By Paul Kelly
allstate400atthebrickyard.com
Friday, November 17, 2006
Thirty-five races down, one to go, and only five drivers are left standing with a chance to win the NEXTEL Cup.
2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner and series points leader Jimmie Johnson leads a gang of five who are eligible to win the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship in the season-ending Ford 400 on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The others in contention are Matt Kenseth, 2003 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
{{display_poll_22}}A look at the points:
| Johnson | Leader |
| Kenseth | -63 |
| Harvick | -90 |
| Hamlin | -90 |
| Earnhardt | -115 |
To clinch his first NEXTEL Cup title, Johnson needs to finish 12th or better if he leads no laps, 13th or better if he leads at least one lap or 15th or better if he leads the most laps.
Johnson also is in good shape in any tiebreaker scenario. He has five victories this season, and Kenseth has four, the first tiebreaker.
If Kenseth wins the Ford 400 and ties Johnson in the standings, both drivers would have five wins each and tie at the first tiebreaker. The next tiebreaker is second-place finishes, where Johnson holds a 6-3 edge over Kenseth this season.
If Johnson wins the title, it will be the fifth time in the last nine years that the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner also has won the NASCAR championship in the same season. Jeff Gordon achieved the feat in 1998 and 2001, Dale Jarrett in 1999, Bobby Labonte in 2000 and Tony Stewart in 2005.
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Tickets: Tickets for the 14th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will go on sale Friday, Dec. 1.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office is accepting ticket orders for the race. To place an order for tickets, camping or parking, contact the IMS Ticket Office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
The Ticket Office is located in the IMS Administration Building, at the intersection of 16th Street and Georgetown Road in Indianapolis. Business hours are from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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