NASCAR Heads To Indianapolis

With their final off weekend in the books, NASCAR heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the nineteenth time. Joining the Cup Series for the first time ever are the Nationwide Series, Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

Matt Kenseth heads to Indianapolis as the points leader, ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson. Carl Edwards is currently eleventh in the points, forty-seven between Brad Keselowski in tenth. Following his win in New Hampshire, Kasey Kahne jumped into a wild card position joining Kyle Busch as they both look to fight their way into the Chase. Last year's winner at Indianapolis, Paul Menard is in fifteenth position and is looking for his first win of the 2012 season. Other drivers outside the top ten in points are Indiana's Ryan Newman, four-time winner of the Brickyard 400 Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and the 2010 Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurray.

2000 Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya sits in twenty-first position as he looks for a win in the Brickyard 400. He finished second in his first Brickyard 400 and won the pole for the race in 2010. In 2009, Montoya lead the most laps at Indianapolis before a controversial pit road speeding penalty cost him the win.

For the first time ever the Nationwide Series will not be racing at Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana. The 250-mile race in scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Friday is sports car day at the Speedway with this three hour Rolex Sports Car series race being the final leg of the North American Endurance Championship. Darren Law and Joao Barbosa lead the NAEC Championship for Daytona Prototypes while Robin Liddell and John Edwards lead the Grand Touring Class. McMurray, Montoya and Scott Dixon will be competing in a second DP entry from Chip Ganassi. The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will precede the main event on Friday at 1:00pm with a seventy-five car field.

Stay tuned as the weekend approaches.