2012 Brickyard 400

The 2012 Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard, the 19th running of the event, was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on July 29, 2012 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Contested over 160 laps, was the twentieth race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Jimmie Johnson, of the Hendrick Motorsports racing team, won his third race of the season ahead of Kyle Busch in second. Greg Biffle finished in the third position.

2012 Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard
Race details[1][2]
Race 20 of 36 in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date July 29, 2012 (2012-July-29)
Official name Crown Royal Presents the "Your Hero's Name Here" 400 at the Brickyard Powered By BigMachineRecords.com
Location Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Weather Clear with a high temperature around 88°F; wind out of the S at 5 mph.
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 49.244
Most laps led
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 99
Winner
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree

Report

Background

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the race track where the race was held.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of six superspeedways to hold NASCAR races; the others are Michigan International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.[3] The standard track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a four-turn rectangular-oval track that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long.[4] The track's turns are banked at 9 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, has no banking. The back stretch, opposite of the front, also has none.[4] The racetrack has seats for 250,000 spectators.[5]

Before the race, Matt Kenseth led the Drivers' Championship with 707 points, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. stood in second with 691. Greg Biffle was third in the Drivers' Championship with 667 points, eleven ahead of Jimmie Johnson and 39 ahead of Denny Hamlin in fourth and fifth. Kevin Harvick with 622 was four ahead of Tony Stewart, as Martin Truex, Jr. with 617 points, was three ahead of Clint Bowyer, and four in front of Brad Keselowski.[6] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet was leading with135 points, 25 ahead of Toyota. Ford, with 93 points, was thirteen points ahead of Dodge in the battle for third.[7] Paul Menard is the defending winner of the race.[8]

In 2011, Crown Royal announced that they would move their sponsorship from Richmond International Raceway to Indianapolis to rename the Brickyard 400 to Crown Royal "Your Hero's Name Goes Here" 400 at the Brickyard.[9] Once the naming rights contest concluded, Curtiss Shaver, a firefighter from Troy, Alabama, was announced the winner, making the official race name for the 2012 race, the Crown Royal Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard.[10]

Indianapolis Motor Speedway also made changes to the garages in 2012 as part of the new format of having both a first and second tier series race at the Speedway. For the first time, the top 35 Cup teams would no longer use the traditional Gasoline Alley garages. Instead, the top teams in points would be parked in the "new" garages located on pit road used first for Formula One and later for MotoGP. NASCAR Inspection would be held in the pitside garages, and lower teams and the Nationwide Series (racing for the first time at Indianapolis) will use Gasoline Alley.[11]

Practice and qualifying

Denny Hamlin won the pole position with a time of 49.244

Two practice sessions were held before the race on July 28, 2012. The first session was 60 minutes long, while the second was 110 minutes.[12] Kasey Kahne was quickest with a time of 48.563 seconds in the first session, 0.478 faster than Mark Martin.[13] Jeff Gordon was third quickest, followed by Johnson, Keselowski, and Menard. Earnhardt, Jr. was seventh, still within a second of Kahne's time.[13] In the second and final practice session, Biffle was quickest with a time of 49.587 seconds.[14] Carl Edwards, with a time of 49.660, was second quickest, ahead of Joey Logano, Kahne, and Kenseth.[14] Johnson, Regan Smith, Gordon, Jeff Burton, and Hamlin completed the first ten positions.[14]

Forty-six cars were entered for qualifying, but only forty-three could qualify for the race because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure.[15] Hamlin clinched his first pole position at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with a time of 49.244 seconds.[16] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Edwards.[16] Logano qualified third, Aric Almirola took fourth, and Biffle started fifth.[16] Johnson, Kyle Busch, Menard, Gordon and Kenseth rounded out the top ten. The drivers that failed to qualify for the race were Reed Sorenson, Joe Nemechek, Michael McDowell.[16] McDowell's time was disallowed after his car failed inspection; Mike Bliss was awarded a spot in the field.[17]

Once the qualifying session had concluded, Hamlin stated, "We knew this was the turning point of the season. From Indy until Richmond is when you start seeing who's going to fight for a championship. Everyone's got their Chase cars prepared, bringing them to the track, and that's when you want to start running good. Every year with six to seven races before the Chase, we start running all out to see where we stack up against the field. If this is any indication, we hope it's 2010 all over with except the ending."[18]


