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Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Indianapolis
Brickyard 400
Indianapolis is one of the most unique tracks the circuit goes to. It's a big, 2.5 mile speedway with flat 90 degree turns. The speedway is entirely symmetrical and turns 1 and 2 were designed to be just like 3 and 4. Obviously, the track was set up for Indy cars and the larger stock cars can be bears to drive around the narrow groove. Because the track is so unique, fantasy players have to rely a lot on past races there -- even if the COT has never been there. At the same time, take notice of drivers who have been strong all season. Drivers who have been able to get their car to handle well through the 4 corners (like Tony Stewart) and who have had great horsepower all year (like Tony Stewart) should be at the top of your fantasy lists for this weekend. 1. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs RacingStewart won this race last season after leading 65 laps. He has 4 top 5's in 9 starts (won in 2005) and has the best average finish among active drivers with more than 3 starts. He should be one of the top class A picks you consider this weekend.2. Kyle Busch, #18 M & M's Toyota, Gibbs Racing7 wins in 19 starts in 2008. It's tough to rank anyone over him no matter where the series goes. He has never finished outside of the top 10 in 3 starts at the Brickyard and was 4th last year after leading 17 laps.3. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor SportsThe Brickyard King has 4 wins in 14 starts and was 3rd last season. He never really showed that he could run out front well last season, but he won the first race here and is a candidate to win the first one in the new car. There is no better place to break out of this winless streak for Gordon.4. Kevin Harvick, #29 Shell/Reeses/GM Chevrolet, Richard Childress RacingHarvick has an average finish of 7.7 at the Brickyard (4th best among active drivers) and was 7th last season after leading 18 laps. He has 5 top 10's in 7 starts and a win. He's definitely a class A choice to consider this weekend.5. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick MotorsportsEarnhardt is a great class B choice this weekend. He had the car to challenge Stewart last season before blowing an engine and led 33 laps. He has just 2 top 10's in 8 starts, but was 6th in 2006, giving him a couple strong runs in a row.6. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor SportsJohnson won this race in 2006 and is coming off a 2nd place run at Chicago where he almost captured the win. He is finally getting comfortable in the new car after spending last season chasing the championship and not testing as much as other competitors. He could win this weekend.7. Mark Martin, #8 Army Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc.Martin has 9 top 10's in 14 starts at Indianapolis and should be considered for your clas B roster this weekend. He was 6th last season and will be driving for a team that had a dominant car in this race last year with Dale Earnhardt Jr.8. Jeff Burton, #31 ATamp;T Mobility Chevrolet, Richard Childress RacingBurton was 8th last season in this race after leading the most laps in the 2006 event. He isn't good enough to overtake the top notch class A drivers for a spot on your roster, but will be a factor during the race.9. Matt Kenseth, #17 DeWalt Tools Ford, Roush-Fenway RacingAfter his 10th place finish last year, Kenseth has 5 top 10's in 8 starts at the Brickyard, 4 of them top 5's. I'm not sure he will be a contender for the win, but he usually finishes solidly. If he weren't in the class A group, he'd be a great pick.10. Kasey Kahne, #9 Budweiser Dodge, Gillett-Evernham MotorsportsKahne will be forgotten by most fantasy players this weekend who don't look beyond the statistics at the Brickyard. In 4 trips to Indy, Kahne has never qualified worse than 12th. He scored top 5's in each of his first two starts, including a 2nd place run where he led 39 laps in 2005. He crashed last season, but based on his having run better than he did last year, he may have a car that will allow him to once again show his talent here.
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