Indianapolis Notes-n-Nuggets:


  • • This is Paul Menard’s first Cup Series victory in his 167th race. He is the 181st driver to win a Cup Series race.
    • Paul Menard is the 14th different race winner in 20 races in 2011.
    • Paul Menard is the first driver to score his first career victory at Indy. The win came in his fifth Indy start.
    • One year ago, Paul Menard was ranked 23rd after 20 races, this year he is 14th.
    • Paul Menard is the 11th different driver to win in 18 Cup races at Indy. Menard’s previous best Indy finish was 14th (2010).
    • This is Richard Childress Racing’s 98th Cup Series victory, tying the Wood Brothers for fifth all time.
    • Richard Childress Racing earned its fourth victory in 2011 and third victory at Indy.
    • Chevrolet scored its ninth win in 2011, the most by any manufacturer this season.
    • Chevrolet has won 13 of the 18 Indy Cup races, including the past nine.
    • Jeff Gordon (second) has scored top-10 finishes in 14 of the 18 races at Indy, the most by any driver.
    • This is Regan Smith’s (third) first finish better than 31st at Indy.
    • Jamie McMurray (fourth) posted his best finish in 2011 and first top-five of the season.
    • Matt Kenseth (fifth) earned his fifth top-five finish at Indy.
    • Tony Stewart (sixth) has scored top-10 finishes in seven of the past eight Indy races. Stewart extended a 13-race streak of lead-lap finishes at Indy (longest).
    • Greg Biffle (seventh) has top-10 finishes in his past four Indy races. This is Biffle’s first top-10 finish in the past seven races in 2011.
    • Mark Martin (eighth) has finished 11th or better in the past seven Indy races.
    • Carl Edwards (14th) has scored top-15 finishes in his past four Indy races.
    • Jeff Burton (35th) extended an 18-race streak of running at the finish at Indy (longest).
    .(Racing Recall/nascar.com)(8-1-2011)