Clint Bowyer, who is currently in 12th place - the last Chase-eligible position, drives back to the garage during practice for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He loves coming to Indy, but not the track. (photo: Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - For Kurt Busch's taste, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is too smooth.
In March 2002, the ancient track went through a process called "diamond grinding" in order to make its racing surface smoother.
"Ever since they 'diamond-cut' the track, whatever they did to the asphalt surface, I've struggled horribly here," said Kurt Busch. "Add the Car ofTomorrow and it's twice as many struggles.
"Indy has definitely been a tough place for me. The first time I raced here, I got a fifth-place finish and didn't even know what I was doing. Sometimes ignorance is bliss."
Busch's first race at Indy occurred on Aug. 5, 2001, and he hasn't finished as high as fifth in the eight races since.
* * *
WHAT THE BRICKYARD MEANS-- Sixteen years after Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened its arms to NASCAR, it still causes stock car racers to "get all tingly."
"When somebody asks me what it would feel like to win here, I think about the open-wheel history of this track, and I think about drivers like (Mario) Andretti and (A.J.) Foyt and the guys even before them," said Dale Earnhardt Jr.. "I think about the history of this track and how it's survived the war, and closed down and opened back up, and everything that it's been through.
"When they first brought stock cars here to practice, it was a realization for a lot of people, including myself, being an aspiring driver at the time, that I may have a chance one day to race at Indianapolis that I otherwise didn't think that I would have unless I was to go in the open-wheel series."
* * *
A CONVERT-- Mark Martin, who by the way is just back from a brief European vacation with wife Arlene and son Matt, once thought NASCAR's dalliance with the Brickyard was a mistake.
"I knew what it would mean to the sport to have a race here," said Martin, "but I just didn't think it would happen. I didn't think this type of car, a stock car, would be good on that kind of track.
"I can honestly say now that I was wrong. I love coming back to Indy to race. It's been a tremendous addition to the NASCAR schedule, and I think it's great for all of the stock car fans that NASCAR races on this track."
* * *
BIG NUUMBER-- By the estimation of the people charged with making such estimations at Roush Fenway Racing, the team's entries have completed 1,000,000 miles in (now) Sprint Cup competition. It all began with the Daytona 500 of Feb. 14, 1988.
Jack Roush has fielded 2,688 Cup entries, employing 16 drivers.
* * *
WHAT TIMING--Beginning Sunday, Carl Edwards will analyze each Cup race on ESPN Sportscenter, joining Allen Bestwick, RustyWallace and Brad Daugherty at the cable-satellite channel's pit studio. Edwards is scheduled to make an appearance after each of ESPN's 14 races.
* * *
BUT THERE'S A RACE--Clint Bowyer's opinion of Indy: "I love coming to Indianapolis, but I'm not going to lie to you: I don't like the race track."