The 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard NASCAR CUP Series pit stop performance data highlights the fastest pit stops, team efficiency, and crew performance from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Sunday, August 13th, 2023
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Speedway, IN
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.
"My family comes to the races we think we can win," said McDowell, who shared hugs with his wife and children after climbing from his car. "We thought we could win this one."
McDowell’s second career victory was a convincing one. He passed pole winner Daniel Suárez for the lead after a restart on Lap 6 and held it until he brought the No. 34 Mustang to pit road on Lap 17 for a green-flag stop.
After pitting for a second time on Lap 49, McDowell regained the top spot when Bubba Wallace pitted on Lap 53 and held it the rest of the way. Over the last 29 laps, Elliott—needing a victory to advance to the Playoffs—narrowed McDowell’s four-second margin to .937 seconds at the finish, but that was as close as the 2020 series champion could get.
"I was really trying to pace myself," McDowell said. "I figured there would be a late-race caution, and I didn’t want to burn my stuff up. I was just trying to maintain that gap.
"Then when I got into traffic, (Elliott) started closing, I had to push it, but I just can’t believe it."
McDowell now has victories at Daytona (the 2021 Daytona 500) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, arguably the two most iconic venues in the sport. He put a Ford in Victory Lane at a road course for the first time since Ryan Blaney won the inaugural race at the Charlotte Roval in 2018.
"Winning the Daytona 500 was one of the coolest moments you could ever have," said McDowell, one of the most accomplished road racers in the Cup Series. "But going to Victory Lane without your family, that was tough.
"So we cherry-pick. We come to the races we think we can win… Just so proud… You know, I thought we could point our way in (to the Playoffs), but after the car that we had yesterday in practice, I thought, man, we’ve got a good shot at winning if we could just get track position and maintain it."
That’s exactly what McDowell did. After Suarez beat McDowell of pit road on Lap 17, McDowell chased the No. 99 Chevrolet until they caught the cars of Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski at the end of Stage 2 on lap 35.
Hamlin and Keselowski were on older tires, and McDowell surged past Keselowski and Suárez through the Turn 12 and 13 complex. When Hamlin and Keselowski finally came to pit road on Lap 36, McDowell was back in the lead.
Much of the race was a three-way battle between McDowell, Elliott and Suárez, but Suárez lost valuable time when his left front tire landed on an air gun hose during the Lap 49 stop. The snafu cost Suárez six seconds and a chance to win.
"We win and we lose as a team, and that’s all I can say," said Suárez, who salvaged a third-place finish. "The guys brought a very fast race car. I felt that maybe we were one adjustment behind in the first run with the back of the car, but then we made it a little bit better.
"But I felt like I was always one step behind the No. 9 and the No. 34, and then at the end, I felt that when my car came alive again, we had that issue.
"Just a little bit heartbreaking, but that’s part of the sport. All we can do is continue to push, continue to build race cars like this, and I’ll keep on winning races."
Elliott was gracious in his praise for McDowell, and he identified where his No. 9 Chevrolet needed to be stronger.
"Just to be a little better through the back half (of the course) over there and get off of (Turn) 14 a little better just to have myself in a better spot getting into (Turn) 1.
"Just really appreciate the effort, man. Our Napa Chevy was really good, really good. Just needed just a little bit more and came up a bit short. But congrats to Michael, man. He did a good job. Ran a great race and stayed mistake-free, and that’s what you’ve got to do to win."
Tyler Reddick finished fourth, followed by Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. Shane van Gisbergen, who won the Chicago Street Race in July was 10th in his second NASCAR Cup start.
McDowell’s win reduces the number of available Playoff spots to three. Keselowski and Kevin Harvick are comfortably situated on points—barring more different winners at Watkins Glen and Daytona—but Wallace’s hold on the final spot was reduced from 58 points pre-race to 28 over Suarez.
Summary of each driver's pit stop during the race. Detailed Report is below the Summary Report.
