Brickyard 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race July 23-25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

•Can Jimmie win three in a row? Jimmie Johnson is attempting to become the first driver to win a major oval-racing event at IMS for three consecutive years at the 2010 Brickyard 400. Only seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher has won more consecutive major races at IMS, capturing the United States Grand Prix on the road course four years in a row from 2003-06. With a victory, Johnson also would join Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon as the only four-time winners of the Brickyard.

•Chip’s Triple Crown: Team owner Chip Ganassi can achieve an unprecedented sweep of the “Triple Crown” of American oval races – the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 – if one of his drivers wins July 25 at IMS. Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, making Ganassi the first team owner to win those two heralded races in one year. Can either McMurray or Juan Pablo Montoya deliver the Triple Crown to Ganassi with a win at the Brickyard?

•Smoke is fired up: Indiana native and resident Tony Stewart has overcome a slow start this season and is on a hot streak during the summer portion of the schedule, which features the hot, slick tracks on which he excels. Stewart has posted six top-10 finishes in the last seven races this season and has climbed to ninth in the series point standings. Can he earn his third Brickyard 400 at the track he loves more than any other, further solidifying a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup as driver/owner of Stewart-Haas Racing?

•Montoya wants revenge: Juan Pablo Montoya led 116 of the 160 laps of the 2009 Brickyard 400 – 92 more than any other driver – and appeared headed for history by becoming the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400. But then Montoya was penalized for speeding and was forced to serve a drive-through penalty with just 35 laps remaining, and he ended up 11th. 2000 Indy 500 winner Montoya also remains the only driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and United States Grand Prix at IMS.

•Happy days for Harvick: Kevin Harvick is one of only two Brickyard 400 winners without a Sprint Cup championship, but that could change. 2003 Brickyard 400 winner Harvick leads the Sprint Cup standings in 2010, rebounding from a rough 2009. And if he earns his second Brickyard 400 victory on July 25, history will be on his side as he attempts to earn the season title. The Brickyard 400 winner also has won the championship in the same season in eight of the 16 years this NASCAR classic has been contested at IMS.

•No more wings: This will be the first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car without a rear wing, as a traditional spoiler replaced the wing earlier this season. Superstars Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch were among the drivers who tested the new spoiler combination in April at IMS, and both expressed optimism that there will be even more side-by-side action this year than ever at IMS.

•No place like it: There’s no other track quite like the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. Its four distinct straightaways – two long straights and two “short chutes” – and four turns banked at just 9 degrees create unique, big challenges for drivers and teams. The end result is that only the elite drivers and teams have won this event. The list of winners is a Who’s Who of NASCAR champions, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott and Bobby Labonte.

•Great week of racing: The Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 25 is the finale of a fantastic week of oval racing by a great variety of machinery in the Indianapolis area. Action will start with the J.D. Byrider 100 USAC Silver Crown Championship Series race Thursday, July 22 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in nearby Clermont. NASCAR action then will take center stage at ORP starting Friday, July 23 with the AAA Insurance 200 presented by J.D. Byrider for the Camping World Truck Series, followed Saturday, July 24 by the Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children for the Nationwide Series. IMS and ORP also are offering great ticket deals for the two NASCAR races at ORP and the Brickyard 400 at IMS through the “Two Track Pack” promotion.

•GA is a great way: General admission tickets will be available for Brickyard 400 Race Day – at a value price of just $40 each – for the first time at this year’s event, Sunday, July 25 at IMS. Children 12 and under also will be admitted to the grounds free on any day of the event, July 23-25, if accompanied by an adult holding a general admission ticket for that day. Fans are encouraged to buy Race Day general admission tickets in advance. General admission tickets can be purchased during Brickyard 400 race weekend, including Race Day, at the IMS ticket office and at satellite ticket offices, located outside of Gates 3, 6, 9 and 10. Race Day general admission tickets will not be sold at the gate at any time during race weekend.

•Chevy Day is back: Chevy Day at the Brickyard is back and better than ever, filled with attractions for fans Friday, July 23 at IMS. The popular opening day of the event, scaled back in 2009 due to economic difficulties for General Motors, returns in 2010 with full support from Chevrolet, one of the Speedway’s strongest promotional partners. Chevy drivers will participate in question-and-answer and autograph sessions with fans, and the great new lineup of Chevy vehicles will be on display. It’s all part of the general admission price of just $10 on July 23.

•Bring the family: The Brickyard 400 is more ideal than ever for families in 2010. The Family Fun Area, located near the Family Viewing Mounds adjacent to Turn 2 in the IMS infield, will feature inflatable bouncers, face painters, several interactive displays geared toward children and more. The area will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Race Day, Sunday, July 25 and is free. General admission tickets will be available for Brickyard 400 Race Day – at a value price of just $40 each – for the first time at this year’s event. Any number of children 12 and under accompanied by at least one adult holding a general admission ticket will be admitted free. The Family Viewing Mounds are a perfect place to watch the race for families holding general admission tickets. Many other family-friendly events are planned for the entire Brickyard 400 race weekend, including a concert by teen singer-songwriter sensations Anna Margaret and Josh Golden at 5 p.m. Friday, July 23 on the Plaza Stage. Friday tickets are $10 for adults, with children 12 and under free.

•Party time: The biggest party of the summer in the Midwest is taking place July 23-25 at the Brickyard 400. There’s something for everyone, with camping, a festival-like party atmosphere in the infield with the new Race Day general admission ticket, a Miller Lite Cars and Guitars concert with rising country star Luke Bryan on Saturday, July 24, great racing from the superstars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and much more. A Beach Party located adjacent to the lake in the IMS infield and the HANK-FM grandstand in Turn 3 are new features open to the partying public this year during Brickyard 400 weekend at IMS. The Brickyard 400 is “The Most Fun You’ll Have At A Racetrack.”

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Tickets: Tickets are on sale now for the Brickyard 400. Tickets can be purchased online at imstix.com at any time.

General admission tickets will be available for Brickyard 400 Race Day – at a value price of just $40 each – for the first time at this year’s event. Any number of children 12 and under accompanied by at least one adult holding a general admission ticket will be admitted free.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

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