Three hungry men ... and one with a full belly
Four to watch in the Brickyard 400
INDIANAPOLIS – Four drivers in particular bear watching in the Brickyard 400, and three of them have something to prove.
The fourth, of course, is the winner of the past two Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the past four championships. Jimmie Johnson continues to dominate, which means that his career is a gigantic engine whose fuel is the glory once associated with Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya.
“We come here thinking that this is one of the top two or three races we want to win each year,” said Johnson. “The prestige of the event outweighs points.”
It’s easy for Johnson to say. Nothing so far in the season – this is the 20th race – suggests anything to detract from the notion that Johnson is headed for a fifth consecutive championship. He has won five races (equaled by Denny Hamlin) and ranks third in points behind Kevin Harvick and Gordon. It does Johnson no good to lead the standings. They become irrelevant when the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins at the end of the 26-race regular season.
Third with five wins trumps first with two. That’s the way the card game is played under NASCAR rules.
“Where we are in the points right now, we're pretty comfortable in looking good,” said Johnson, “so we can have that mindset (racing to win). We've been here other years where we weren't as strong in the points and needed a good run in the summer to get things situated for the Chase. Where we are right now, we're getting comfortable and looking for a home run.”
In short, Johnson might as well be Alex Rodriguez.
Domination by one contributes to frustrations by the many, and Gordon, Stewart and Montoya have every reason to be frustrated. Gordon, like Hendrick Motorsports teammate Johnson, has won four championships and is the all-time Brickyard leader with four victories. Stewart stands at two apiece.
Montoya? He’s conquered every series he ever entered save this one. Since shocking the motorized world with his decision to compete in NASCAR, the man who won the Indianapolis 500 and the Grand Prix of Monaco has won a grand total of one piddling Cup road race. It wouldn’t have piddled as much if not for the fact that his Infineon Raceway triumph occurred more than three years ago.
Anyone who watches Montoya closely recognizes that he is a racer – yes, a stock car racer – of remarkable artistry, but he can’t seem to put it all together. Last year’s race, then known as the Allstate 400, was emblematic of his entire NASCAR career. Montoya led most of the laps but was inexplicably found guilty of speeding on pit road. It opened the door to another Johnson victory, his third in the last four races at this historic track.
Montoya won the pole. Johnson qualified second, Gordon eighth and Stewart 15th.
“I don’t look at in terms of tracks that are good or bad to us,” said Montoya. “I think, when you start doing that, you’re going to feel jinxed or something when you get there, and I don’t worry too much about that stuff.
“I like coming here. The fans are great here. … The people who own the track here have maintained a lot of tradition over the years. It’s one of the places you can go in the country where you’re well-respected to be in this business in this city. That’s what makes it special.”
Others, of course, figure to contend. Mark Martin finished second last year and qualified third. Harvick is a former winner. Matt Kenseth has finished in the top five four times.
Johnson is the man who must be stopped, and Gordon, Stewart and Montoya are the three most likely, at least on this day, to do something about it.
You may contact Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.
