The Brickyard 400 is a NASCAR Cup Series race held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Inaugurated in 1994, it marked the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 at the speedway since 1916 and quickly became NASCAR's most-attended event. From 1994 to 2020, it was run on the 2.5-mile oval, covering 400 miles. The race was replaced from 2021-2023 by the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard which used the combined road course. The Brickyard 400 returned to the oval for the 2024 season.
In August 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened with a track surface of crushed stone and tar, which led to numerous accidents.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909.
In 1909-1910, the speedway held multiple race meets before establishing the tradition of hosting only the Indianapolis 500 annually.
The first Indianapolis 500 was held in 1911.
In 1913, the Indianapolis 500 was the longest event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway until the 2017 Brickyard 400.
In 1916, a race meet was held the weekend after Labor Day, marking a rare exception to the tradition of holding only the Indianapolis 500 annually.
In 1916, it was the last year the Indianapolis Motor Speedway held a race other than the Indianapolis 500, until the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994.
In 2018, the Brickyard 400 was moved to a date historically known for the Harvest Auto Racing Classic in 1916, to distance the race from other nearby races.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
In 1956, Ford set a 500-mile stock car record at the Speedway, and the Nichels Engineering Endurance Run was held.
In 2020, the Brickyard 400 took the July 4 weekend slot the Coke Zero 400 traditionally utilized since 1959. It was originally designed to have been a USAC Indycar race but was cancelled after the death of George Amick earlier in the year.
From 1971 to 1980, NASCAR held races at Ontario Motor Speedway, built as a replica of Indianapolis.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
In 1977, no progress toward scheduling a stock car race, whether USAC or NASCAR, was ever taken before Tony Hulman died.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
In 1979, A. J. Foyt was said to have taken his NASCAR stock car for test laps at the Speedway.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
From 1971 to 1980, NASCAR held races at Ontario Motor Speedway, built as a replica of Indianapolis.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
In early 1982, then-Speedway president John Cooper was said to have made a 'hand-shake' deal with Bill France for a race, but it was vetoed by Mary F. Hulman. Cooper subsequently resigned, and talks about a stock car race at Indy cooled for the next several years.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
The Gasoline Alley garage area was rebuilt in 1986, designed to accommodate stock cars, if a race were to materialize.
Following the test, Indianapolis Motor Speedway constructed a new warm-up lane in 1987, similar to that built at Nazareth Speedway.
In December 1989, Tony George was named the president of the Speedway and began taking it in new business directions, initially cautious about a NASCAR race.
During the reigns of Speedway presidents Tony Hulman (1946–1977), John Cooper (1980–1981) and Joe Cloutier (1978–1979, 1983–1989), the idea of hosting a second race at the Speedway was considered from time to time.
On September 24, 1991, A. J. Foyt and Tony George took Foyt's NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car for laps around the track during a Craftsman tools commercial filming, stirring mild interest in the future.
In December 1991, Tony George proposed to the board of directors a plan to hold a second major event at the Speedway. The board approved the measure, and the Speedway started taking steps towards hosting a second race.
In March 1992, NASCAR drivers Dave Marcis, Jim Sauter, and Dick Trickle tested IROC cars at the Speedway, with Trickle reportedly running a lap at 153 mph. Plans for an IROC event were later put on hold.
In 1992, nine top NASCAR Winston Cup series teams were invited to Indianapolis to participate in a Goodyear tire test, unofficially testing the compatibility of stock cars at the circuit.
From 1916 through 1993, no other races were held at the track, except for a race meet in 1916, the weekend after Labor Day.
On August 6, 1994, Jeff Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard 400. His name, along with other winners, is inscribed on the PPG Trophy.
1994 marked the inaugural Brickyard 400 race.
In 1994, the first Brickyard 400 saw a record crowd and purse. Rick Mast won the pole, Jeff Gordon won the race, and Mike Chase qualified via a Winston West provisional. Gordon's winning car is displayed at the Hendrick Motorsports museum.
In 1994, the first running of the Brickyard 400 saw a sold-out record crowd of over 250,000 spectators.
In 1994, the inaugural Brickyard 400 drew a sold-out crowd of over 250,000 spectators. Some bleacher seating was removed and infield general admission was not offered for the first several years to prevent it from upstaging the Indianapolis 500.
In 1994, the inaugural Brickyard 400 race was scheduled for Saturday, August 6 at 1:15 pm EDT, with practice and pole qualifying on Thursday, and second-round qualifying and final practice on Friday. A special 'pacing' practice was also held to measure pit road speed.
In August 1994, thirty-five NASCAR teams took part in an open test at the Speedway, with Richard Petty donating his car to the Speedway museum after taking four laps.
Since 1994, the Brickyard 400 has traditionally been held on the first weekend of August or the last weekend of July.
In 1995, second-round qualification was rained out, and the race was delayed until late afternoon. Dale Earnhardt won a race with only one caution, with Rusty Wallace closely following.
In 1995, the Brickyard 400 schedule was modified to include an additional practice session on Wednesday afternoon, with pole qualifying on Thursday and second-round qualifying on Friday.
