2016 Brickyard 400

The 2016 Brickyard 400, branded as Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard, was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on July 24, 2016 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. As the 23rd running of the Brickyard 400, contested over 170 laps-- extended from 160 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) speedway, it was the 20th race of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

2016 Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 20 of 36 in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date July 24, 2016 (2016-07-24)
Location Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4 km)
Distance 170 laps, 425 mi (683 km)
Scheduled Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (640 km)
Average speed 128.940 mph (207.509 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 48.745 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 149
Winner
No. 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBCSN
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte
Nielsen Ratings 2.8/5 (Overnight)[10]
3.1/6 (Final)[10]
5.2 million viewers[10]
Radio in the United States
Radio IndyCar Radio Network
Booth Announcers Doug Rice, Pat Patterson and John Andretti
Turn Announcers Mark Jaynes (1), Nick Yeoman (2), Jake Query (3) and Chris Denari (4)

Kyle Busch scored his second career victory at the Brickyard, the race had four lead changes among different drivers and eight cautions for 31 laps, and one red flag for seven minutes and 45 seconds.

This is the first Brickyard 400 without Dale Earnhardt Jr. since the 1999 edition and the first Brickyard 400 without an Earnhardt in the starting lineup.

Report

Background

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the track where the race will be held.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana, (an enclave suburb of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. It is located on the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, approximately six miles (10 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis.

Constructed in 1909, it is the original speedway, the first racing facility so named. It has a permanent seating capacity estimated at 235,000 with infield seating raising capacity to an approximate 400,000. It is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world.

Considered relatively flat by American standards, the track is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km), nearly rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its inception: four 0.25-mile (0.40 km) turns, two 0.625-mile long (1.006 km) straightaways between the fourth and first turns and the second and third turns, and two .125-mile (0.201 km) short straightaways – termed "short chutes" – between the first and second, and third and fourth turns.

Entry list

The preliminary entry list for the race included 41 cars and was released on July 15, 2016 at 10:12 a.m. Eastern time. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was slated to run the race in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, but concussion symptoms forced him to sit out and be replaced by Jeff Gordon.[11]

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet
14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23David RaganBK RacingToyota
24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Patrick CarpentierGo FAS RacingFord
34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord
46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota
88Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
93Ryan EllisBK RacingToyota
95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet
98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

Jimmie Johnson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 48.864 and a speed of 184.185 mph (296.417 km/h).[12]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet48.864184.185
2 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota48.298182.563
3 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet49.904180.346
Official first practice results

Final practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 48.749 and a speed of 184.619 mph (297.115 km/h).[13]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota48.749184.619
2 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet48.842184.268
3 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet48.975183.767
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Kyle Busch scored the pole for the race with a time of 48.745 and a speed of 184.634 mph (297.140 km/h).[14] Busch said afterwards that the pole "means a lot to me and it means a lot to the guys on this team. To be able to sit on the pole here at Indy is something that I’ve always wanted to do. (Crew chief) Adam Stevens and the guys gave me a great piece this weekend.[15]

After qualifying third, Tony Stewart said he wished he "could do a lap ... one more time and not clip the apron in (Turn) 4; I think we could have been on the pole. What we learned today for qualifying, we are going to have to take some of that and try to make a car a little better for tomorrow."[16]

Making his first start since Homestead in November, Jeff Gordon – who qualified 21st subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. – said he was "much calmer than I was [Friday]. Usually, my heart is beating more for qualifying than it is for practice. But that wasn't the case [in practice]. I feel more relaxed and comfortable in the car."[17]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota48.43848.58948.745
2 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota48.50348.75648.768
3 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet48.54248.67948.826
4 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota48.69548.79248.892
5 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord48.50048.89149.022
6 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet48.80648.99349.126
7 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet48.63549.00749.220
8 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota48.74248.95149.315
9 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet48.64448.95849.325
10 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet48.91348.99249.346
11 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet48.68149.02449.356
12 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet48.51249.00049.373
13 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet48.43549.032
14 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord48.99049.107
15 24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet48.55449.162
16 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord48.62049.175
17 21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord48.79249.228
18 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota48.88149.228
19 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord49.05249.228
20 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord49.10449.456
21 88Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet48.76949.491
22 34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord49.11449.651
23 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet48.94949.670
24 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet48.70949.984
25 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet49.135
26 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.151
27 95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet49.229
28 23David RaganBK RacingToyota49.342
29 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord49.391
30 83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota49.428
31 15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet49.469
32 44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord49.535
33 38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord49.630
34 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet49.781
35 98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet50.097
36 93Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota50.274
37 7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet50.461
38 46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet50.568
39 55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet51.084
40 32Patrick CarpentierGo FAS RacingFord51.716
Failed to qualify
41 30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet52.737
Official qualifying results

