Saturday walking around in downtown Indianapolis and going up to the top of the monument so I can see what a beautiful city Indianapolis is. This (IMS) is the capital of all racing. I’m fascinated to compare what I know about the golf industry – how it’s organized, its rules-making bodies, its participants – to the racing industry and how women can break through in both sports, golf and racing. So I’m here to learn. Lyn has introduced me to so many incredible people that it has been a real treat.” (About Brickyard Crossing Golf Course): “Pete Dye, who designed the course, is a very dear friend. Lyn drove me around the course, and I’m wearing a Brickyard Crossing shirt. Everyone in Indianapolis should come out and play that golf course. It is a golf course next to a racetrack, and it is fabulous.” (Scouting for LPGA event here?): “No, but I’d like to see Paula Creamer and some of our girls get involved in a little bit of racing in the celebrity races. There is a need for speed among women athletes, and they love this fast stuff.”

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RACE SPECIFICS:

•Eight-time Brickyard 400 starter Brett Bodine drives the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Pace Car during the race. There will be three pace laps before the race starts.
•Pit-road speed limit is 55 mph.
•The Pace Car speed will be 70 mph during caution periods.
•The race distance is 160 laps/400 miles on the 2.5-mile oval.
•The flagmen for today’s race are Rick Monroe and Rodney Wise.
•There will be a competition caution at Lap 15.
•#20 Joey Logano and #64 Todd Bodine will move to the rear of the field on the pace laps due to engine changes.

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At 12:45 p.m., the ambient temperature was 81 degrees with a relative humidity of 79 percent and north winds at 7 mph. Skies were sunny. The track temperature was 115 degrees, according a temperature sensor reading provided by the Target Chevrolet team of pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya.

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RACE RUNNING:

