Last Sunday’s Brickyard was, to be perfectly honest, one of the most boring races I have ever watched. In the end, the winner was determined by caution lights and pit stops. Some new rules NASCAR came up with in spoiler and rear end design, intended to tweak competition, simply did not work at IMS where the turns are too narrow to support the wide passing that is normally a part of Sprint Cup racing. So the competition was in who was able to come out first during the pit stops during the many cautions that occurred.
The novelty of NASCAR running at IMS has long since worn off and to see stand upon stand of empty seats is humiliating for the Speedway, particular in what was promoted as Indiana’s favorite son Jeff Gordon’s last race here. TV ratings have taken a nosedive — so much so that the 75 mile blackout was lifted so that the Indianapolis viewers could watch the race as it was happening on the Fox Sports Network. Sadly, Jeff Gordon was the first car out and finished in 42 position.
The good part of the race was winner Kyle Busch driving the Skittles Toyota. Kyle has been on fire during the summer, winning four of the last five races in the Sprint Cup dash. He was the best driver on the track during the race and was genuinely excited about his first win here at the Brickyard, calling the race second only to Daytona in prestige. He did the post race spin ritual and had his whole crew and family join him in kissing the bricks afterwards. As to his stand out Skittles Candy sponsored car, he probably should have the American Dental Association sponsor his car next year.
On a final note, Penske driver Joey Logano finished second after leading a good part of the race. Logano tried his darnedest to get by Busch in the 4 lap overtime shootout that ended the race. For all of Captain Roger’s success in the Indianapolis 500, he has never had one of his cars win the Brickyard. I think that is only fair, don’t you?