NASCAR at Indy

The reason for that is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909 and features two long straightaways with four distinct corners connected by two short chutes. It has been a challenging racetrack for the Indianapolis 500, which began in 1911 and continues as the most famous race in the world.

But stock car racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a relatively new concept. The first Brickyard 400 was held in 1994 and Sunday's race will be the eighth time Winston Cup teams have competed in this major event.

Nearly every driver in the Winston Cup garage area admits that the Brickyard 400 is one of the biggest races a NASCAR driver can win because of how difficult it is to pass at this storied oval.

"If it wasn't for the history here, if it wasn't for the number of people that come to watch this event, it wouldn't be what it is," said Jeff Gordon, a two-time Brickyard 400 winner who won the inaugural race in 1994. "That's just because of stock car racing. Stock cars put on a better race on a track that has more banking. It's very big and fast, but a flat race track. It's hard for us to do the side-by-side racing that we are capable of.

"Indianapolis is a very difficult place to get around. It is tough to get your car handling right. It is tough to pass. When you hit it, you feel very special for what you have accomplished because it's hard to hit it here. We are bringing our best car not only for the race, but also for qualifying. Track position in general these days has been very important, but on a track like this, it's even more important."

In last year's Brickyard 400, the starting field of 43 was strung out across the track by the third lap. The reason for this is what is known as the "aero push." Because of the aerodynamics of the Winston Cup cars, the flatness of the turns, when a car gets too close behind another car, the front end of the second car does not want to turn. It steers toward the outside wall.

Being in front is very important so the cars can be in clean air. That is why passing is rare in the Brickyard 400.

"We have become very dependent on the aerodynamics of these cars, especially the front end of these cars," said two-time Brickyard 400 winner Dale Jarrett. "I'm not sure what the answer would be. It would be nice not to have that, not to be so dependent on that, but it's a fact what we have right now.

"No matter what our aero rules would be, with 3,400 pound stock cars, this is going to be a difficult track for us to put on a good show. We don't have the banking to hold the cars and the speed through the corners. You have to look at this a little different and search around for what will make this exciting. What is exciting is to see somebody come through the pack or somebody working to make a pass, like Bobby Labonte did to Rusty Wallace last year. Those are the things you have to look at, not side-by-side through every corner because it's not going to happen here."

Labonte won last year's race by dogging race-leader Rusty Wallace before passing him for the lead with 14 laps remaining. Unfortunately, it took Labonte 70 laps to set up the race-winning pass.

Don't call this race dull to Labonte, however.

"It's always exciting from my point of view," Labonte said. "It is an exciting race track to drive on. Last year, beating Rusty Wallace here took a long time to get our car set up just right for that last run to get in position to get by him. It's always exciting where I'm sitting, but it's a very challenging race track for the drivers and the crews to get their cars set up right because you have four distinct corners you have to get right. If you are off a little bit, you could be off all day. If you are on, you could have a good day if nothing goes wrong.

So, what can be done to counteract the dreaded aero push?

"If you slow the corner speeds of the cars down that will help some," Gordon said. "The faster we go through the corners, the more we rely on aerodynamics. What happens is if you get behind a car and you don't have the aerodynamics to push the front end down or push the back end down, then you are done. Banking seems to be the one crutch that helps us our there. When you have a lot of banking and the surface has been worn down a little bit, you have different grooves you can use.

That is why the Brickyard 400 presents a difficult challenge to these drivers.

"I think to win here, you have to have the total package," Gordon added. "You have to have the car really working right. You have to have to be on top of your driving and you have to have good pit stops. It's all about handling, it's all about teamwork. It's all about bringing the right package horsepower wise - it's about the whole deal."

Tony George is the president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the man who brought NASCAR Winston Cup racing to the 2.5-mile oval in 1994, breaking with a tradition dating all the way back to 1911. He has also brought the Formula 1 World championship to Indianapolis with the United States Grand Prix last season giving his facility three of the biggest races in the world.

The Brickyard 400 is a race with high drama, although the on-track style of racing is not very exciting.

"There is a lot of anticipation with each Brickyard from all perspectives," George said. "There has been some drama, something unique about each even that has made it special. Last year was maybe the only exception. For the most part, they have had some element of drama that has made it memorable, if not special.

"I don't know that there is a typical NASCAR race. They go to enough different kinds of circuits. There are a lot of unique circuits and races on the schedule. This is basically a handling track. For those who figure it out, they are going to have an easier time of it. If they can get to the front, stay at the front and handle, they will be all right. For the guys who don't get it right, it's going to be a long, long day."

The key to success in the Brickyard 400 is simple - create the set-up that gives a driver the best-handling car in the race.

"It is definitely a team sport, which includes the driver because it's a handling track," George added. "If you find the right combination, it makes your day a lot more enjoyable. It's a matter of finding that handle."