1:07 p.m. – Command to start engines by Mari Hulman George, Indianapolis Motor Speedway chairman of the board.
1:12 p.m. – All 43 starters pull away on first pace lap.
Lap 1: GREEN. Grand marshal Dallas Clark waves green flag to start 2010 Brickyard 400. #42 Montoya leads field into Turn 1.
#18 Ky. Busch, #77 Hornish, #00 Reutimann, #09 Labonte, #64 Bodine, #83 Sorenson, #19 Sadler involved in incident exiting Turn 2. #77 Hornish, #19 Sadler, #18 Ky. Busch did half-spin exiting Turn 2, with other cars stacking up to avoid them. Damage to right rear of #77 Hornish, damage to front of #18 Ky. Busch.
#77 Hornish, #18 Ky. Busch to pits for repairs. Busch’s stop lasts one minute, 12 seconds. Hornish’s stop lasts four minutes, nine seconds. #37 Kvapil to pits for repairs, 36 seconds. #00 Reutimann to pits for repairs, one minute, 19 seconds. #47 Ambrose to pits for repairs, one minute, three seconds. #64 Bodine to pits for repairs, 35 seconds. #13 Papis, #32 Villeneuve, #09 Labonte to pits for repairs, continues. #20 Logano to pits to remove grass from grill. #19 Sadler, #83 Sorenson to garage for repairs.
•The pole sitter has led the first lap of all 17 Brickyard 400 races.
Lap 2: YELLOW due to crash on Lap 1. #2 Ku. Busch to pits, four tires and gas, 16 seconds.
Lap 4: #55 McDowell, #66 Blaney to garage, joining #19 Sadler, #83 Sorenson. #18 Ky. Busch returns to pits for more repairs, 60 seconds. #77 Hornish to pits to tape right-rear fender, one minute, 39 seconds. #64 Bodine to pits, four tires and gas, 17 seconds.
Lap 6: #77 Hornish to pits for more repairs of right rear fender, one minute, 32 seconds.
Lap 8: GREEN. #42 Montoya leads #48 Johnson by .397 of a second. #55 McDowell returns to race after repairs in garage.
Lap 9: #42 Montoya leads #48 Johnson by .442 of a second. #39 Newman to pits with flat left rear tire. #66 Blaney returns to race after repairs in garage.
Lap 10: #42 Montoya leads #48 Johnson by .701 of a second.
Lap 11: #99 Edwards to pits, fuel only, eight seconds. #11 Hamlin, #39 Newman, #43 Allmendinger to pits. Crews cleans debris from grill of Allmendinger and Hamlin, which was causing overheating. Newman’s crew changes left rear tire again.
Lap 12: #12 Keselowski to pits due to overheating, four tires and gas, 14 seconds.
Lap 15: YELLOW. #7 R. Gordon, #13 Papis. Heavy damage to right front of R. Gordon.
Lap 16: Pit stop report. Two tires, gas: #48 Johnson, seven seconds; #1 McMurray, eight seconds, #6 Ragan. Two tires, gas, chassis adjustment; #42 Montoya, seven seconds. Four tires, gas: #24 J. Gordon, 14 seconds; #31 Burton, 14 seconds; #16 Biffle, 13 seconds; #29 Harvick, 16 seconds.
Lap 17: #12 Keselowski to pits for repairs, one minute, 12 seconds. #11 Hamlin to pits, four tires and gas, evaluation of overheating, 38 seconds.
Lap 18: #11 Hamlin returns to pits. Pit lifts hood to work on engine for one minute, 17 seconds, continues. #7 R. Gordon to garage. #12 Keselowski returns to pits, 15 seconds.
Lap 20: #87 Nemechek to garage.
Restart order: #48 Johnson, #42 Montoya, #5 Martin, #1 McMurray, #56 Truex.
Lap 21: GREEN. #42 Montoya passes #48 Johnson for lead with outside move in Turn 3. #42 Montoya leads #48 Johnson by .256 of a second at the line.
Lap 24: #55 McDowell to garage.
Lap 25: #24 J. Gordon reports tight handling entering corners, loose handling exiting corners.
Lap 26: #66 Blaney to garage.
Lap 29: #87 Nemechek returns to race from garage.
Lap 30: #42 Montoya leads #5 Martin by 2.152 seconds.
Lap 33: #77 Hornish to pits, four tires and gas, 20 seconds.
Lap 35: #42 Montoya leads #5 Martin by 2.108 seconds.
Lap 36: #98 Menard running 14th after starting 26th. #83 Sorenson returns to race after replacement of front end in garage.
Lap 39: #42 Montoya to pits, right front tire problem, four tires and gas, 14 seconds. #5 Martin takes lead.
Lap 41: #12 Keselowski to pits, four tires and gas, 14 seconds.
Lap 42: #5 Martin leads #16 Biffle by 2.127 seconds. #66 Blaney returning to race after repairs in garage.
Lap 43: #55 McDowell out of race.
Lap 45: #32 Villeneuve to pits, four tires and gas, 22 seconds.
Lap 46: #87 Nemechek, #66 Blaney return to garage. #5 Martin leads #16 Biffle by 1.921 seconds.