DRIVER | ST | FIN | STATUS | PIT STOPS | AVG DRVR TIME | DRVR RANK | AVG CREW TIME | CREW RANK | AVG TTL TIME | TTL RANK | FST STOP | SLW STOP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daniel Suarez | 1 | 3 | Running | 1 | 42.133 | 2 | 12.477 | 2 | 54.610 | 1 | 54.610 | 54.610 |
Martin Truex Jr | 12 | 7 | Running | 2 | 42.327 | 6 | 12.812 | 4 | 55.138 | 2 | 54.873 | 55.403 |
Ty Dillon | 35 | 27 | Running | 2 | 43.109 | 33 | 12.280 | 1 | 55.389 | 3 | 55.051 | 55.726 |
AJ Allmendinger | 26 | 26 | Running | 3 | 42.845 | 22 | 13.002 | 5 | 55.846 | 4 | 55.114 | 56.944 |
Ryan Blaney | 16 | 13 | Running | 2 | 42.579 | 16 | 13.364 | 9 | 55.942 | 5 | 54.511 | 57.373 |
William Byron | 39 | 14 | Running | 3 | 43.232 | 37 | 12.757 | 3 | 55.990 | 6 | 54.138 | 57.260 |
Alex Bowman | 9 | 5 | Running | 2 | 42.366 | 8 | 13.747 | 16 | 56.112 | 7 | 54.571 | 57.653 |
Chase Elliott | 3 | 2 | Running | 2 | 42.920 | 23 | 13.196 | 6 | 56.116 | 8 | 54.974 | 57.257 |
Kyle Larson | 6 | 8 | Running | 2 | 42.436 | 10 | 13.730 | 15 | 56.166 | 9 | 54.975 | 57.356 |
Austin Dillon | 27 | 16 | Running | 2 | 42.981 | 26 | 13.211 | 7 | 56.192 | 10 | 54.979 | 57.405 |
Brad Keselowski | 22 | 20 | Running | 2 | 42.548 | 13 | 13.663 | 13 | 56.210 | 11 | 54.059 | 58.361 |
Austin Cindric | 20 | 15 | Running | 2 | 42.732 | 20 | 13.630 | 11 | 56.362 | 12 | 55.241 | 57.482 |
Bubba Wallace | 19 | 18 | Running | 2 | 42.614 | 17 | 13.781 | 17 | 56.395 | 13 | 55.627 | 57.162 |
Ty Gibbs | 10 | 12 | Running | 2 | 43.110 | 34 | 13.347 | 8 | 56.457 | 14 | 54.568 | 58.346 |
Ross Chastain | 21 | 17 | Running | 2 | 43.050 | 29 | 13.630 | 11 | 56.679 | 15 | 55.003 | 58.355 |
Joey Logano | 18 | 34 | Running | 2 | 42.502 | 12 | 14.196 | 19 | 56.698 | 16 | 55.374 | 58.022 |
Brodie Kostecki | 11 | 22 | Running | 3 | 42.388 | 9 | 14.380 | 22 | 56.768 | 17 | 55.068 | 58.229 |
Denny Hamlin | 25 | 19 | Running | 2 | 42.576 | 15 | 14.297 | 21 | 56.873 | 18 | 55.145 | 58.600 |
Harrison Burton | 24 | 21 | Running | 2 | 43.173 | 35 | 13.713 | 14 | 56.886 | 19 | 56.325 | 57.446 |
Kamui Kobayashi | 28 | 33 | Running | 3 | 43.330 | 38 | 13.558 | 10 | 56.888 | 20 | 55.898 | 58.646 |
Corey Lajoie | 14 | 29 | Running | 2 | 43.057 | 31 | 13.848 | 18 | 56.904 | 21 | 55.396 | 58.412 |
Kyle Busch | 5 | 36 | Running | 3 | 42.233 | 5 | 14.703 | 25 | 56.936 | 22 | 54.314 | 58.477 |
Michael McDowell | 4 | 1 | Running | 2 | 42.181 | 4 | 14.797 | 28 | 56.978 | 23 | 55.969 | 57.986 |
Chase Briscoe | 13 | 6 | Running | 2 | 42.365 | 7 | 14.698 | 24 | 57.063 | 24 | 55.625 | 58.500 |
Chris Buescher | 17 | 11 | Running | 2 | 42.497 | 11 | 14.798 | 29 | 57.295 | 25 | 55.731 | 58.858 |
Ryan Preece | 30 | 31 | Running | 3 | 43.069 | 32 | 14.269 | 20 | 57.338 | 26 | 55.708 | 60.002 |
Mike Rockenfeller | 37 | 24 | Running | 2 | 42.972 | 25 | 14.513 | 23 | 57.485 | 27 | 56.114 | 58.856 |
Aric Almirola | 33 | 39 | Running | 1 | 42.968 | 24 | 14.782 | 26 | 57.750 | 28 | 57.750 | 57.750 |
Kevin Harvick | 38 | 23 | Running | 2 | 43.026 | 27 | 14.782 | 26 | 57.808 | 29 | 55.031 | 60.585 |
Justin Haley | 15 | 38 | Running | 2 | 42.631 | 18 | 15.297 | 32 | 57.928 | 30 | 57.196 | 58.659 |
Tyler Reddick | 2 | 4 | Running | 2 | 43.039 | 28 | 15.065 | 30 | 58.104 | 31 | 57.190 | 59.017 |
Andy Lally | 29 | 30 | Running | 2 | 43.050 | 30 | 15.099 | 31 | 58.149 | 32 | 56.842 | 59.456 |
Christopher Bell | 7 | 9 | Running | 2 | 42.145 | 3 | 16.867 | 35 | 59.011 | 33 | 57.561 | 60.461 |
Jenson Button | 31 | 28 | Running | 2 | 42.016 | 1 | 17.250 | 38 | 59.265 | 34 | 56.855 | 61.675 |
Shane van Gisbergen | 8 | 10 | Running | 2 | 42.657 | 19 | 17.117 | 37 | 59.774 | 35 | 59.297 | 60.250 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 34 | 25 | Running | 2 | 42.789 | 21 | 17.001 | 36 | 59.789 | 36 | 58.135 | 61.443 |
Erik Jones | 36 | 35 | Running | 2 | 43.223 | 36 | 16.668 | 34 | 59.891 | 37 | 59.338 | 60.443 |
Josh Bilicki | 32 | 32 | Running | 2 | 43.863 | 39 | 16.634 | 33 | 60.496 | 38 | 58.118 | 62.874 |
Todd Gilliland | 23 | 37 | Running | 1 | 42.554 | 14 | 19.186 | 39 | 61.740 | 39 | 61.740 | 61.740 |
Each 2- and 4-wheel pit stop during the race.
