Statistically speaking: a look at Indianapolis
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s running of the Saumuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard, a.k.a. the Brickyard 400. It’s the 20th running of the event since NASCAR first raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994. Jeff Gordon won that first race. He’s tied with series points leader and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson for most NASCAR wins at the track, each driver with four trips to victory lane. Tony Stewart is the one other active driver with multiple wins at the track with two. Here’s a statistical look at how some of the top drivers in the sport have fared at the Brickyard (statistics provided by NASCAR Media Group):
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Three top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 12.1
· Average Running Position of 10.2, second-best
· Driver Rating of 98.6, fifth-best
· 58 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 392 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.605 mph, sixth-fastest
· 1,027 Laps in the Top 15 (80.2%), second-most
· 205 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), sixth-most
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 12.3
· Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 86.7, 13th-best
· 410 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· 694 Laps in the Top 15 (62.0%), 11th-most
· 154 Quality Passes, 13th-most
Jeff Burton (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· One top five, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 19.2
· Average Running Position of 14.1, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.9, 12th-best
· 37 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.350 mph, 10th-fastest
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 11.8
· Average Running Position of 12.9, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 96.6, sixth-best
· 39 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 408 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.565 mph, seventh-fastest
· 909 Laps in the Top 15 (71.0%), sixth-most
· 219 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Four wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 8.8
· Average Running Position of 11.9, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 101.8, fourth-best
· 98 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 406 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.056 mph, second-fastest
· 961 Laps in the Top 15 (75.1%), third-most
· Series-high 240 Quality Passes
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· One top five, three top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.7
· Driver Rating of 89.9, 11th-best
· 40 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.793 mph, fourth-fastest
· 652 Laps in the Top 15 (58.2%), 12th-most
· 166 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.3
· Average Running Position of 14.2, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.9, 10th-best
· 28 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 393 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· 850 Laps in the Top 15 (66.4%), ninth-most
· 190 Quality Passes, ninth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Four wins, four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.8
· Average Running Position of 11.8, fourth-best
· Series-best Driver Rating of 106.3
· Series-high 144 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 170.173 mph
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 15.4
· Driver Rating of 94.0, ninth-best
· 58 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 926 Laps in the Top 15 (72.3%), fifth-most
· 210 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 15.8
· Average Running Position of 12.9, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 94.7, eighth-best
· 943 Laps in the Top 15 (73.7%), fourth-most
Mark Martin (No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Six top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.8
· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.4
· Driver Rating of 102.5, third-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 169.688 mph, fifth-fastest
· Series-high 1,067 Laps in the Top 15 (83.4%)
· 220 Quality Passes, third-most
Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet)
· One top five, one top 10; one pole
· Average finish of 22.2
· Driver Rating of 95.9, seventh-best
· 105 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 8.2
· Average Running Position of 11.7, third-best
· Driver Rating of 102.8, second-best
· Series-high 488 Green Flag Passes
· 238 Quality Passes, second-most
Follow Stock Car Spin on Twitter @SCSblog or like Stock Car Spin on Facebook. Amanda’s also on Twitter @NASCARexaminer and has a fan/like page on Facebook: NASCAR Examiner