Brickyard can breed champions; picks too

Drivers who win the Brickyard 400 often go on to bigger and better things, like Sprint Cup titles. Of the 17 races at Indy, the winner has gone on to win the title eight times.
You've got Jimmie Johnson with three (2006, 2008 and 2009), Jeff Gordon with two (1998 and 2001) and Dale Jarrett (1998), Bobby Labonte (2000) and Tony Stewart (2005) each with one.
So, pay attention to Sunday's winner. If he makes the Chase, it could be a sign of better things to come.

After a week off (and a winning pick with Ryan Newman), we're back with picks for Indy.
1) Tony Stewart - He's won twice here and really needs a win to help his Chase chances.
2) Jeff Gordon - Will he become the first five-time winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? It's quite possible.
3) Juan Pablo Montoya - Could be the first guy to win the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400, so have to pick him here.
4) Jimmie Johnson - A three-time winner at Indy, could join teammate Gordon with a fourth.
5) Kevin Harvick - He's got one win here and is one of three drivers (Stewart and Gordon are the other two) to average a top 10 finish at Indy.
Until next time

Inside the Indy numbers

The Sprint Cuppers travel to Indianapolis this weekend. This will be the 18th year that NASCAR has been there, but it's already considered one of the series' most prestigious winners. Mainly because, other than Daytona, it awards the most money.
Here's a look at some of the mosts when it comes to NASCAR at Indy.

0 - Drivers to earn first Cup win at Indy
3 - Most poles won, by Jeff Gordon (get used to seeing his name in this post)
4 - Most Brickyard 400 victories, Gordon
6.1 - Best average start, Ryan Newman (with at least five starts)
8.2 - Best average finish, Tony Stewart (with at least five starts)
9 - Most top five finishes, Gordon
13 - Most top 10 finishes, Gordon
15 - Most lead lap finishes, you guessed, Gordon, but wait ... Mark Martin, too.
17 - Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin are the only four drivers to run all 17 races at Indy.
440 - Most laps led by Gordon again
2684 - Most laps completed by Jeff ... Burton.
Until next time

Brad, Carl and the Brickyard

There were no fireworks between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski in Saturday night's Nationwide race. While Edwards was penalized 60 points in the Nationwide Series and they were both put on probation, that doesn't mean something couldn't happen in the Sprint Cup Series. So, you know, you might want to keep an eye on the 12 and 99 today in Indy.

As for Indy, here are my picks, sorry for being a bit late with this:

Juan Pablo Montoya: On the pole, should've won last year, loves Indy.
Jeff Gordon: A good place for him to get his first win of the year.
Tony Stewart: A good place for him to get his first win of the year, really.
Denny Hamlin: It's not uncommon for success at Pocono to translate into success at Indy.
Kyle Busch: He won the Nationwide race Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park just outside Indy, so it would be a no surprise to see him get an Indy double.
Probably will regret not picking Jimmie Johnson, but can't pick the dude every week.