NASCAR Cup - Indianapolis

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG. This race takes place on the legendary 2.5-mile oval configuration, bringing stock car racing back to one of motorsport's most historic venues. Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts this 400-mile competition as part of the Brickyard Weekend, which also features the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series racing the Pennzoil 250.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval

Indianapolis Motor Speedway stands as the oldest continually operating racetrack in the world. The facility opened on August 12, 1909, and has earned its nickname "The Racing Capital of the World" through more than a century of competition. The venue is commonly called "The Brickyard," a name that honors its original surface of 3.2 million paving bricks laid when the track first opened. A 36-inch strip of these original bricks remains at the start-finish line today.

The oval spans 2.5 miles and features a distinctive rectangular shape. Four identical corners, each banked at 9 degrees, connect long straightaways that allow cars to reach high speeds. The track covers 560 acres, an area large enough to contain Vatican City, the Roman Colosseum, Yankee Stadium, and Churchill Downs within its infield. With permanent seating capacity exceeding 250,000, Indianapolis Motor Speedway holds the distinction as the world's largest sports venue.

Race Format and Distance

The Brickyard 400 spans 400 miles, divided into 160 laps around the oval. Practice sessions and qualifying runs take place before the main event, giving teams opportunities to fine-tune their setups for the unique demands of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series competes in the Pennzoil 250 during the same weekend, adding another layer of competition to the proceedings.

Competition and Participants

The race features the top teams and drivers from the NASCAR Cup Series. Hendrick Motorsports holds the record for the most wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with 11 victories in NASCAR Cup Series competition. NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads all drivers with five Brickyard 400 wins, including the inaugural race in 1994. The 2026 field will showcase the current generation of NASCAR competitors battling for victory at this prestigious venue.

Technical Regulations

NASCAR Cup Series cars compete under strict technical specifications. A-post flaps are mandated for all cars at every track, working with roof flaps to prevent vehicles from becoming airborne during spins. The surface underneath these flaps must be bright orange for visibility. The Damaged Vehicle Policy allows teams to make repairs in the garage area after on-track incidents, even when cars require towing. A seven-minute clock governs pit road repairs at most tracks.

Teams operate under a season limit of 18 engines, though re-using engines for a third race is permitted at certain tracks. Engine and transmission changes are prohibited during race weekends. The "choose rule" for restarts gives drivers the option to select their preferred lane, adding a strategic element to race restarts.

Heritage and Tradition

The Brickyard 400 debuted on August 6, 1994, marking the first time Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted a race other than the Indianapolis 500 since 1916. Jeff Gordon, an Indiana native from Pittsboro, won that first event before an estimated crowd exceeding 250,000 spectators. The race ran exclusively on the oval from 1994 through 2020. NASCAR competition at Indianapolis moved to the road course configuration for three years before returning to the oval, where it continues for this edition.

The tradition of "kissing the bricks" began in 1996. Race winners kneel at the yard of bricks on the start-finish line and kiss the historic surface, creating one of motorsport's most recognizable victory celebrations. This tradition connects modern competitors to the track's rich past.

What Makes This Event Special

Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers several distinctive features. The 10-story Pagoda, inspired by Japanese architecture, serves as the control tower and media center during race events. The Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course, runs four of its holes through the infield of the oval. The massive size of the facility means no single vantage point allows spectators to view the entire 2.5-mile oval.

The town of Speedway, Indiana incorporated itself in 1926, including the racetrack grounds within its boundaries. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted multiple forms of motorsport competition, including Formula One and MotoGP events, demonstrating its versatility as a racing venue.

The NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway combines modern stock car racing with over a century of motorsport history. The Brickyard 400 presented by PPG offers competitors a chance to add their names to a winner's list that spans decades of competition on this storied oval.