Depending on who pulls into Victory Lane, Sunday’s 16th annual Allstate 400 at The Brickyard could portend the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion.
The eventual series champion has won the race seven times in its 15-year history – no crystal balls required. That suggests Indianapolis as a serious signpost en route to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Two drivers have won it twice – Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet). Gordon won at Indianapolis in his title years of 1998 and 2001 while Johnson did so in 2006 and 2008.
Three drivers have done it once – Dale Jarrett in 1999, Bobby Labonte (No. 96 ASK.com Ford) in 2000 and Tony Stewart in 2005.
“I think the momentum is really going to be key just prior to the Chase,” Gordon said during Tuesday’s NASCAR Teleconference, “who can get that momentum and go into the Chase and even start the Chase with that strong momentum and continue it on.
“That, I believe, what’s going to separate the team or the top teams that are going to go vie for the championship.”
CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR 0 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Guitar Hero 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Carquest / Kellogg's 6 David Ragan Ford UPS 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Johns Manville 7 Casey Mears Chevrolet Jack Daniel's 8 Terry Labonte Toyota Carter / Simo Racing 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser 9 Sterling Marlin Dodge Miccosukee Resort & Gaming 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Office 12 David Stremme Dodge Penske Racing 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Old Spice / Office Depot 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M Pistonz Ear Plugs 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Dewalt 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Snickers 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Best Buy 20 Joey Logano* Toyota The Home Depot 21 Bill Elliott Ford Motorcraft 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Prilosec OTC / Wal-Mart 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios / Hamburger Helper 34 John Andretti Chevrolet Taco Bell 36 Mike Skinner Toyota Guy Fieri 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target 43 Reed Sorenson Dodge Valvoline 44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Hunt Brothers Pizza 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Little Debbie / Kingsford / Clorox 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's / Kobalt Tools 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Prism Motorsports 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Companies 82 Scott Speed* Toyota Red Bull 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Amp Energy / National Guard 96 Bobby Labonte Ford Ask.com 98 Paul Menard Ford Johns Manville / Menards 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac 113 Max Papis* Toyota GEICO 171 David Gilliland Chevrolet TRG Motorsports 175 Derrike Cope Dodge FlipnBags.com 187 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports
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