After a much-deserved week off, the Sprint Cup series revs back up at Indy to start the unofficial second half of the season.
Two weeks ago, it was 50-year-old Mark Martin picking up his fourth win of 2009 at Chicagoland Speedway. Martin led 195 of the 400 laps in the race, by far the most of any driver.
Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon was able to muster a second-place finish in Chicago, coming on strong after Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch were entangled toward the end of the race.
Teams and drivers should be well-rested heading into what is the second-most prestigious race of the season in the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After the Daytona 500, there isn't a more coveted race on the circuit.
The Brickyard has only been hosting Cup events since 1994, but it's been home to some form of auto racing since 1909. The track is home to the Indy 500, open-wheel racing's version of the Daytona 500. It is a 2.5-mile oval with relatively low banking for a Sprint Cup track.
Although it is one of the most prestigious races of the year, it doesn't always make for the best racing. In fact, last year's race was nothing short of a disaster for the Cup series.
Tire problems marred last year's race with cautions coming out constantly. Drivers pretty much ended up driving one behind the other and pole winner Jimmie Johnson found himself in the winner's circle.
Indy is a track built exclusively for open-wheel racing, thus we don't always see NASCAR drivers perform at their best. Last year became more of a matter or survival than a race, something that could happen again in 2009, although tire manufacturer Goodyear and NASCAR have worked diligently to try and avoid that.
It's time to kick off the second half of the season with what will hopefully be an improved showing by NASCAR at Indy. Who's going to kiss the bricks? We'll find out on Sunday.
Tier 1 Start -- Jimmie Johnson
The Cup series has been coming to Indy since '94 and seven of the race winners have gone on to win the points title that year. Johnson has won two of the last three races at the Brickyard, and obviously went on to win the title those two years. I think he'll win the points title again in 2009, so it would make a lot of sense if he won this Sunday. Jeff Gordon leads all NASCAR drivers in wins at Indy however and would also be a great choice for Tier 1.
Others to consider: Jeff Gordon; Tony Stewart
Tier 1 Sit -- Ryan Newman
Newman has really struggled at Indy in his first eight career starts there. He has one fourth place finish in 2002 and has yet to crack the top 10 since. He has an average finish of 22.4 at the track and has finished outside of the top 30 three times.
Others to avoid: Kurt Busch; Matt Kenseth
Tier 2 Start -- Mark Martin
I never seem to pick Martin at the right time. He's won four races this season and I haven't picked him once. Hopefully I'll buck the trend this week and Martin will pick up his second straight Cup win and first-ever win at Indy. He has finished in the top 10 in three of his last four attempts there, with a best-ever finish of second back in 1998.
Others to consider: Clint Bowyer; Carl Edwards
Tier 2 Sit -- David Reutimann
Reutimann has two career starts at Indy, finishing 38th and 30th. I suspect he'll improve his overall worst finishing average of any active driver at 34th with a decent effort on Sunday, but it won't be anything to write home about. He has only one top-10 finish in his last four races, making him a poor choice this weekend.
Others to avoid: Juan Pablo Montoya; Kasey Kahne
Tier 3 Start -- Jamie McMurray
McMurray has not finished in the top 10 since May 2 at Darlington, going nine races without one. I think that skid will stop on Sunday at Indy. He has finished in the top 10 in three of his six career races at the Brickyard including a sixth-place showing in 2008
Others to consider: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.; Kevin Harvick
Tier 3 Sit -- Martin Truex, Jr.
Truex has four career races at Indy and has yet to finish in the top 10. His best career finish there is 12th with an average finish of 24.3. He hasn't finished in the top 10 of any race since the Southern 500 on May 9, so avoid him this week.
Others to avoid: Casey Mears; Joey Logano
Tier 4 Start -- A.J. Allmendinger
He doesn't have much of a sample size, but Allmendinger has a finishing average of 10th at Indy. That's because he's only started there once, finishing 10th last season. He has had some stronger finishes lately and might be able to pull off another top-10 finish at the Brickyard this weekend.
Others to consider: David Ragan; Bobby Labonte
Tier 4 Sit -- Michael Waltrip
Waltrip finished eighth in the first-ever Sprint Cup race at Indy back in 1994. Since then, he has failed to crack the top 10 again. He has an average finish of 22.5 at the track, finishing 43rd last season after completing only 91 laps and sitting out of the race all together the two seasons prior.
Others to avoid: Elliott Sadler; David Stremme
Tier 5 Start -- John Andretti
I like Andretti this week for two reasons. First, this is one of the tracks he does have some experience at in his career, with an average finish of 24.5 in 10 career races including a top 10. Also, he leapfrogged Scott Speed in the point standings last week and currently holds a one-point edge, making him an automatic qualifier in 35th place.
Others to consider: Robby Gordon; David Gilliland
Tier 5 Sit -- Paul Menard
Menard has the second-lowest finishing average, ahead of Reutimann by 3.5 spots. He has a 20th and 41st place finish to his credit at the Brickyard. Menard is yet to finish in the top 10 this season and Sunday should be no different.
Others to avoid: Dave Blaney; Scott Speed
Ian's Starting Five
Tier 1 -- Jimmie Johnson
Tier 2 -- Mark Martin
Tier 3 -- Jamie McMurray
Tier 4 -- A.J. Allmendinger
Tier 5 -- John Andretti
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