Kamui Kobayashi works his way around the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. (Photo: Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)
SPEEDWAY, Ind. – While the Verizon 200 may not be a crown jewel race like the Brickyard 400, it has one common thread for the NASCAR Cup Series.
Any race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a must-win event. Quite honestly, there is nothing like conquering the track that has immortalized legends and today’s racing stars.
No matter what state or country, the mammoth track just 5.5 miles to the Northwest of its namesake city is prestigious. It is a beloved, tough but venerable speed palace that was exclusively home to open wheel cars until 1994.
From 1994 to 2020, Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the Brickyard 400, a 160-lap race that was arguably seen as one of the top billing races in stock car racing. However, things were changed up in 2021 with the 2.439-mile, 14-turn, FIA Grade 2 road course.
In its short run, the Verizon 200 has seen its share of eventful action, grinding accidents and jubilant winners. Chevrolet has seen AJ Allmendinger and Tyler Reddick kiss the bricks in dramatic fashion against some of the heavy sluggers in Cup competition.
The Verizon 200 is the antepenultimate event of the regular season which sees some big names like Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Allmendinger and Michael McDowell looking at making the top 16. Then again, the usual suspects like Reddick, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, Shane van Gisbergen and Kyle Larson may be in the hunt too.
Once the NASCAR official unfurls the green flag on race day, it is anyone’s guess as to who will prevail in this year’s Verizon 200 at Indianapolis. For the time being, come along for the ride this and each race weekend with Podium Preview.
This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Teresa Bennink and yours truly contemplate about potential racers vying for the Playoffs and Ford’s chances of another Michigan win.
Podium Preview: Verizon 200 at Indianapolis
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Question 1
Shane van Gisbergen looks on as he prepares for his second NASCAR Cup Series start. (Photo: Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)
Given the influx of international racers for Sunday’s Verizon 200, what does this say about the global appeal with NASCAR Cup Series and potential new fans around the world?
Sisoler : With the upgrade of the Cup cars from Gen 6 to Gen 7 in the realm of road course racing, it has really allowed the best of the best in NASCAR to shine on road courses, and I think that has caught the attention of the best racers from around the world. Like for them, they can no longer say that NASCAR is just turning left and holding the throttle wide open, because the NextGens have made the racing on road courses significantly better and closer.
Kimi Raikkonen being the first to make the jump and run in the Project91 for its first two outings really drew the global attention to NASCAR, and now SVG’s win at Chicago has, I think, kicked the door wide open for top racers to come over and give our NextGen/Gen 7 cars a bash on road courses.
Lambeth : Since the introduction of the Next Gen car, it seems like more people around the world have started to take notice of NASCAR. With the new Cup Series car possessing fresh technology that’s relevant to other racing series around the world, the transition to a stock car isn’t as big as it used to be in the past. Plus, with the addition of more road courses on the schedule, it provides more opportunities for international drivers to put together deals to come race in NASCAR.
It’s truly amazing to see the current state of the sport, with seven different countries being represented in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard. Indianapolis will be a global showcase of the best NASCAR has to offer, with the most talented drivers from the United States (majority of the field), Mexico (Daniel Suárez), Australia (Brodie Kostecki), New Zealand (Shane van Gisbergen), Japan (Kamui Kobayashi), United Kingdom (Jenson Button) and Germany (Mike Rockenfeller).
Tiongson : It is a terrific moment for NASCAR to have this much international attraction and buzz at one of the world’s most famous speedways. By implementing the Next Gen car, as Kobe said, more people are starting to pay more attention to the series.
We saw a crop of different, global racers in last year’s Verizon 200. At Watkins Glen last year and Circuit of the Americas this past March, we had Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen driving the Project91 ride. I am hopeful we see more moments like this for people to understand and appreciate what makes stock car racing such an engaging, intriguing motorsports series.
I hope we see the same kind of luster when it comes to a future oval race. If this happens at an event like the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte or Daytona 500, that would be a story worth watching throughout the race weekend.
Question 2
Brodie Kostecki (33) works his way around the Indy road course with Shane van Gisbergen (91) in tow. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
Are you the slightest curious to see a return to the traditional layout for Indianapolis and the Brickyard 400 for 2024? Justify your thoughts with this.
