Turn 4 Transitions

Friday, July 23, 2010

By Natalie Anthony

 

Allstate 400

July 25, 2010 (Sunday)

1:00 pm – ESPN

 

 

Jimmie Johnson - 2009 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Winner!

 

            I never wondered why Dale Jarrett and every other winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) decided to concede to the track and pucker up, but what did make me ponder a time or two was why IMS was bestowed such a personal display of respect.  Why not smooch the Start/Finish line at Daytona or hug the checkered flag at Watkins Glen?  It must be a driver thing and who knows, maybe several seasons down the road some new rookie may decide to frolic in the grass at Richmond to show his respect and new found personal connection to the track.

            Speculation has risen around the past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and his attempt to make it three in a row for consecutive wins at Indy.  Can Jimmie Johnson make history and be the first driver to accomplish this feat in the Cup series?  Don't hold your breath.  Jimmie won at the Brickyard last season because the driver he was chasing (Juan Pablo Montoya) who was leading the race and pulled a rookie mistake and was then awarded a pass through penalty for speeding on pit road.  Juan may be newer to the sport than most, but you can guarantee he will not make that mistake again.  Juan will be driving like a mad man to show NASCAR that they may have cheated him out of a trophy once, but they will not short change him again.  Get your Chapstick out JP because you have a date with Miss Brickyard.

            Kasey Kahne may still be out in the cold with the uncertainty of where he will call home next season since his contract will run out with RPM and he can't go home to Hendrick Motorsports until 2012, but whoever decides to adopt him will be more than pleased with his performance this Sunday at IMS.  Kasey's recent ability to take every stock car he is given at any track and take the #9 and finish in the Top 5.  Kasey is still outside the race for the chase in the 17th position so his one and only purpose this weekend is to finish up front. 

            Local boy and state favorite Tony Stewart has proven time and time again that the closeness of home can boost the morale of the team and the confidence of the driver.  Who wouldn't want to go home and show their friends and family that their home boy will show them proud by taking home a checkered flag.  Tony is the one driver out of the entire Cup series line up that you can expect to make the most of his favorite track.  Besides, I haven't seen Tony climb any fences lately and that kind of celebration is icing on the cake for hometown fans.

 

 

 

 

Track Stats

 

 

 

Allstate 400

(July 26, 2009)

Top 10 Results  

1.  Jimmie Johnson

2.  Mark Martin

3.  Tony Stewart

4.  Greg Biffle

5.  Brian Vickers

6.  Kevin Harvick

7.  Kasey Kahne

8.  David Reutimann

9.  Jeff Gordon

10.Matt Kenseth

 

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