Brickyard Still a Big Deal

INDIANAPOLIS – As the Indianapolis Motor Speedway fades into the Indiana twilight, there’s no question in my mind that it’s still the World’s Most Famous Race Course.

If you combine history, meaning and tradition, it ranks right up there with Independence Hall. If you’re a race fan, you know about Indianapolis. Even if you hate open-wheel racing, you know Indianapolis. Even if you don’t like attending the race because you can’t see all the way around the track, you know Indy.

The crowd was good. Not great, not bursting at the seams as it was in the first 10 years of the Brickyard 400’s 20-year run, but decent. I guessed 95,000; other reports had it at 75,000. Doesn’t matter. Unless you’re upwards of 150,000, it will look empty.

I’ve been there when there’ve been twice that (300,000) in the stands. First day of Time Trials in May? Quarter-million people, no lie. And this was in the 1970s and 1980s, not 50 years ago.

Stock cars are a good deal at IMS. Sure, the track isn’t designed for them, has no bank to speak of and it’s a bit larger to see around given that it’s a square, but it’s still good.

Just like it was when Ryan Newman won the race. Hoosier driver, open-wheel roots, looking for a job, Ryan Newman won the Brickyard 400. Beat Jimmie Johnson to do it, too. Of course, Johnson had a 17-second pit stop on lap 133 and that beat him as surely as a crash would have. Those few seconds were enough for Newman to ride the cushion home.

Was there a crash all day? No. One green-flag, on-track pass for the lead, too. That’s not good, if you’re keeping track, but neither is it horrible. We had very few passes for the lead in other races so far this year.  The track is going to make sure that happens. It’s built for the open-wheel cars, not stock cars. 

It was compelling, though, and that’s what counts. I was riveted to the screen (had to bail early for the airport) to see if Five-Time could run down Newman before the checkered. 

He didn’t. Newman has a home-track triumph, renewed Chase hopes and a heck of a resume enhancer for 2014.

Good enough for me!