Torres : I’m a firm believer that NASCAR should’ve NEVER stopped running the oval at Indianapolis.
While glad the road course has brought some lease in life during the Brickyard weekend with INDYCAR and rise of road ringers in the Cup Series, nothing beats the oval. It just doesn’t.
I’d welcome it with open arms because it’s a driver’s track where you must be perfect to have a great race. Any mistake and the track will be extremely unforgiving. All its past issues boiled down to the product, not the track.
While fan attendance was abysmal, the drivers loved it and I hope if they do return, people show up. That’s what’s gonna come down to if the Brickyard 400 returns.
Sharpe : While the road course configuration has been enjoyable to watch as a fan, the traditional Indy oval will always hold a special place within my heart that will never be beaten. Watching Tony Stewart climb the Brickyard fence is always one of my favorite NASCAR memories.
The track began as an oval and thanks to years upon years worth of great racing, should remain that way. Its design is simple, yet cannot be beat.
Shoppe : I am honestly very torn on this one. While the last few years in the famed Indy oval were not successful both in attendance and one-track products, I do want to see what this new car can do around the brickyard. The Next Gen car has improved mile and a halfs as well as any intermediate tracks as far as on track racing is concerned. It is certainly worth a shot to see how it works on this large oval.
My downside to the oval has to be the amazing NASCAR/INDYCAR crossover event we have had the last few years.
Two laps around Indianapolis has us feeling “Back Home Again in Indiana!” Now, let us look back at Race No. 23 of 36 of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season with our points and race reports from Monday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan!
Michigan’s Matt Sisoler had a solid race at his hometown track.
Sisoler, by one point, increases his lead over Lambeth.
Next, here are the top 10 starters for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis!
Row 1 – Daniel Suárez and Tyler Reddick
Row 2 – Chase Elliott and Michael McDowell
Row 3 – Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson
Row 4 – Christopher Bell and Shane van Gisbergen (i)
Row 5 – Alex Bowman and Ty Gibbs (R)
Last but not least, here are our picks for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis!
One of these five may be kissing the bricks after the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis.
Torres : Of all races I’ve made picks, this weekend is easily the hardest to pick because of its wickedly, and oftentimes, cruel nature the IMS Road Course can be. It’s anybody’s game, but I’m gonna go with my gut and say Kamui Kobayashi wins in his debut. Ever since his short tenure in Formula One, Kobayasi has been incredible on road courses that requires near-perfection. It also helps how superb he’s been in sports car racing where I can see it’ll transition well, similar to Shane Van Gisbergen.
But I do think Kobayashi pulls off the win over SVG this Sunday and perhaps be a confidence booster for 23XI Racing. It’s crucial to see how the No. 67 machine fares if they ever want to expand in the foreseeable future. A win will do wonders and perhaps reignite some population into NASCAR in Japan again.
Tiongson : Kyle Larson was so close to winning the 2021 running of the Verizon 200 when he had to work his way back to the front of the pack. A third was a memorable performance while AJ Allmendinger and Ryan Blaney placed ahead of him. I look for the 2021 like performance to be duplicated by Larson except he improves by two positions on Sunday afternoon.
Sisoler : I rolled with him at the Chicago Street Course and came away with the checkered flag there, and despite Indy being a completely different animal to the streets of Chicago, I think Shane van Gisbergen has a great chance to go 2-for-2 in the Trackhouse Project91 car, even starting from P8 on the grid for Sunday’s event.
Sharpe : Shane van Gisbergen, the SuperCars veteran, proved his incredible road course driving skills earlier this year in Chicago. Back in the #91 Chevy this weekend with Team Trackhouse, SVG cannot be ignored.
Lambeth : During his time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Ty Gibbs won his first career race on the Daytona Road Course a few years ago. Don’t be surprised if his first Cup Series victory also occurs on a road course which could come at Indianapolis!
Shoppe : While the pit crew of the No. 45 Toyota team has let them down the last few weeks, I think today is they day for Tyler Reddick to finish the job and win. Last year’s indy winner has been so strong lately and on road courses in general.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week as we celebrate our 15th anniversary of operations!
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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