Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, IN — July 31, 2022
After the controversy of last week’s disqualifications at Pocono, the NASCAR Cup Series arrives at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to run the road course at the iconic Brickyard. Tape placed on the front facia of the racecars of Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch cost the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates their one-two finish at the “tricky triangle.”
Not revealed until the “wrap” or stick-on finish that provides their cars their color, logos, and numbers were removed. The relatively minor addition was deemed to create an aerodynamic advantage by NASCAR and the decision was announced after post-race inspection procedures had been completed.
Chase Elliott, the benefactor of the JGR penalty, was declared the race winner. The trophy, checkered flag, and victory celebration went to Hamlin. However, they did sound the siren at the Dawsonville Pool Hall, and the money, points, and notations in the record books all were credited to Elliott.
Today’s Race
It is the young guns who are grabbing all the attention at Indy. Tyler Reddick sits on the pole for today’s race. Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric starts beside him on the front row. Chase Briscoe and Christopher will be lined up behind them as 38 cars head the wrong way on the front stretch down into the first turn that takes them through the infield portion of the race course.
Traditional turn four will not see the parade of cars as the oval gives way to right turns as well as left-handed corners that ultimately bring the field back to the yard of bricks at the start/finish line.
It will take 82 circuits to complete the 199.998 miles of the Verizon 200 with Stages set for 15/20/47 laps. AJ Allmendinger is the defending champion of the race, he starts 15th today. Allmendinger will certainly be a favorite to repeat after he won the Xfinity Series race at the Speedway on Saturday.
Stage One
Tyler Reddick(8) took off from the pole and quickly built a lead over Austin Cindric(2). Denny Hamlin(11) complained of an extremely loose race car after spinning on lap one of the race. Ross Chastain(1) also had handling issues and lost control of his car forcing him to pit for a check of the left front of his car. Chastain went a lap down while in for service.
Chase Elliott(9) took a wild ride into turn one spinning around and hopping over the rumble strip trying to negotiate the tight right-hand corner.
Both Reddick and Cindric pitted before the pits were closed at the end of the Stage. Opting to take advantage of a track position strategy instead of cashing in on the Stage points.
Stage One Results
| POS | CAR | DRIVER | POINTS |
| 1 | 14 | Chase Briscoe* | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney* | 9 |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano* | 7 |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 6 |
| 6 | 38 | Todd Gilliland* | 5 |
| 7 | 5 | Kyle Larson | 4 |
| 8 | 18 | Kyle Busch | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Harrison Burton* | 2 |
| 10 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | 1 |
*Ford Mustang Drivers
Stage Two
Ryan Blaney(12) and William Byron(24) stayed out during the stage-ending caution hoping to make it a two-stop race instead of the three visits to pit road most of the teams will make.
Six-wide down into turn one with everyone battling for positions and Kevin Harvick(4) came out on the short end of the rush to move up a spot or two. Harvick spun around and sat as the entire field drove by.
Alex Bowman(48) had a tire go down on the first lap back under green and had to pit for a replacement costing him valuable track position. Aric Almirola(10) and Kyle Larson(5) both encountered tire problems and had to come in for service.
Heavy braking and flat spotting tires are some of the reasons for tire issues. Harrison Burton(21) locked up his wheels, spun, and backed into Cole Custer’s(41) car sending both of them off the course.
Byron was the first of the two leaders to pit. Coming in with five laps to go in Stage Two. Blaney stayed out and continued to log laps, while most of the pack began pitting as Stage laps wound down. Blaney finally pitted with two laps to go in the Stage.
Christopher Bell earned his first career Stage win as a result of Blaney giving up the lead.
Stage Two Results
| POS | CAR | DRIVER | POINTS |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | 10 |
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | 9 |
| 3 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 7 |
| 5 | 42 | Ty Dillon | 6 |
| 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | 5 |
| 7 | 14 | Chase Briscoe* | 4 |
| 8 | 41 | Cole Custer* | 3 |
| 9 | 43 | Erik Jones | 2 |
| 10 | 51 | Cody Ware* | 1 |
*Ford Mustang Drivers
The Final Stage
Pit strategy is all over the board as the leaders stayed out during the Stage ending caution. Drivers saving fuel will be a high priority as the final Stage plays out.
The restart was much more controlled as drivers seemed more inclined to preserve their position than take the chance of trying to improve on it short term.
Bell led and Reddick worked his way back up to the second position. Reddick took over the top spot just before the pair came to pit road with 32 laps to go for what they hope is their final stop. That triggered a flurry of pit stops as teams prepped for the end of the race.
Yesterday’s Xfinity race winner, AJ Allmendinger(16), took over the top spot as drivers cycled through their pit stops.
Joey Hand(15) was the only driver to have not made a pit stop when Kyle Larson(5) lost his brakes entering turn one and slammed into Ty Dillon(42) destroying each of their cars. Both were able to climb out unhurt but the caution flag waved for the first racing incident of the afternoon.
On anything but a road course, Hand’s brief time in the lead could have been a huge break. But, the majority of the pack stayed out during the yellow flag period to preserve track position.
It was back to pushing and shoving on the restart as Reddick pulled away, Blaney ran second, and Elliott pushed his way into third. Harvick and Bowman got together and knocked each other off the track and everyone on the lead lap drove away.
Harvick retired his car to the garage, Bowman tried to continue with significant damage to his machine.
Late Caution
With 10 laps to go, Reddick had moved out to a three-and-a-half-second lead over Blaney in second. Elliott caught and passed Blaney while Allmendinger and Byron closed to put more pressure on the #12 car.