In 1996, Dale Jarrett began the tradition of kissing the bricks after winning. Kyle Petty was injured in a crash, and Mike Skinner relieved Dale Earnhardt during the race. Jarrett became the first driver to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year.
In 1996, Dale Jarrett won both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400.
In 1996, a new concrete wall and catch fence was built along the inside of the backstretch, and the grass mounds were reopened to spectators.
In 1997, Ricky Rudd won the Brickyard 400 by staying out while others pitted for fuel. Jeff Burton was penalized for speeding in the pit lane. Rudd became the only owner/driver to win the Brickyard 400.
In 1998, Dale Jarrett experienced heartbreak at the Brickyard 400.
In 1998, Jeff Gordon won the Brickyard 400, becoming the first repeat winner. Dale Jarrett lost his chance when he ran out of fuel. Gordon's victory was the first in the Winston No Bull 5 program.
In 1998, an IROC (International Race of Champions) event was added to the Brickyard 400 schedule, taking place the day before the main race.
In 1999, Dale Jarrett won the Brickyard 400 after an unexpected two-tire pit stop late in the race, erasing his heartbreak from 1998. A caution with 17 laps remaining allowed leaders to pit, disrupting Bobby Labonte's strategy.
Following the change from a track-organized television contract (1994–2000) to a centralized NASCAR television package (since 2001), the local television blackout the Speedway imposed was lifted.
In 2000, Bobby Labonte won the Brickyard 400 after passing Rusty Wallace late in the race. The race had only 2 cautions for 7 laps.
In 2000, Juan Pablo Montoya won the Indianapolis 500.
The practice schedule implemented in 1995 for the Brickyard 400, which included a Wednesday afternoon practice session, continued through the year 2000.
In 2001, Jeff Gordon secured his place in history by becoming the first 3-time winner of the Brickyard 400 after passing Sterling Marlin with 25 laps to go.
Starting in 2001, the Brickyard 400 race was moved to Sunday, and NASCAR eliminated the second-round qualification. The schedule was compressed, with practice on Friday and pole qualifying on Saturday.
Starting in 2001, the local television blackout was lifted following the change to a centralized NASCAR television package.
In 2002, Bill Elliott won the Brickyard 400. During the race, Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer, who were locked in a feud, collided on lap 36.
The attendance growth in 2024 marked the first year-over-year attendance growth for the Brickyard 400 since 2002.
From 1998 until 2003, an IROC (International Race of Champions) event was situated in the schedule, and was held the day before the Brickyard 400.
In 2003, Kevin Harvick won the Brickyard 400 from the pole position, passing Matt Kenseth with 16 laps to go amidst lap traffic and holding off competitors after a pileup.
In 2004, Jeff Gordon won the Brickyard 400 for a record fourth time during a race extended by the Green-white-checkered finish rule. Several drivers, including Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr., suffered tire failures.
From 2005 to 2009, the race was known as the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard under a naming rights arrangement with Allstate.
In 2005, Tony Stewart, a hometown favorite, won his first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, celebrating by climbing the catch fence.
In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400.
In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won the Brickyard 400 after passing Dale Earnhardt Jr. with six laps left, becoming the second driver to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year.
In 2007, Juan Pablo Montoya became the first driver to compete in all three major events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indy 500, Brickyard 400, U.S. Grand Prix). He finished second to Tony Stewart in the Brickyard 400.
In 2007, the Brickyard 400 race swapped dates with Pocono, moving to the last weekend in July to coincide with ESPN taking over NASCAR television rights.
After a tire controversy at the 2008 race, attendance began to sharply decline at the Brickyard 400. Other cited factors include poor sightlines, lack of competition, and summer temperatures.
In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won the Brickyard 400, which was marked by severe tire wear issues on the 'Car of Tomorrow' leading to multiple competition cautions and fan dissatisfaction.
From 2005 to 2009, the race was known as the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard under a naming rights arrangement with Allstate.
In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the Brickyard 400 after Juan Pablo Montoya, who dominated the race, was penalized for speeding in the pits. This marked Johnson's second three-time win and first back-to-back victory.
In 2010, Jamie McMurray won the Brickyard 400 after passing Kevin Harvick on the final restart. Juan Pablo Montoya dominated most of the race but crashed with 16 laps to go. This win made McMurray the third driver to win both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season.
From 2011 to 2014, Big Machine Records was the presenting sponsor of the race.
In 2011, Paul Menard secured his first career Cup victory at the Brickyard 400, holding off Jeff Gordon on the last lap after a series of pit stops and fuel strategies.
From 2012 to 2016, Crown Royal was the title sponsor of the race, honoring a military member or first responder selected by fans.
In 2012, Jimmie Johnson tied Jeff Gordon with four Brickyard 400 victories, holding off Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle over the final 20 laps.
In 2012, the Brickyard 400 became part of Super Weekend at the Brickyard, featuring four days of racing on the oval and road course, including the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Brickyard Grand Prix, Brickyard Sports Car Challenge, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series Indiana 250.
