Allstate 400 at the Brickyard

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Allstate 400 at The Brickyard

Venue	Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Corporate sponsor	Allstate
First race	1994
Distance	400 miles (644 km)
Number of laps	160
Previous names	Brickyard 400 (1994-2004)

The Allstate 400 at The Brickyard is an annual 400-mile (644 km) NASCAR Nextel Cup points race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. From 1994 to 2004, the race was known as the Brickyard 400. The event, when first held in 1994 marked the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1916.

[edit] Race origins

• In September 1991, A.J. Foyt filmed a commercial for Sears Craftsman tools at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While filming in the garage area, Foyt, and Speedway president Tony George decided to take Foyt's NASCAR Winston Cup car for a few laps around the track. Foyt was the first driver to drive a NASCAR stock car around the Speedway, and later on, George himself took a few laps. The event was not a direct plan for a future race, but caused some interest and speculation for the future.
• In March 1992, IROC drivers Dave Marcis and Dick Trickle tested at the Speedway. Trickle reportedly ran a lap at 162.799 mph. At the time, the Speedway was considering hosting an IROC event during the month of May during activities leading up the Indianapolis 500. The test was considered successful, but several improvements would have to be made to the track before it was safe for the IROC cars to race there. After consideration, it was determined that it would be more economically feasible to attempt to host a NASCAR Winston Cup race before inviting IROC. IROC eventually raced at the Speedway from 1998-2003.
• On June 22, 1992, nine NASCAR Winston Cup series teams were invited to participate in what was officially considered a Goodyear tire test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Although no official announcements had been made, it was in fact, a compatibility test to see if stock cars would be competetive at the Speedway. Over two days, an estimated 10,000 specators watched an rather exciting two days of history in the making. A.J. Foyt, who had driven his stock car there the previous September, took a few laps around the track in Dale Earnhardt's car on the second day.
• On April 14, 1993, Speedway President Tony George, and the president of NASCAR, Bill France, Jr. jointly announced the Inaugural Brickyard 400, to be held Saturday August 6th, 1994. A new race logo was also unveiled.
• On August 16-17, 1993, thirty-five NASCAR teams took part in an open test at the Speedway. Several thousand spectators attended, and many announcements were made. Recently retired NASCAR legend Richard Petty took a few fast laps by himself, and then donated his car to the Speedway museum.

[edit] Television and radio

• From 1994 to 2000 the race was broadcast live on ABC Sports. ABC had televised the Indianapolis 500 since 1965. The race was scheduled for the first Saturday in August, at 12:15 p.m. EST (1:15 p.m. EDT). Saturday was chosen for the running of the race to allow for Sunday as a rain date.
• In 1995, rain delayed the start until 4:25 EST (5:25 EDT). ABC had already gone off air, and chose to air the race via taped delay on ESPN the following day. In the greater Indianapolis are, the race was shown tape delay at 7 p.m. on WRTV.
• From 2001-2006, the race was broadcast on NBC, as part of a new eight-year $2.4 billion television deal involving FOX/FX and NBC/TNT. The race was moved from Saturday to Sunday, and the start time was moved to 1:45 p.m. EST (2:45 p.m. EDT). In 2006, Indiana began observing Daylight Saving Time, and the race was scheduled for 2:45 pm EDT.
• Starting in 2007, under the terms of a new $4.48 billion contract, television rights will be held by ESPN on ABC and ESPN. The race was moved up one week to the last week in July to coincide with the start of the new contract. The move to cable has drawn controversy among race fans after thirteen years of scheduled network television coverage. Some speculate the decision to move the race on cable is part of Disney chairman Bob Iger's decision to support raising per-subscriber rates on ESPN, while some believe it is Iger's decision to favor the Indy Racing League. Either way, fans note that the reduced television exposure of moving the race to cable could hurt the event.
• All races have been broadcast on radio through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. From 1994-1999, Mike Joy anchored the broadcast. Since 2000, Mike King has served as chief announcer.

[edit] Trivia

• In 1996, Dale Jarrett and his Robert Yates Racing crew began the tradition kissing the bricks at the start-finish line.
• Five times the winner of the Allstate 400 has gone on to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship in the same year. The drivers include: Jeff Gordon (1998, 2001), Dale Jarrett (1999), Bobby Labonte (2000), and Tony Stewart (2005).
• Six of the eight drivers who have to date won the event have been NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champions at some point during their careers. Among the six, only Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott did not capture both in the same year.
• Six times the race has been won by car numbers which have not been used on entries that have won the Indianapolis 500 -- #10 (1997), #18 (2000), #29 (2003), and #88 (1996, 1999)

[edit] Past winners

Year	Date	Driver	Car Make	Winner's Prize (USD)	Distance (miles)	Average Speed (mph)
Brickyard 400
1994	August 6, 1994	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	$613,000	400	131.932
1995	August 5, 1995	Dale Earnhardt	Chevrolet	$565,600	400	155.218
1996	August 3, 1996	Dale Jarrett	Ford	$564,035	400	139.508
1997	August 2, 1997	Ricky Rudd	Ford	$571,000	400	130.828
1998	August 1, 1998	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	$637,625	400	126.770
1999	August 7, 1999	Dale Jarrett	Ford	$712,240	400	148.288
2000	August 5, 2000	Bobby Labonte	Pontiac	$831,225	400	155.918
2001	August 5, 2001	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	$428,452	400	130.790
2002	August 4, 2002	Bill Elliott	Dodge	$449,056	400	125.033
2003	August 3, 2003	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	$418,253	400	134.548
2004	August 8, 2004	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	$518,053	402.5 [1]	115.037
Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
2005	August 7, 2005	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	$554,661	400	118.782
2006	August 6, 2006	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	$452,861	400	137.182

1. ^ 402.5 miles / 161 laps due to green-white-checker finish