DRIVER | LDR LAP | DRV LAP | DRV TIME | CREW TIME | TOT TIME | TYPE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AJ Allmendinger | 15 | 15 | 42.701 | 12.413 | 55.114 | 4-wheel change |
AJ Allmendinger | 64 | 63 | 42.736 | 12.745 | 55.481 | 4-wheel change |
AJ Allmendinger | 31 | 30 | 43.097 | 13.847 | 56.944 | 4-wheel change |
Andy Lally | 13 | 12 | 43.129 | 13.713 | 56.842 | 4-wheel change |
Andy Lally | 45 | 44 | 42.971 | 16.485 | 59.456 | 4-wheel change |
Aric Almirola | 43 | 42 | 42.968 | 14.782 | 57.750 | 4-wheel change |
Brad Keselowski | 64 | 63 | 42.548 | 11.511 | 54.059 | 4-wheel change |
Brad Keselowski | 35 | 35 | 42.547 | 15.814 | 58.361 | 4-wheel change |
Denny Hamlin | 63 | 62 | 42.566 | 12.579 | 55.145 | 4-wheel change |
Denny Hamlin | 35 | 35 | 42.586 | 16.014 | 58.600 | 4-wheel change |
Joey Logano | 14 | 13 | 42.496 | 12.878 | 55.374 | 4-wheel change |
Joey Logano | 49 | 48 | 42.508 | 15.514 | 58.022 | 4-wheel change |
Kevin Harvick | 12 | 11 | 42.919 | 12.112 | 55.031 | 4-wheel change |
Kevin Harvick | 45 | 44 | 43.133 | 17.452 | 60.585 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Busch | 17 | 17 | 42.138 | 12.176 | 54.314 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Busch | 49 | 49 | 42.234 | 15.783 | 58.017 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Busch | 57 | 56 | 42.328 | 16.149 | 58.477 | 4-wheel change |
Martin Truex Jr | 21 | 21 | 42.361 | 12.512 | 54.873 | 4-wheel change |
Martin Truex Jr | 48 | 48 | 42.292 | 13.111 | 55.403 | 4-wheel change |
Michael McDowell | 16 | 16 | 42.091 | 13.878 | 55.969 | 4-wheel change |
Michael McDowell | 48 | 48 | 42.270 | 15.716 | 57.986 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Dillon | 27 | 27 | 43.003 | 11.976 | 54.979 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Dillon | 50 | 50 | 42.959 | 14.446 | 57.405 | 4-wheel change |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 50 | 49 | 42.552 | 15.583 | 58.135 | 4-wheel change |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 17 | 16 | 43.025 | 18.418 | 61.443 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Larson | 16 | 16 | 42.463 | 12.512 | 54.975 | 4-wheel change |
Kyle Larson | 48 | 47 | 42.408 | 14.948 | 57.356 | 4-wheel change |
Alex Bowman | 16 | 16 | 42.427 | 12.144 | 54.571 | 4-wheel change |
Alex Bowman | 49 | 49 | 42.304 | 15.349 | 57.653 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Blaney | 13 | 13 | 42.631 | 11.880 | 54.511 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Blaney | 48 | 47 | 42.526 | 14.847 | 57.373 | 4-wheel change |
Corey Lajoie | 18 | 17 | 43.417 | 11.979 | 55.396 | 4-wheel change |
Corey Lajoie | 49 | 48 | 42.696 | 15.716 | 58.412 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Dillon | 31 | 30 | 43.072 | 11.979 | 55.051 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Dillon | 49 | 48 | 43.146 | 12.580 | 55.726 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Elliott | 17 | 17 | 42.895 | 12.079 | 54.974 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Elliott | 48 | 48 | 42.945 | 14.312 | 57.257 | 4-wheel change |
Chris Buescher | 14 | 14 | 42.518 | 13.213 | 55.731 | 4-wheel change |
