RSS
Home
NASCAR weekly media poll: Home-track advantage?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon not only have roots in Indiana, they have a history of winning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That's why it's hardly a surprise those two are favored here again.
Gordon has captured the Brickyard four times and Stewart twice in his career. Voters like Stewart on Sunday, though. He garnered four votes and Gordon three, with that other Indiana native Ryan Newman also receiving a vote in a deeply divided poll this week.
Eleven drivers from seven teams earned mention, with Juan Pablo Montoya also picking up three votes. Why not? Indy is Montoya's home away from home, after all. He won the Indianapolis 500 here in 2000.
Viv Bernstein, Charlotte NASCAR Examiner: MARK MARTIN
Martin had a better average finish at Indy (7.3) than any other driver the last four years. And that's when he wasn't racing in Hendrick equipment.
David Caraviello, NASCAR.com: KYLE BUSCH
The Joe Gibbs cars are always good at Indianapolis, and Kyle Busch is fearless on a big, fast track. Time for Shrub to get off the schnide.
Liz Clarke, Washington Post: TONY STEWART
What has NOT gone right for the Indiana native this season? Hard to pick against him--particularly if he's happy with his re-engineered Goodyear tires!
Shawn Courchesne, Hartford Courant: KASEY KAHNE
The focus will be on the (good) Hendrick teams and Tony Stewart, but someone will sneak in under the radar. Richard Petty Motorsports celebrates its first victory on the hallowed grounds of the Brickyard.
Jeremy Dunn, Atlanta NASCAR Examiner: DENNY HAMLIN
Other than Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, and Greg Biffle, there is not a driver in the garage as due for a victory as Denny. He almost won this race a year ago, and he is the top running Joe Gibbs driver at the moment.
Greg Engle, National NASCAR Examiner: CARL EDWARDS
Could this be the year that Roush Fenway Racing surprises everyone? It's been 10 years since a Ford went to Victory Lane and in fact in the 15 races here Ford has only won three times. Greg Biffle led the first practice Friday, though, showing that they may have something for them. That's why this week I'm going with my old pal Carl Edwards, he's due.
David Exum, NASCAR Scene: JEFF GORDON
Jeff Gordon will prevail in a hard fought battle against fellow Hoosier Tony Stewart at Indy.
Tony Fabrizio, Tampa Tribune: TONY STEWART
This race is won by the best driver and team in a given year more than any other race on the schedule. I don't know who the best driver and team are this year, but Stewart looks to be at least one of the best, and we all know what Indy means to him.
Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Scene: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA
The Brickyard is a place to recall the past and make new history. Juan Pablo Montoya's victory on Sunday will allow fans to do both. Montoya won the Indy 500 in 2000 and will now win the Allstate 400, making him the first driver to pull off such a feat. His run will help secure the No. 42's first Chase berth.
Brant James, St. Petersburg Times: JEFF GORDON
The Indiana native has both an affinity and aptitude for the old Speedway, with four wins and nine top-10s in 15 starts. His tying retired Formula One driver Michael Schumacher with a record five wins at Indy would make the 2008 tire debacle fade nicely away.
Tom Jensen, SPEEDtv.com: RYAN NEWMAN
Hoosier native Ryan Newman will win his first race with Stewart-Haas Racing, putting the No. 39 SHR Chevrolet into victory lane and giving boss/teammate Tony Stewart another feel-good ending.
Josh Lobdell, Detroit NASCAR Examiner: TONY STEWART
Since only two drivers have won this race in the part four years, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, if I were betting money on this race it would be on one of these guys. What a story it would be for Tony Sewart to win his third Brickyard in his own car taking the #14 back to Victory Lane at Indy.
Dustin Long, Landmark Newspapers: JIMMIE JOHNSON
Race will come down to strategy and no one is better on pit road than Chad Knaus.
Ryan McGee, ESPN The Magazine: MARK MARTIN
He's done everything at the Brickyard but win. He's never going to win the Daytona 500, but this is the next best thing.
Joe Menzer, NASCAR.com: JUAN MONTOYA
The guy who has surged to ninth in points is due to win, and two of his best chances this season are this week at the venue where he won the Indianapolis 500 in a former life and on the road course at Watkins Glen on Aug. 9. He might even win both.
Rick Minter, RacinToday.com: TONY STEWART
He seems to do things in cycles, and having won in '05 and '07, it's his time again.
Mike Mulhern, MikeMulhern.net: CARL EDWARDS
He's way overdue this season, and car owner Jack Roush needs a big pop, too. The tide will be turning.
Ralph N. Paulk, Richmond Times-Dispatch: CLINT BOWYER
It's about time for Clint Bowyer to show that Richard Childress Racing hasn't fallen too far behind the competition. Chevy has dominated at the Brickyard, and Bowyer poised to pull a surprise.
Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Scene: JEFF GORDON
It's Indy, he has tested and likes the tires.
Nate Ryan, USA Today: DENNY HAMLIN
He loves the flat tracks, he's overdue for a win, and he's become the lead driver for a team (Joe Gibbs Racing) that's won two of the past four Brickyards. And he needs to drive traffic to that new Charlotte nightclub he's opening.
Jim Utter, Charlotte Observer: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA
Quietly and methodically, Juan Pablo Montoya and his team have worked to get in the Top 12. A win could well cement his participation in the Chase this season.
Related Articles:
Comments
