Michael McDowell grabs NASCAR Cup Playoff spot with win at Indy Road Course: Running a race he knew he could win, Michael McDowell held off Chase Elliott in Sunday’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard a grabbed a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.  The driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford led 54 of 82 laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in a race that featured just one caution and ran under the green flag for the final 77 laps.[Read More](8-13-2023)

#34-Michael McDowell won the Verizon 200 NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The win is his 1st win of the year, 1st at Indianapolis and 2nd career win.
#9-Chase Elliott finished 2nd followed by pole sitter #99-Daniel Suarez, #45-Tyler Reddick, #48-Alex Bowman, #14-Chase Briscoe, #19-Martin Truex, Jr., #5-Kyle Larson, #20-Christopher Bell, and #91-Shane Van Gisbergen.
McDowell led 54 of the 82 laps, including the final 30 of the race.
Stage 1 was won by #34-Michael McDowell. Stage 2 was won by #11-Denny Hamlin.
There were 10 lead changes among 7 drivers.  With no cautions at stage breaks at road courses, there was only 1  caution for 3 yellow flag laps.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Race Fast Facts – Indianapolis:
Michael McDowell won the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard, his second victory in 453 Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2023.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Chase Elliott (second) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2023.
Daniel Suarez (third) posted his first top-10 finish in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Ty Gibbs (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Martin Truex Jr. leads the point standings by 60 points over Denny Hamlin.
(NASCAR)

Cup Series Playoff Standings after Indianapolis:
Race 24 of 26 in the regular season
2 races left in the regular season
1) #24-William Byron [4 wins], 726
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [3 wins], 830
3) #8-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 660
4) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 770
5) #5-Kyle Larson [2 wins], 698
6) #17-Chris Buescher [2 wins], 665
7) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 709
8) #1-Ross Chastain, [1 win], 676
9) #12-Ryan Blaney, [1 win], 666
10) #45-Tyler Reddick [1 win], 653
11) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 639
12) #34-Michael McDowell [1 win], 542
13) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. [1 win], 542
Drivers above have clinched a playoff spot
14) #4-Kevin Harvick, 677, +145
15) #6-Brad Keselowski, 675, +143
16) #23-Bubba Wallace, 560, +28 ahead of 17th
Outside the playoffs:
17) #99-Daniel Suarez, 532, -28 behind 16th
18) #54-Ty Gibbs, 511, -49
19) #9-Chase Elliott, 480, -80
20) #48-Alex Bowman, 480, -80
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.

Paint Schemes

Cars to the rear: #24-Byron (multiple inspection failures), #33-Kostecki (backup car)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Verizon 200 NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole winner #99-Suarez chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #45-Reddick took the 10th stall.
See all pit choices on the Indianapolis Pit Stall page.

#99-Daniel Suarez won the Busch pole for the Verizon 200 NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with speed of 99.814mph for his first pole of the year, first at Indianapolis and third of his career.
#45-Tyler Reddick will start second followed by #9-Chase Elliott, #34-Michael McDowell, #8-Kyle Busch, #5-Kyle Larson, #20-Christopher Bell, #91-Shane VanGisbergen, #48-Alex Bowman, #54-Ty Gibbs.
See the complete qualifying results and the Verizon 200 Starting Lineup.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Daniel Suarez won the Pole Award for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard with a lap of 87.968 seconds,99.814 mph.
This is his third pole in 239 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and ninth top-10 start in 2023.
This is his first pole in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Tyler Reddick (second) posted his 15th top-10 start of 2023 and his second in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Chase Elliott (third) posted his third top-10 start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. It is hisseventh in 17 races this season.
Ty Gibbs (10th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)

Qualifying Order

Practice for the Verizon 200 NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is complete:
#34-McDowell 98.516
#55-Larson 98.436
#38-Gilliland 98.403
#54-Gibbs 98.329
#48-Bowman 98.265
Slowest: #42-ROckenfeller 96.376
Most laps run: 13, #9-Elliott, #11-Hamlin, #41-Preece
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 12 drivers): #34-McDowell, 98.025
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run, and more on the Verizon 200 Practice speeds page.

Crew Rosters

The entry list for the Verizon 200 NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Jenson Button, #33-Brodie Kostecki, #42-Mike Rockenfeller, #51-Andy Lally, #67-Kamui Kobayashi, #78-Josh Bilicki, #91-Shane van Gisbergen
See the full entry list on the Verizon 200 Entry List page.

Goodyear Fast Facts — Indianapolis Motor Speedway

TandemDraft Stats – Indianapolis Road Course

Weekend Event Schedule