We are mere minutes away from the green flag for Sunday's NASCAR annual Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Before the race starts, it's time to predict which drivers will finish in the top 10. Our most recent forecasts went 4-6, dropping our season record to 85-95. That's right. The Internet's favorite fantasy racing site would need to run the table this week to bring the record back to .500.
1. Jimmie Johnson. He's won back-to-back races here, and ... well, you know the rest.
2. Tony Stewart. He's another multiple winner on this track, and did anyone mention he's an Indiana native?
3. Jeff Gordon. Not only is he a four-time winner at Indianapolis, but he's finished in the top five in five straight races this season. That streak has helped him rise to second in the points standings ...
4. Kevin Harvick. ... trailing only this guy.
5. Juan Pablo Montoya. He has a win under his belt here (in a different type of vehicle). He has the pole for this year's race, and only a pit road penalty kept him from winning last year.
6. Mark Martin. He's starting third today, and he seems ready to take his frustration over questions about his plans and turn it into racing fuel.
7. Kyle Busch. It's safe to say he likes Indiana tracks. He won Saturday's Nationwide race at O'Reilly Raceway Park after finishing second in the Camping World truck race there.
8. Ryan Newman. Another Indiana native, Newman starts 5th today.
9. Clint Bowyer. Guess who currently holds the final Chase spot in the standings? Guess who's motivated as heck to hang on to it?
10. Bobby Labonte. This week's medium to long shot is a driver who, despite recent team switches, is starting his 600th consecutive Sprint Cup race. His streak began in 1992, back when one of his current competitors was still a toddler.
(OK, how many of you just read that last entry and said, "Damn, I feel old"?)
Anyway, we'll be back after the race with results and new polls.
No comments:
Post a Comment