Rookies take aim at famed Brickyard

History bodes well for rookies at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Cup Series. While Joey Logano has been the hot topic this year among fans and the media, could Scott Speed—who is flirting with the top 35 in points—finally get his season on track at the 2.5 mile oval in Speedway, Indiana?

Scott Speed fans rejoice, because my research says maybe.

In 2007 Tony Stewart won his second career Brickyard 400. At a younger age he dreamed of winning the Indianapolis 500. As a Hoosier, he felt there was nothing more important than winning the 500 on Memorial Day weekend. In 2007, the guy who finished second to Stewart had won the Indy 500 in 2000.

Being up front at Indy is nothing out of the ordinary for Juan Pablo Montoya. In his first start at Indy he put his #42 Texaco/Havoline car on the outside pole, and backed up the run with a strong second place finish. Montoya has won an Indy 500 and an F1 United States Grand Prix (at Indianapolis) but has yet to win the third major event at Indianapolis.

You can bet Montoya will be a contender in 20 days when the green flag drops at Indy.

Joey Logano has started a total of 21 races in the Cup Series and already has one win. He’s finished in the top ten four times this season. However, Scott Speed has not had the same success that Logano has. Twice this season Speed has failed to qualify for races. He has one top five which came at Talladega in April, a race that many will dismiss as just a good finish at a restrictor plate track.

My bet is that Logano will run well at Indy in three weeks. He’s running with the same crew chief—Greg Zipadelli—that was atop the box for Stewart’s victories in 2005 and 2007. He’s got the same equipment that Stewart drove at Joe Gibbs Racing, and he’s steadily improving in his first season in the Cup Series.

And, even though other rookies, like Stewart, who finished 7^th in 1999, Jimmie Johnson, who placed 9th in 2002 and some kid named Kyle Busch, who came home 10^th in his first try at Indy in 2005, have had success, I doubt Speed will have a good day at Indy. I’m not betting the house on it, but I just don’t think Speed has the patience to get around Indy without abusing his equipment.

Sam Hornish Jr. has also won an Indy 500. In 2006 Hornish drank the milk after winning the 500. Last year he finished 21^st in his first trip to Indianapolis in a stock car, but I’m quick to dismiss the average finish for Hornish because of last year’s debacle with Goodyear.

So, even though I’m running a little late today, I hope I’ve given you some useful information to ponder heading into the Brickyard 400 in a few weeks. If nothing else, maybe I’ve given you some ideas for your fantasy racing picks. I know Montoya will be on my team when I travel to watch the Brickyard 400 in less than three weeks.

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Tomorrow I will take another journey to Kentucky Speedway as I recount the media day that occurred last week. I talked to Rick Crawford and Frank Kimmel, so I’ve got some stories about them and I’ll tell you about the economy’s effect on the truck series. Have a great rest of your day and I look forward to writing something else for you tomorrow.