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Again from the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Statistically speaking: Indianapolis
By Al Levine
Cox News Service
Here are some facts and figures connected to Sunday's race at Indianapolis:
Tony's tour
Although he has competed in only three Winston Cup races at Indianapolis, Tony Stewart has a successful history at the famed speedway. He has two top-10s finishes in his three Brickyard 400s. Stewart started on the pole and finished 24th in the 1996 Indianapolis 500 en route to winning the Rookie title for the race. He has competed in four other Indy Racing League races there, finishing in the top-10 three times.
Why not Gordon?
Jeff Gordon has to end his season-long victory drought at some point. Why not Indy? He is the defending race champion. He is the only three-time winner of the Brickyard 400, in 1994, '98 and 2001. He also has been the best qualifier at Indy, with three (1995, '96 and '99) poles.
Record pace
There have been 14 different race winners in this season's 20 Cup races, including 10 different winners in the last 10 races. The record for consecutive different race winners is 13, set twice in two stretches of the 1961 season.
Bill's got it figured
Bill Elliott, at 8.875, has the best average finish of the 16 drivers who have competed in all eight NASCAR races at Indianapolis.
Big bonus
This would be a very profitable weekend for points leader Sterling Marlin to win. The Winston Cup Leader Bonus, which gets paid if the race winner is also the points leader, is up to $160,000. The bonus increases by $10,000 each week it's not collected. The biggest bonus paid out since the program began in 1996 is $190,000 to Bobby Labonte at the 2000 Brickyard 400.
Strong at Indy
-- Jeff Gordon has five top-five finishes at Indianapolis, more than any driver. Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin have four.
-- Rusty Wallace has seven top-10 finishes at Indianapolis. Bill Elliott and Jeff Gordon have six top-10s.
-- Mike Skinner has a 9.25 average start in four races at Indianapolis, the best among active drivers with more than two starts. Skinner's average finish of 8.50 is best among drivers with two or more starts.
Headaches at Indy
-- Joe Nemechek has finished 18th or worse in all eight of his races at Indianapolis.
-- Kyle Petty has finished 13th or worse and has an average finish of 26.86 in seven races at Indianapolis
-- Dave Blaney has finished 23rd or worse in his three races at Indianapolis.
-- Elliott Sadler has finished 21st or worse in his three races at Indy.
Track position key
Five of the eight Cup races at Indianapolis have been won from a top-10 starting position; all from seventh or better. The other three have been won from 13th or worse.
History book
-- Rick Mast won the first Cup pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994. Jeff Gordon won the 1994 inaugural Brickyard 400.
-- The first and only time in the modern era that three brothers led at least one lap in the same race occurred in the inaugural Brickyard: Geoffrey, Brett and Todd Bodine accomplished that feat.
Statistically speaking: Indianapolis
By Al Levine
Cox News Service
Here are some facts and figures connected to Sunday's race at Indianapolis:
Tony's tour
Although he has competed in only three Winston Cup races at Indianapolis, Tony Stewart has a successful history at the famed speedway. He has two top-10s finishes in his three Brickyard 400s. Stewart started on the pole and finished 24th in the 1996 Indianapolis 500 en route to winning the Rookie title for the race. He has competed in four other Indy Racing League races there, finishing in the top-10 three times.
Why not Gordon?
Jeff Gordon has to end his season-long victory drought at some point. Why not Indy? He is the defending race champion. He is the only three-time winner of the Brickyard 400, in 1994, '98 and 2001. He also has been the best qualifier at Indy, with three (1995, '96 and '99) poles.
Record pace
There have been 14 different race winners in this season's 20 Cup races, including 10 different winners in the last 10 races. The record for consecutive different race winners is 13, set twice in two stretches of the 1961 season.
Bill's got it figured
Bill Elliott, at 8.875, has the best average finish of the 16 drivers who have competed in all eight NASCAR races at Indianapolis.
Big bonus
This would be a very profitable weekend for points leader Sterling Marlin to win. The Winston Cup Leader Bonus, which gets paid if the race winner is also the points leader, is up to $160,000. The bonus increases by $10,000 each week it's not collected. The biggest bonus paid out since the program began in 1996 is $190,000 to Bobby Labonte at the 2000 Brickyard 400.
Strong at Indy
-- Jeff Gordon has five top-five finishes at Indianapolis, more than any driver. Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin have four.
-- Rusty Wallace has seven top-10 finishes at Indianapolis. Bill Elliott and Jeff Gordon have six top-10s.
-- Mike Skinner has a 9.25 average start in four races at Indianapolis, the best among active drivers with more than two starts. Skinner's average finish of 8.50 is best among drivers with two or more starts.
Headaches at Indy
-- Joe Nemechek has finished 18th or worse in all eight of his races at Indianapolis.
-- Kyle Petty has finished 13th or worse and has an average finish of 26.86 in seven races at Indianapolis
-- Dave Blaney has finished 23rd or worse in his three races at Indianapolis.
-- Elliott Sadler has finished 21st or worse in his three races at Indy.
Track position key
Five of the eight Cup races at Indianapolis have been won from a top-10 starting position; all from seventh or better. The other three have been won from 13th or worse.
History book
-- Rick Mast won the first Cup pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994. Jeff Gordon won the 1994 inaugural Brickyard 400.
-- The first and only time in the modern era that three brothers led at least one lap in the same race occurred in the inaugural Brickyard: Geoffrey, Brett and Todd Bodine accomplished that feat.