Lap 48: Pit stop report. Four tires and gas: #16 Biffle, 16 seconds; #33 Bowyer, 13 seconds; #18 Ky. Busch, 14 seconds; #48 Johnson, 12 seconds; #88 Earnhardt, 18 seconds; #5 Martin, 13 seconds; #9 Kahne, 14 seconds; #11 Hamlin, 15 seconds. Four tires, gas, air pressure adjustment: #31 Burton, 15 seconds; #29 Harvick, 15 seconds; #56 Truex, 14 seconds; #1 McMurray, 15 seconds. Four tires, gas, chassis and air pressure adjustments: #17 Kenseth, 14 seconds.
Lap 49: #21 Elliott to pits, four tires and gas, 16 seconds. #14 Stewart to pits, four tires and gas, 14 seconds.
Lap 50: #82 Speed reports vibration.
Lap 51: #42 Montoya leads #71 Cassill by 2.412 seconds.
Lap 52: #71 Cassill to pits. #42 Montoya leads #16 Biffle by 5.293 seconds.
Lap 53: #42 Montoya leads #16 Biffle by 4.501 seconds.
Lap 58: #87 Nemechek out of race.
Lap 59: #42 Montoya leads #16 Biffle by 1.852 seconds.
Lap 62: #42 Montoya leads #16 Biffle by .494 of a second.
Lap 63: #16 Biffle passes #42 Montoya for lead into Turn 3. #16 Biffle leads by .255 of a second at the line. #64 Bodine to garage.
Lap 67: YELLOW. Debris in Turn 2. Pit stops: #16 Biffle, #42 Montoya, #5 Martin, #1 McMurray, #48 Johnson, #24 J. Gordon, #20 Logano, #14 Stewart, #33 Bowyer, #29 Harvick, #56 Truex, #18 Ky. Busch, #31 Burton, #2 Ku. Busch, #17 Kenseth, #99 Edwards, #12 Keselowski, #00 Reutimann, #78 Smith, #98 Menard, #88 Earnhardt, #82 Speed, #6 Ragan, #21 Elliott, #47 Ambrose. #16 Biffle beat #42 Montoya off pit road.
Lap 67 pit stop report: Four tires, gas: #29 Harvick, 15 seconds; #5 Martin, 12 seconds; #7 R. Gordon, 11 seconds; #11 Hamlin, 11 seconds; Four tires, gas, air pressure adjustment: #6 Ragan; #14 Stewart, 10 seconds; #33 Bowyer, 14 seconds; #31 Burton, 14 seconds. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #48 Johnson, 15 seconds; #88 Earnhardt, 14 seconds; #9 Kahne, 11 seconds; #1 McMurray, 14 seconds; #56 Truex. Four tires, gas, chassis, air pressure adjustments: #20 Logano, 18 seconds; #42 Montoya, 15 seconds; #17 Kenseth, 13 seconds; #16 Biffle, 16 seconds. Four tires, gas, repairs to right rear fender: #77 Hornish, one minute, 30 seconds.
Lap 68: #7 R. Gordon to pits, four tires, fuel, repairs, 35 seconds. #13 Papis out of race.
Lap 70: GREEN. #7 R. Gordon to pits, two tires, repairs, 30 seconds.
Lap 71: #16 Biffle leads #42 Montoya by .508 of a second. #1 McMurray third.
Lap 73: #66 Blaney out of race.
Lap 76: #82 Speed to pits, four tires, gas, 25 seconds. Pitted due to flat tire.
Lap 79: #16 Biffle leads #42 Montoya by 1.053 seconds.
Lap 80 (halfway): Top 20 – #16 Biffle, #42 Montoya, #1 McMurray, #33 Bowyer, #29 Harvick, #5 Martin, #56 Truex, #2 Ku. Busch, #18 Ky. Busch, #31 Burton, #24 J. Gordon, #9 Kahne, #14 Stewart, #17 Kenseth, #6 Ragan, #99 Edwards, #20 Logano, #88 Earnhardt, #98 Menard, #78 Smith.
Lap 88: #64 Bodine out of race.
Lap 89: #16 Biffle leads #42 Montoya by .653 of a second. #1 McMurray third, 3.752 seconds behind leader.
Lap 93: #16 Biffle leads #42 Montoya by .307 of a second. #77 Hornish to pits, four tires, gas, 16 seconds.
Lap 96: #14 Stewart to pits, four tires, gas, chassis adjustment, 14 seconds.
Lap 97: Pit stop report. Four tires, gas: #29 Harvick, 13 seconds; #42 Montoya, 15 seconds; #56 Truex, 14 seconds; #11 Hamlin, 13 seconds; #21 Elliott, 17 seconds. Four tires, gas, air pressure adjustment: #33 Bowyer, 16 seconds; #31 Burton, 15 seconds; #99 Edwards, 14 seconds; #20 Logano, 12 seconds; #6 Ragan. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #1 McMurray, 14 seconds; #16 Biffle, 15 seconds; #88 Earnhardt, 16 seconds; #5 Martin, 16 seconds; #9 Kahne, 17 seconds; #48 Johnson, #24 J. Gordon. Four tires, gas, tire pressure and chassis adjustments: #17 Kenseth, 14 seconds; #2 Ku. Busch.
Lap 98: #99 Edwards to pits.
Lap 100: #42 Montoya leads #16 Biffle by .378 of a second.
Lap 101: #7 R. Gordon to pits, four tires, gas, 30 seconds.
Lap 106: #78 Smith to garage, smoke in cockpit.
Lap 107: #19 Sadler returns to race after repairs in garage.
Lap 109: #42 Montoya leads #16 Biffle by 1.533 seconds.
Lap 118: YELLOW. Debris in Turn 3.
Lap 118: To pits: #42 Montoya, #16 Biffle, #1 McMurray, #33 Bowyer, #29 Harvick, #5 Martin, #18 Ky. Busch, #56 Truex, #2 Ku. Busch, #31 Burton, #99 Edwards, #24 J. Gordon, #17 Kenseth, #9 Kahne, #12 Keselowski, #48 Johnson, #98 Menard, #14 Stewart, #88 Earnhardt, #6 Ragan, #20 Logano, #47 Ambrose, #21 Elliott. Hood up on #48 Johnson, crew applies tape sheet on front grill in lengthy stop.