Christopher Bell(20) flat-spotted his tires and his right front go flat and explode littering the track with car parts. The caution flag waved again as the field bunched up for a late restart.
With three laps to go the race restarted and turn one turned into a demolition derby. Blaney clipped the rear bumper of Elliott who spun and collected the car of William Byron. Kyle Busch(18), Chase Briscoe(14), Martin Truex Jr.(19), Erik Jones(43), Brad Keselowski(6), and Austin Dillon(3) were all involved to one degree or another before the pack made it through the corner.
Dillon’s car came to rest in the sand and he could not get it moving so the yellow came out again sending the race into overtime.
The Finish
The picture at the front of the pack changed as Reddick still led, but Allmendinger, Blaney, Chastain, and Daniel Suarez(99) made up the top five.
Reddick cleared everyone into turn one. Chastain was forced to the top of the track and onto the access safety road. Blaney spun, as did Allmendinger and Suarez.
Chastain came back onto the course in second and quickly passed Reddick. The two battled through the infield portion of the track. NASCAR had stated in the pre-race driver’s meeting that the access road could not be used to gain an advantage. For the second week in a row, it appeared the first person under the checkered flag would be denied the race win.
Reddick prevented the embarrassment for NASCAR as he worked his way around Chastain and back into the lead. Even though Chastain followed Reddick to the checkered flag he was penalized and dropped to the 27th finishing position.
Austin Cindric(2) ended the race right where he started, in second. Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland(38), and Bubba Wallace(23) rounded out the top five.
Allmendinger came in seventh and staggered out of his car collapsing on pit road. He was wearing a cool suit to help with the heat but it failed early in the race. Allmendinger was attended to with water-soaked towels and had help taking off his helmet while his uniform was peeled back to help cool his body.
Playoff Standings
With the repeat winner, the bubble at the bottom of the points standings remains static. However, Tyler Reddick has announced himself as a real contender for the Cup Series Championship.
Michigan International Speedway is next on the schedule and will provide another opportunity for someone to lock down a playoff spot with a win.
| RK | DRIVER | POINTS | STATUS |
| 1 | Chase Elliott | 821 | In Win(4) |
| 2 | Ross Chastain | 692 | In Win(2) |
| 3 | Joey Logano* | 637 | In Win(2) |
| 4 | William Byron | 586 | In Win(2) |
| 5 | Tyler Reddick | 549 | In Win(2) |
| 6 | Denny Hamlin | 471 | In Win(2) |
| 7 | Kyle Larson | 667 | In Win |
| 8 | Christopher Bell | 640 | In Win |
| 9 | Kyle Busch | 633 | In Win |
| 10 | Alex Bowman | 541 | In Win |
| 11 | Daniel Suarez | 535 | In Win |
| 12 | Austin Cindric* | 530 | In Win |
| 13 | Chase Briscoe* | 515 | In Win |
| 14 | Kurt Busch | 485 | In Win |
| 15 | Ryan Blaney* | 696 | +121 |
| 16 | Martin Truex Jr. | 671 | +96 |
| NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Cut Line | |||
| 17 | Kevin Harvick* | 575 | -96 |
| 18 | Aric Almirola* | 515 | -156 |
| 19 | Erik Jones | 496 | -175 |
| 20 | Bubba Wallace | 458 | -213 |
*Ford Mustang Drivers
Results of the Verizon 200 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway
| POS | CAR | DRIVER | BEHIND | LAPS |
| 1 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | — | 86 |
| 2 | 2 | Austin Cindric | 1.065 | 86 |
| 3 | 21 | Harrison Burton | 2.388 | 86 |
| 4 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | 3.337 | 86 |
| 5 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 4.422 | 86 |
| 6 | 22 | Joey Logano | 4.938 | 86 |
| 7 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | 5.069 | 86 |
| 8 | 34 | Michael McDowell | 5.681 | 86 |
| 9 | 41 | Cole Custer | 6.183 | 86 |
| 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher | 6.207 | 86 |
| 11 | 18 | Kyle Busch | 6.439 | 86 |
| 12 | 20 | Christopher Bell | 6.545 | 86 |
| 13 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 7.467 | 86 |
| 14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | 7.510 | 86 |
| 15 | 43 | Erik Jones | 7.886 | 86 |
| 16 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 8.356 | 86 |
| 17 | 45 | Ty Gibbs | 8.907 | 86 |
| 18 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | 9.426 | 86 |
| 19 | 31 | Justin Haley | 10.328 | 86 |
| 20 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | 10.493 | 86 |
| 21 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | 10.521 | 86 |
| 22 | 77 | Josh Bilicki | 12.308 | 86 |
| 23 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | 12.440 | 86 |
| 24 | 51 | Cody Ware | 13.341 | 86 |
| 25 | 78 | Josh Williams | 17.383 | 86 |
| 26 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | 22.133 | 86 |
| 27 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Penalty | 86 |
| 28 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | Penalty | 86 |
| 29 | 15 | Joey Hand | -1 | 85 |
| 30 | 3 | Austin Dillon | -1 | 85 |
| 31 | 24 | William Byron | -7 | 79 |
| 32 | 48 | Alex Bowman | -21 | 65 |
| 33 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | -22 | 64 |
| 34 | 42 | Ty Dillon | -26 | 60 |
| 35 | 5 | Kyle Larson | -29 | 57 |
| 36 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | -43 | 43 |
| 37 | 27 | Loris Hezemans | -52 | 34 |
| 38 | 10 | Aric Almirola | -62 | 24 |