Results

Qualifying

No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed Grid
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49.244182.7631
99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord49.455181.9842
20Joey LoganoJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49.517181.7563
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord49.538181.6794
16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord49.578181.5325
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.626181.3576
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49.711181.0467
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet49.720181.0148
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.737180.9529
17Matt KensethRoush Fenway RacingFord49.819180.65410
39Ryan NewmanStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet49.831180.61111
42Juan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet49.857180.51612
51Kurt BuschPhoenix RacingChevrolet49.865180.48713
78Regan SmithFurniture Row RacingChevrolet49.869180.47314
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.876180.44715
1Jamie McMurrayEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet49.879180.43716
56Martin Truex, Jr.Michael Waltrip RacingToyota49.880180.43317
21Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord49.892180.39018
55Mark MartinMichael Waltrip RacingToyota49.893180.38619
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.932180.24520
31Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet49.951180.17721
2Brad KeselowskiPenske RacingDodge49.959180.14822
9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord49.980180.07223
22Sam Hornish, Jr.Penske RacingDodge50.020179.92824
13Casey MearsGermain RacingFord50.134179.51925
30David StremmeInception MotorsportsToyota50.220179.21226
29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.309178.89427
14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet50.318178.86228
47Bobby LabonteJTG Daugherty RacingToyota50.331178.81629
93Travis KvapilBK RacingToyota50.408178.54330
38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord50.418178.50831
36Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet50.424178.48632
15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota50.443178.41933
95Scott SpeedLeavine Family RacingFord50.603177.85534
26Josh WiseFront Row MotorsportsFord50.635177.74335
34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord50.667177.63036
33Stephen LeichtCircle Sport RacingChevrolet50.748177.34737
83Landon CassillBK RacingToyota50.750177.34038
79Mike SkinnerGo Green RacingFord50.878176.89439
23Scott RiggsR3 MotorsportsToyota50.888176.85940
10J. J. YeleyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet50.985176.52341
32Ken SchraderFAS Lane RacingFord51.497174.76842
19Mike BlissHumphrey Smith RacingToyota51.084176.18043
Failed to Qualify
91Reed SorensonHumphrey Smith RacingFord51.250175.610
87Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsToyota51.387175.142
98Michael McDowellPhil Parsons RacingFord50.590177.901^
Source:[16]
^ McDowell's time was disallowed after his car failed inspection.

Race results

Jimmie Johnson won his fourth Brickyard 400.
Pos Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1648Jimmie Johnson (W)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16048
2718Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota16043
3516Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord16042
42088Dale Earnhardt JrHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16040
5924Jeff Gordon (W)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16040
6111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota16039
71139Ryan NewmanStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet16037
81756Martin Truex, Jr.Michael Waltrip RacingToyota16036
9222Brad KeselowskiPenske RacingDodge16036
102814Tony Stewart (W)Stewart-Haas RacingChevrolet16034
111955Mark MartinMichael Waltrip RacingToyota16033
12155Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet16032
132729Kevin Harvick (W)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet16031
14827Paul Menard (W)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet16030
153315Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota16029
162422Sam Hornish, Jr.Penske RacingDodge1600
171821Trevor BayneWood Brothers RacingFord1600
181478Regan SmithFurniture Row RacingChevrolet16026
19443Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord16025
20239Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord16024
211242Juan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet16023
22161Jamie McMurray (W)Earnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet16022
233236Dave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet16021
242630David StremmeInception MotorsportsToyota16020
253883Landon CassillBK RacingToyota16020
262947Bobby Labonte (W)JTG Daugherty RacingToyota16019
273138David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord16017
283634David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord16016
29299Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord15615
304232Ken SchraderFAS Lane RacingFord15614
313733Stephen Leicht (R)Circle Sport RacingChevrolet15413
322131Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15112
33320Joey LoganoJoe Gibbs RacingToyota14411
342513Casey MearsGermain RacingFord13710
351017Matt KensethRoush Fenway RacingFord13210
361351Kurt BuschPhoenix RacingChevrolet1268
373093Travis KvapilBK RacingToyota407
383495Scott SpeedLeavine Family RacingFord236
394110J. J. YeleyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet205
403526Josh Wise (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord194
414023Scott RiggsR3 MotorsportsToyota143
423979Mike SkinnerGo Green RacingFord112
434319Mike BlissHumphrey Smith RacingToyota50
Source:

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  2. Brown, Brian (July 24, 2012). "The Crown Royal 400". RotoWorld.com. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  3. "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  4. "NASCAR Tracks—The Indianapolis Motor Speedway". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  5. "Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fun Facts". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  6. "Driver's Championship Classification". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  7. "Manufactures' Championship Classification". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  8. "Paul Menard wins Brickyard 400". ESPN. Associated Press. August 4, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  9. "Crown Royal to sponsor Brickyard 400". ESPN. July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  10. "Crown Royal Unveils Honorary Yard of Bricks in Troy, Ala., Awarding Local Firefighter Naming Rights To NASCAR Race At Historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. July 18, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  11. "Super Weekend at the Brickyard Notebook". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. July 24, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  12. "Race Info Page". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  13. "Practice One Timing and Scoring". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  14. "Practice Two Timing and Scoring". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  15. "Qualifying Entry List". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  16. "Race Official Lineup". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  17. Denny Hamlin captures pole
  18. Ryan, Nate (July 28, 2012). "Confident Denny Hamlin captures first Brickyard pole". USA Today. Indianapolis, Indiana. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
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Sprint Cup Series
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