NASCAR: Results and 3 takeaways from the Cup Series race at Indianapolis
Brad Keselowski won the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard on Monday, his second win of the season, but there are other implications from the race as well. Here are the three biggest takeaways from Monday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
1. The playoff field is (finally) set
At long last, we’re finally through with the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. And isn’t it about time? The first 26 races are fun and all, but we’ve known for weeks how the playoffs would shake out – it’s just been a process of waiting. Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman locked in their spots to the playoffs by virtue of ... nobody else below them winning? Either way, it’s nice to finally be into the home stretch of the season, and to finally start focusing on the 16 best drivers.
2. What’s up with the Big 3?
It has been three weeks in a row the Big 3 of Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr. have not won a race, which is also the longest stretch this season without any of them winning. Is that a sign they’re slipping? Are they bound for playoff disappointment? It’s definitely too early to say either of those, and probably too early to be worried at all (especially considering Harvick and Busch both finished in the top 10 Monday), but it’s still something worth monitoring as we get into these elimination races.
3. Can Brad Keselowski complete the playoff repeat from last season?
Last season’s Championship 4: Truex, Busch, Harvick, and Keselowski. The top four in the points standings at the end of the regular season? The same foursome, albeit in a slightly different order. If the Big 3 was the story of this season, then the top secondary story has to be who would be joining them among the championship favorites. Clint Bowyer made an appearance, as have Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson, and even Chase Elliott at times ... but now, when the season is truly starting to flip, Kez is showing he’s a formidable contender. Like all those before him, lets not crown him too quickly, but Keselowski is absolutely proving he belongs in the conversation alongside the Big 3.
Brendan Marks: 704-358-5889, @brendanrmarks
The full race results, from the Associated Press:
Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard
Monday
At Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis
Lap length: 2.50 miles
Fin. | St | Driver | Car | Laps | * | |
1 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | Ford | 160 | ||
2 | 13 | Erik Jones | Toyota | 160 | ||
3 | 10 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 160 | ||
4 | 2 | Kevin Harvick | Ford | 160 | ||
5 | 8 | Clint Bowyer | Ford | 160 | ||
6 | 4 | Kurt Busch | Ford | 160 | ||
7 | 21 | Jamie McMurray | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
8 | 1 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 160 | ||
9 | 19 | Paul Menard | Ford | 160 | ||
10 | 17 | Ryan Newman | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
11 | 9 | Ryan Blaney | Ford | 160 | ||
12 | 29 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 160 | ||
13 | 5 | Joey Logano | Ford | 160 | ||
14 | 7 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
15 | 11 | Chase Elliott | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
16 | 14 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
17 | 26 | Michael McDowell | Ford | 160 | ||
18 | 20 | Daniel Suarez | Toyota | 160 | ||
19 | 22 | William Byron | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
20 | 27 | Regan Smith | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
21 | 30 | Ty Dillon | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
22 | 18 | Austin Dillon | Chevrolet | 160 | ||
23 | 12 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 159 | ||
24 | 25 | David Ragan | Ford | 159 | ||
25 | 23 | Chris Buescher | Chevrolet | 158 | ||
26 | 32 | Ross Chastain | Chevrolet | 158 | ||
27 | 33 | Corey LaJoie | Chevrolet | 158 | ||
28 | 38 | Reed Sorenson | Chevrolet | 158 | ||
29 | 35 | JJ Yeley | Toyota | 157 | ||
30 | 40 | BJ McLeod | Ford | 157 | ||
31 | 34 | Landon Cassill | Chevrolet | 150 | 1 | |
32 | 37 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Toyota | 150 | 1 | |
33 | 15 | Alex Bowman | Chevrolet | 142 | ||
34 | 16 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 136 | 2 | |
35 | 39 | Timmy Hill | Toyota | 124 | 3 | |
36 | 31 | Matt DiBenedetto | Ford | 89 | 4 | |
37 | 24 | AJ Allmendinger | Chevrolet | 66 | 1 | |
38 | 28 | Bubba Wallace | Chevrolet | 57 | 1 | |
39 | 36 | David Starr | Chevrolet | 57 | 1 | |
40 | 3 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 41 | 5 |
*Reason out: 1-Accident, 2-Engine, 3-Fuel Pump, 4-Rear End, 5-Brakes.
Race Statistics
Average Speed of Race Winner: 128.629 mph.
Time of Race: 3 Hours, 6 Minutes, 35 Seconds. Margin of Victory: 0.904 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 10 for 39 laps.
Lead Changes: 14 among 9 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Kyle Busch 1-11; D. Hamlin 12-32; Kurt Busch 33-44; C. Bowyer 45-51; Kyle Busch 52-67; K. Harvick 68-89; C. Bowyer 90-96; M. Kenseth 97-101; W. Byron 102-104; C. Bowyer 105-127; R. Blaney 128; Kurt Busch 129-135; B. Keselowski 136-142; D. Hamlin 143-158; B. Keselowski 159-160.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): C. Bowyer 3 times for 37 laps; D. Hamlin 2 times for 37 laps; Kyle Busch 2 times for 27 laps; K. Harvick 1 time for 22 laps; Kurt Busch 2 times for 19 laps; B. Keselowski 2 times for 9 laps; M. Kenseth 1 time for 5 laps; W. Byron 1 time for 3 laps; R. Blaney 1 time for 1 lap.