Race

First half

Under clear blue Indiana skies, Kyle Busch led the field to the green flag at 3:22 p.m. During the first lap, Tony Stewart used all of the real estate on the backstretch and made a power move under Denny Hamlin to take second. The first caution of the race flew on the fourth lap for Matt DiBenedetto blowing an engine on the frontstretch. He went on to finish 40th.[18]

The race restarted on the ninth lap. Busch just pulled away from the field during this run. By lap 19, he pulled to a five and a half second lead over teammate Denny Hamlin. During the run, Stewart began falling from second to eighth. Martin Truex Jr. kicked off a round of green flag stops on lap 25. More cars followed suit the next lap. Busch pitted from the lead on lap 28 and handed it to Brad Keselowski. Kevin Harvick made an unscheduled stop on lap 32 for what he believed to be a flat tire. It turned out that the tire wasn't flat. Keselowski and Joey Logano pitted on lap 42 and the lead cycled back to Busch.

The second caution of the race flew on lap 52 after Greg Biffle suffered a right-front tire blowout and slammed the wall in turn 1. Logano opted not to pit under the caution and assumed the race lead.

The race restarted on lap 59. Busch ran down Logano to retake the lead on lap 63. A number of cars began hitting pit road on lap 84. Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson were tagged for speeding on pit road and were forced to serve a pass through penalty. Busch pitted on lap 87 and handed the lead to Carl Edwards. He pitted the next lap and the lead cycled back to Busch.

Second half

Kyle Busch won his second straight Brickyard 400.

A number of cars began hitting pit road on lap 112. The third caution of the race came out on lap 120 for David Ragan blowing a left-front tire and slamming the wall head-on in turn 2. Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray were tagged for speeding on pit road and restarted the race from the tail end of the field.

The race restarted with 33 laps to go. The fourth caution of the race flew with 30 laps to go for Regan Smith coming to a halt on the backstretch.

The race restarted with 26 laps to go. Debris in turn 1 brought out the fifth caution of the race with 10 laps to go. The top-five cars opted not to pit while the rest of the lead lap cars elected to hit pit road.

The race restarted with seven laps to go and the sixth caution of the race flew for a multi-car wreck in turn 1.[19] It started when Edwards got loose and slammed into the wall, collecting drivers like Ryan Newman and Keselowski.[20] “It felt like I just got tight down there,” Edwards said. "I had a little trouble there on the starts and I got down there, we were fighting really hard for the bottom and it felt like I got tight with whoever was on the outside of me. If indeed that is what happened, I apologize, that’s pretty frustrating. I don’t know if he came down or if I came up. It felt like I got in there and just scrubbed that right front. Hopefully a Toyota wins. I hate it for Stanley, Joe Gibbs Racing and everybody that was caught up in that wreck. It’s frustrating.”[20] This brought out the red flag to ensue cleanup. The race resumed under caution shortly thereafter.

The race restarted on lap 159, with two laps to go in regulation. The seventh caution of the race flew half a lap later for a two-car wreck on the backstretch involving Trevor Bayne and Clint Bowyer.[19]

Attempt #1

The race restarted on lap 165 and the eighth caution of the race flew when Jamie McMurray slid down the access road in turn 1, coming back up onto the track and being hit by Ryan Newman.[19]

Attempt #2

The race restarted on lap 169. Kyle Busch was leading at the finish and scored his second career victory at the Brickyard.[21]