Lap 118 pit stop report: Four tires and gas: #42 Montoya, 12 seconds; #31 Burton, 14 seconds; #29 Harvick, 14 seconds; #33 Bowyer, 13 seconds; #2 Ku. Busch, 14 seconds. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #16 Biffle, 13 seconds; #1 McMurray, 12 seconds (McMurray also reported flat left front tire); #14 Stewart, 14 seconds; #5 Martin, 14 seconds; #6 Ragan, #20 Logano, #88 Earnhardt, #99 Edwards. Four tires, gas, air pressure adjustment: #9 Kahne, 15 seconds. Four tires, gas, air pressure and chassis adjustments: #56 Truex, 15 seconds; #17 Kenseth, 14 seconds.
Extended stop for #48 Johnson. Crew replaced both front shock absorbers, applied tape sheet to front grill and pounded down front splitter.
#32 Villeneuve to pits for repair of broken splitter.
Restart order: #42 Montoya, #16 Biffle, #1 McMurray, #33 Bowyer, #18 Ky. Busch.
Lap 122: GREEN. #42 Montoya leads #1 McMurray by .719 of a second at line.
Lap 123: #42 Montoya leads #1 McMurray by 1.116 seconds.
Lap 125: #7 R. Gordon to garage.
Lap 128: #42 Montoya leads #1 McMurray by 1.819 seconds. #24 J. Gordon wanders out of groove in turn with flat right rear tire after brushing wall entering Turn 1.
Lap 129: #24 J. Gordon to pits, four tires and gas, 15 seconds.
Lap 131: #78 Smith returns to race after change of rear gear housing in garage.
Lap 135: #42 Montoya leads #1 McMurray by 3.325 seconds.
Lap 136: #34 Conway, #7 R. Gordon, #83 Sorenson to garage, out of race.
Lap 139: YELLOW. Debris in Turn 3.
Lap 139: To pits: #42 Montoya, #1 McMurray, #16 Biffle, #33 Bowyer, #18 Ky. Busch, #5 Martin, #29 Harvick, #99 Edwards, #31 Burton, #2 Ku. Busch, #17 Kenseth, #9 Kahne, #12 Keselowski, #98 Menard, #56 Truex, #14 Stewart, #88 Earnhardt, #20 Logano, #47 Ambrose, #21 Elliott, #37 Kvapil. #1 McMurray wins race off pit road, followed by #14 Stewart, #29 Harvick.
Lap 139 pit stop report: Two tires and gas: #29 Harvick, seven seconds; #1 McMurray, nine seconds; #14 Stewart, nine seconds, including last-second cleaning of grill; #2 Ku. Busch. Two tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #5 Martin, eight seconds. Four tires and gas: #42 Montoya, 14 seconds; #16 Biffle, 15 seconds, #31 Burton, 15 seconds, #99 Edwards, 16 seconds. Four tires, gas, tire pressure and chassis adjustments: #17 Kenseth, 15 seconds. Four tires, gas, air pressure adjustments: #33 Bowyer, 14 seconds. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #9 Kahne, 15 seconds.
Restart order: #1 McMurray, #14 Stewart, #29 Harvick, #5 Martin, #31 Burton.
Lap 143: GREEN. #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .311 of a second. #42 Montoya ninth.
Lap 144: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .231 of a second.
Lap 146: 42 Montoya hits SAFER Barrier with right side of car in Turn 4, slides across track and makes contact with #88 Earnhardt on inside of track just before entrance to pit road. #42 Montoya drives to garage with heavy damage to right rear, out of race. #88 Earnhardt to pits with damage to left front fender, stop is four minutes, 27 seconds.
Lap 147: YELLOW due to Montoya-Earnhardt collision.
Restart order: #29 Harvick, #1 McMurray, #14 Stewart, #31 Burton, #16 Biffle.
Lap 150: GREEN. #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .220 of a second.
Lap 151: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .375 of a second.
Lap 152: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .451 of a second.
Lap 153: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .699 of a second.
Lap 154: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .807 of a second. #16 Biffle third.
Lap 155: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .898 of a second.
Lap 156: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by .943 of a second.
Lap 157: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by 1.042 seconds.
Lap 158: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by 1.344 seconds.
Lap 159: #1 McMurray leads #29 Harvick by 1.448 seconds.
Lap 160: CHECKERED. #1 Jamie McMurray wins the 2010 Brickyard 400 by 1.391 seconds over #29 Kevin Harvick. #16 Greg Biffle third.

