Gordon Going For 5th IMS Victory
Jeff Gordon has won four times at Indianapolis, including NASCAR’s inaugural event there in 1994. Only Formula One star Michael Schumacher has more Indy victories – five.

Gordon is tied for second on IMS’ all-time victory list with a trio of four-time Indianapolis 500 winners – A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.

Stewart Returns To ‘Home’ Track Driving No. 14
Years ago, it was never any secret that Indiana native Tony Stewart cherished a victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Now he has two, winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in 2005 and 2007 in front of his family, friends and thousands of fans, many who cheered him during him days of racing in the Indianapolis 500.

Stewart returns to the Brickyard this year leading the NASCAR Sprint Cup points, as a first-year driver-owner. Adding to this week’s Stewart storyline: he drives the No. 14, a number he adopted in honor of his idol, four-time Indy 500 champion A.J. Foyt. Two of Foyt’s 500 victories came in the No. 14, a number he also drove in NASCAR competition.

Kenseth Trying For Big-Time Season Sweep
Many consider the Daytona 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard as NASCAR’s two most prestigious events. Matt Kenseth, this year’s 500 champion, is trying for a rare sweep of the two “majors.”

It’s happened before: Dale Jarrett pulled it off in 1996, as did Jimmie Johnson in 2006.

Indy Win Bodes Well For Title Hopes
This stat is no longer a quirk.

It’s a trend.

Seven times in the 15-year history of the 400, the race winner has gone on to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. The rundown:
Jeff Gordon (1998 and 2001); Dale Jarrett (1999); Bobby Labonte (2000); Tony Stewart (2005); Jimmie Johnson (2006 and ’08).

Two Former Indy 500 Winners In 400 Field
Juan Pablo Montoya won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000. Sam Hornish Jr. won the 500 in 2006. Both hope to contend on Sunday and some smart money just might be riding on Montoya.

Montoya is ninth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, looking like a good bet to qualify for the Chase. And as far as Indy goes, his success speaks for itself. He entered the Indy 500 once – and won. Then, in his first NASCAR race there, the 2007 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, he started second and finished second.