In 2013, Ryan Newman won the Brickyard 400 after a strategic two-tire pit stop, holding off Jimmie Johnson in the final laps.
After low attendance, the road course races were removed from the Brickyard 400 schedule after 2014.
From 2011 to 2014, Big Machine Records was the presenting sponsor of the race.
In 2014, Jeff Gordon won the Brickyard 400 for a record 5th time, passing Kasey Kahne with 17 laps to go. The race marked the last air with ESPN.
In 2014, Kasey Kahne lost to Jeff Gordon, who won the Brickyard 400 for a record 5th time.
In 2015, Kyle Busch won his first Brickyard 400 in a green-white-checkered finish. The race was the first aired on NBCSN and featured a new "high-drag" aerodynamic package.
By 2016, with races only on the oval for the Xfinity and Cup Series, the "Super Weekend" moniker was dropped from the Brickyard 400 event.
From 2012 to 2016, Crown Royal was the title sponsor of the race, honoring a military member or first responder selected by fans.
In 2016, Kyle Busch won his second Brickyard 400 in overtime, also winning the Xfinity race. Jeff Gordon returned from retirement to fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The 2016 Brickyard 400 race saw fewer than 50,000 people in attendance, leaving nearly 200,000 empty seats.
Beginning in 2017, Big Machine's Big Machine Vodka became the sponsor of the race, after co-branding the event with Big Machine-signed artist Brantley Gilbert.
In 2017, Kasey Kahne won the Brickyard 400, which was lengthened by rain, red flags, and crashes. Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. crashed on lap 111, and the race was the first to include stage racing.
Attendance at the 2024 race exceeded numbers at the recent races on the oval layout in 2018.
In 2018, Brad Keselowski won the Brickyard 400 for Penske Racing after passing Denny Hamlin with less than two laps to go. Rain washed out practice and qualifying, postponing the race to Monday.
In 2018, NASCAR moved the Brickyard 400 to the weekend after Labor Day, making it the last race of the regular season.
In 2018, NASCAR realigned the schedule, moving the Brickyard 400 to September. Rain washed out practice and qualifying, postponing the race until Monday, with 15,000-20,000 spectators attending. The Bryan Clauson Classic, a USAC Midget Car Championship event, was introduced on a new infield dirt track.
In 2018, the Brickyard 400 expanded to a five-day event, with the Bryan Clauson Classic featuring the 25-lap Stoops Pursuit and the 39-lap Driven2SaveLives BC39, featuring 118 cars.
Attendance at the 2024 race exceeded numbers at the recent races on the oval layout in 2019.
In 2019, Kevin Harvick won the Brickyard 400 after leading 118 laps. Jimmie Johnson failed to make the Playoffs. Bubba Wallace finished third. Significant damage occurred in pit road collisions.
In 2019, NASCAR moved the Brickyard 400 to the weekend after Labor Day, making it the last race of the regular season.
Due to scheduling changes for its season resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, in 2020 the IndyCar Series moved its GMR Grand Prix to the Brickyard 400 weekend as part of a double-header with the Xfinity Series race. Tony Stewart envisioned doing quadruple duty, but the Clauson Classic was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Brickyard 400 race was held without spectators.
In 2020, Kevin Harvick won the Brickyard 400 without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking his third overall win. Denny Hamlin crashed late in the race. The race was part of a doubleheader weekend.
In 2020, the Brickyard 400 was held on Independence Day weekend.
In 2020, the Brickyard 400 was scheduled for Independence Day weekend, as part of substantial changes to the NASCAR calendar. The Coke Zero 400 at Daytona took over as the final race before the NASCAR playoffs.
In 2020, the Brickyard 400 was the last race held on the 2.5-mile oval before being put on hiatus in favor of the Verizon 200.
In 2020, the race was known as the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at the Brickyard.
In 2021, the Brickyard 400 was moved back to late July.
In 2021, the Brickyard 400 was put on hiatus and replaced with the Verizon 200, which was run on the combined road course.
When the race moved to the road course for 2021, Verizon assumed naming rights for the event.
After NASCAR changed to their "Next Gen" car in 2022, racing quality across the series' schedule began to decline on road courses but increased on oval tracks.
2023 was one of the three years the Brickyard 400 was put on hiatus in favor of the Verizon 200.
In 2024, attendance at the Brickyard 400 exceeded 70,000, surpassing recent races on the oval layout in 2018 and 2019, and marking the first year-over-year attendance growth since 2002.
In 2024, the Brickyard 400 returned to the oval after a three-year hiatus, marking the 30th anniversary of the inaugural race in 1994.
In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the first race, the series returned to the oval track for the 2024 running of the Brickyard 400.
In the 2024 season, the Brickyard 400 returned to the oval track after being on hiatus.
The 2025 running of the Brickyard 400 is scheduled to be held on the oval. As part of a new TV contract, the race will air on TNT for the first time, serving as the final race of their 5-race package, and serve as the championship race for NASCAR's new in-season tournament.
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