Chris Buescher | 48 | 48 | 42.475 | 16.383 | 58.858 | 4-wheel change |
Erik Jones | 55 | 54 | 42.920 | 16.418 | 59.338 | 4-wheel change |
Erik Jones | 20 | 19 | 43.526 | 16.917 | 60.443 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Preece | 24 | 23 | 42.862 | 12.846 | 55.708 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Preece | 6 | 6 | 43.359 | 12.944 | 56.303 | 4-wheel change |
Ryan Preece | 58 | 57 | 42.986 | 17.016 | 60.002 | 4-wheel change |
Daniel Suarez | 16 | 16 | 42.133 | 12.477 | 54.610 | 4-wheel change |
Ross Chastain | 17 | 16 | 43.159 | 11.844 | 55.003 | 4-wheel change |
Ross Chastain | 50 | 49 | 42.940 | 15.415 | 58.355 | 4-wheel change |
Bubba Wallace | 22 | 22 | 42.614 | 13.013 | 55.627 | 4-wheel change |
Bubba Wallace | 52 | 52 | 42.614 | 14.548 | 57.162 | 4-wheel change |
William Byron | 16 | 15 | 42.860 | 11.278 | 54.138 | 4-wheel change |
William Byron | 3 | 2 | 43.858 | 12.713 | 56.571 | 4-wheel change |
William Byron | 49 | 48 | 42.979 | 14.281 | 57.260 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 19 | 18 | 44.103 | 14.015 | 58.118 | 4-wheel change |
Josh Bilicki | 52 | 51 | 43.622 | 19.252 | 62.874 | 4-wheel change |
Tyler Reddick | 15 | 15 | 43.010 | 14.180 | 57.190 | 4-wheel change |
Tyler Reddick | 48 | 48 | 43.067 | 15.950 | 59.017 | 4-wheel change |
Justin Haley | 60 | 58 | 42.815 | 14.381 | 57.196 | 4-wheel change |
Justin Haley | 34 | 32 | 42.446 | 16.213 | 58.659 | 4-wheel change |
Christopher Bell | 51 | 51 | 42.079 | 15.482 | 57.561 | 4-wheel change |
Christopher Bell | 25 | 25 | 42.210 | 18.251 | 60.461 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Cindric | 13 | 13 | 42.730 | 12.511 | 55.241 | 4-wheel change |
Austin Cindric | 48 | 47 | 42.734 | 14.748 | 57.482 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Briscoe | 14 | 14 | 42.480 | 13.145 | 55.625 | 4-wheel change |
Chase Briscoe | 48 | 47 | 42.250 | 16.250 | 58.500 | 4-wheel change |
Harrison Burton | 49 | 48 | 42.812 | 13.513 | 56.325 | 4-wheel change |
Harrison Burton | 25 | 24 | 43.533 | 13.913 | 57.446 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Gibbs | 17 | 16 | 43.390 | 11.178 | 54.568 | 4-wheel change |
Ty Gibbs | 49 | 48 | 42.830 | 15.516 | 58.346 | 4-wheel change |
Todd Gilliland | 48 | 47 | 42.554 | 19.186 | 61.740 | 4-wheel change |
Mike Rockenfeller | 17 | 16 | 42.936 | 13.178 | 56.114 | 4-wheel change |
Mike Rockenfeller | 50 | 49 | 43.008 | 15.848 | 58.856 | 4-wheel change |
Jenson Button | 13 | 12 | 41.374 | 15.481 | 56.855 | 4-wheel change |
Jenson Button | 47 | 46 | 42.657 | 19.018 | 61.675 | 4-wheel change |
Shane van Gisbergen | 22 | 22 | 42.680 | 16.617 | 59.297 | 4-wheel change |
Shane van Gisbergen | 50 | 50 | 42.633 | 17.617 | 60.250 | 4-wheel change |
Kamui Kobayashi | 73 | 72 | 43.386 | 12.512 | 55.898 | 4-wheel change |
Kamui Kobayashi | 24 | 23 | 43.373 | 12.746 | 56.119 | 4-wheel change |
Kamui Kobayashi | 54 | 53 | 43.230 | 15.416 | 58.646 | 4-wheel change |
Brodie Kostecki | 16 | 15 | 42.423 | 12.645 | 55.068 | 4-wheel change |
Brodie Kostecki | 67 | 66 | 42.226 | 14.780 | 57.006 | 4-wheel change |
Brodie Kostecki | 48 | 47 | 42.514 | 15.715 | 58.229 | 4-wheel change |