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BRICKYARD 400 POST-RACE QUICK QUOTES:

CHIP GANASSI (Team owner, #1 McMurray): (About winning Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 in same year): “It’s pretty special. My heart goes out to Juan. He had a great day, too. This is a big, big day for our team. I’m glad it happened here in Indianapolis. It’s incredible. I need oxygen. I don’t know what to say.” (Message to his father, Floyd): “Hi Dad, I hope you’re on the oxygen back there, because I need some.”

JAMIE McMURRAY (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, winner): “It’s unbelievable. We didn’t have the best car. When Kevin got by me a few laps from the end, I thought it was over. Our car was a little tight. Ten laps to go, just do what you’ve got to do. Don’t worry about those guys. It’s just an awesome day. It’s unreal right now. How about Chip winning the (Indianapolis) 500 and both of these big races? We’re just a great team right now. Honestly, when Juan was leading and I was in second, I’m a big believer in fate, and I thought this was how it was meant to be. I won Daytona, Dario won the 500 and I thought Juan was going to win this one. I’m just shocked I won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. It’s been an unbelievable year.”

KEVIN HARVICK (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet, second): (About late restart): “I got tight going into Turn 1 in the middle. I had to wait, and Jamie was able to carry the momentum around the outside. I felt like we had a top-five car but didn’t have a winning car. We had a chance to win at the end and came up just a little short. We took a chance and we were fast enough to take a chance. Last year we never would have been fast enough to take that chance.”

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BRICKYARD 400 POST-RACE NOTES:

•This is Jamie McMurray’s first career Brickyard 400 victory. His previous best finish was third in 2003, his first Brickyard 400 start.
•Chip Ganassi became the first team owner to win the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 – the Triple Crown of American oval racing – in the same year. McMurray won the Daytona 500 and this race for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates; Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
•Jamie McMurray is just the third driver to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. Dale Jarrett first achieved the feat in 1996, followed by Jimmie Johnson in 2006.
•This is the eighth consecutive year that a Chevrolet has won the Brickyard 400. Bill Elliott was the last non-Chevy driver to win this event, in 2002 in a Dodge.
•Runner-up Kevin Harvick earned his seventh top-10 finish in 10 Brickyard 400 starts. He won the race in 2003.
•Juan Pablo Montoya led the most laps at this event for the second consecutive year. He led 116 in 2009 before finishing 11th. He led 86 laps today before finishing 32nd.
•Greg Biffle finished third, his best in this event. His previous best was fourth in 2009.
•Clint Bowyer finished fourth to tie his best at this event, set in his first start here in 2006.
•Tony Stewart finished fifth, his eighth top-10 finish in 12 Brickyard 400 starts.
•Jacques Villeneuve finished 29th in his first Brickyard 400 start, becoming the only driver besides Juan Pablo Montoya to race in all three major auto racing events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and United States Grand Prix.
•1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve had the best finish, 29th, among the three Indy 500 winners in today’s field. 2006 winner Sam Hornish Jr. finished 30th, while 2000 winner Juan Pablo Montoya finished 32nd.
•Four-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon finished 23rd, only the fourth time he’s finished outside of the top nine in 17 career Brickyard 400 starts.