Driver comments

Busch said afterwards that his "Toyota was awesome today, it was just so fast and able to get out front and stay out front. Not even some of my teammates could challenge. This was hooked up and on rails.”[22] “The repeat-ability there was something I wasn’t looking forward to,” Busch added. “I certainly didn’t want one, let alone (four) of them. You never know what is going to happen on those restarts. There’s a lot of gamesmanship that kind of gets played, and there was a little bit of back and forth a little bit with the guys in the different grooves. I think I had Kenseth to my outside. I had Truex to my outside. I think I had Carl to my outside and then Joey Logano to my outside, so there were a lot of different characters that we had to deal with on the restarts. But I always felt like I could hit my marks and set sail each time.”[23]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 118Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota17045
2 1820Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota17039
3 1348Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet17038
4 411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota17037
5 1042Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet17036
6 74Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet17035
7 1422Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord17035
8 878Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota17033
9 123Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet17032
10 2327Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet17031
11 314Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet17030
12 1617Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord17029
13 2188Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet17028
14 2234Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord17027
15 1524Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet17026
16 1141Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet17025
17 52Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord17025
18 265Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet17023
19 91Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet17022
20 3338Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord16921
21 3115Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet16919
22 2410Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet16918
23 2795Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet16817
24 3413Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet16816
25 2943Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord16815
26 377Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet16814
27 3244Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord16813
28 3846Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet16712
29 3598Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsChevrolet16711
30 206Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord16710
31 631Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1669
32 3693Ryan Ellis (i)BK RacingToyota1660
33 3955Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet1658
34 4032Patrick CarpentierGo FAS RacingFord1647
35 219Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1546
36 1721Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord1525
37 2823David RaganBK RacingToyota1174
38 2547A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet713
39 1916Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord532
40 3083Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota41
Official race results

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 4 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 8 for 34
  • Red flags: 1 for 7 minutes, 25 seconds
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 17 minutes and 46 seconds
  • Average speed: 128.940 miles per hour (207.509 km/h)

Media

Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

NBCSN
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Dave Burns
Mike Massaro
Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast

Radio

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network and the Performance Racing Network jointly co-produced the radio broadcast for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, and aired on IMS or PRN stations, depending on contractual obligations. The lead announcers and two pit reporters were PRN staff, while the turns and two pit reporters were from IMS.

PRN/IMS Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Pat Patterson
Announcer: John Andretti
Turn 1: Mark Jaynes
Turn 2: Nick Yeoman
Turn 3: Jake Query
Turn 4: Chris Denari
Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Kevin Lee
Michael Young

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 26, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  2. "Indianapolis Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. July 18, 2016. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. July 22, 2016. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  5. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. July 22, 2016. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  6. "Starting Lineup". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. July 23, 2016. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  7. "Brickyard 400 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. July 24, 2016. Archived from the original on July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  8. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. July 24, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 3, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  9. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. July 25, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 3, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  10. Paulsen (July 25, 2016). "NASCAR Brickyard Viewership Up, Sets NBCSN Record". SportsMediaWatch.com. Sports Media Watch. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  11. Cavin, Curt (July 20, 2016). "Jeff Gordon to replace Earnhardt at Brickyard 400". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  12. Long, Dustin (July 22, 2016). "Jimmie Johnson fastest in first Sprint Cup practice at Indianapolis; Gordon ninth". nascartalk.nbcsports.com. Indianapolis: NBC Sports. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  13. Spencer, Lee (July 22, 2016). "Kyle Busch leads final practice at Indianapolis". Motorsport.com. Indianapolis: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  14. Marot, Michael (July 23, 2016). "Kyle Busch stays hot at Indy by taking Brickyard 400 pole". Associated Press. Indianapolis: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  15. Pistone, Pete (July 23, 2016). "Kyle Busch Takes Indy Pole". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  16. Bruce, Kenny (July 23, 2016). "Strong starting spot at Indy a 'big deal' for Stewart". NASCAR.com. Indianapolis: NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  17. Pockrass, Bob (July 23, 2016). "Jeff Gordon qualifies 21st as he subs in for ailing Dale Earnhardt Jr". ESPN.com. Indianapolis: ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  18. Beard, Brock (July 24, 2016). "CUP: Matt DiBendetto runs fewest laps of the Brickyard 400 since 2006". brock.lastcar.info. LASTCAR.info. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  19. Gluck, Jeff (July 24, 2016). "Kyle Busch wins Brickyard 400 for second year in a row". USA Today. Indianapolis: Gannett Company. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  20. Spencer, Lee (July 24, 2016). "Kyle Busch makes NASCAR history with Brickyard 400 win". Motorsport.com. Indianapolis: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  21. Marot, Michael (July 24, 2016). "Busch turns weekend into clean sweep with Brickyard 400 win". Associated Press. Indianapolis: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  22. Bromberg, Nick (July 24, 2016). "Kyle Busch wins second-straight Brickyard 400". sports.yahoo.com. Indianapolis: Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  23. Scott, David (July 24, 2016). "Kyle Busch wins NASCAR Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis". The Charlotte Observer. Indianapolis: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
Previous race:
2016 New Hampshire 301
Sprint Cup Series
2016 season
Next race:
2016 Pennsylvania 400
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