CUP Series Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

NASCAR CUP Series

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Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

Sunday, August 13th, 2023

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Speedway, IN

Previous race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Co…
  • 18 Chevrolet
  • 14 Ford
  • 7 Toyota

  • Sunday, August 13th, 2023
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Reid Spencer
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.

"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.

  • Drivers Entered: 39
  • Laps Scheduled: 82
  • Margin of Victory: 0.937 Seconds
  • Time of Race: 2 Hours 9 Minutes 59 Seconds
  • Average Speed: 92.319
  • Cautions: 1 for 3 laps
  • Lead Changes: 10
  • Green Flag Passes: 2,804 (35.5 passes per green flag lap)
The NASCAR Garage 56 car during the Rolex 24
Daytona Beach, Florida - January 29, 2023 : The NASCAR Garage 56 car is seen on display during the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
James GilbertGetty Images

Race weekend links appear as data becomes available.

Pit Stop Summary Report

Summary of each driver's pit stop during the race. Detailed Report is below the Summary Report.

DRIVER ST FIN # STOPS AVG DRV TIME DRV RNK AVG CREW TIME CREW RANK AVG TOT TIME TOT RNK FASTEST STOP SLOWEST STOP
Daniel Suarez 1 3 1 42.133 2 12.477 2 54.610 1 54.610 54.610
Martin Truex Jr 12 7 2 42.327 6 12.812 4 55.138 2 54.873 55.403
Ty Dillon 35 27 2 43.109 33 12.280 1 55.389 3 55.051 55.726
AJ Allmendinger 26 26 3 42.845 22 13.002 5 55.846 4 55.114 56.944
Ryan Blaney 16 13 2 42.579 16 13.364 9 55.942 5 54.511 57.373
William Byron 39 14 3 43.232 37 12.757 3 55.990 6 54.138 57.260
Alex Bowman 9 5 2 42.366 8 13.747 16 56.112 7 54.571 57.653
Chase Elliott 3 2 2 42.920 23 13.196 6 56.116 8 54.974 57.257
Kyle Larson 6 8 2 42.436 10 13.730 15 56.166 9 54.975 57.356
Austin Dillon 27 16 2 42.981 26 13.211 7 56.192 10 54.979 57.405
Brad Keselowski 22 20 2 42.548 13 13.663 13 56.210 11 54.059 58.361
Austin Cindric 20 15 2 42.732 20 13.630 11 56.362 12 55.241 57.482
Bubba Wallace 19 18 2 42.614 17 13.781 17 56.395 13 55.627 57.162
Ty Gibbs 10 12 2 43.110 34 13.347 8 56.457 14 54.568 58.346
Ross Chastain 21 17 2 43.050 29 13.630 11 56.679 15 55.003 58.355
Joey Logano 18 34 2 42.502 12 14.196 19 56.698 16 55.374 58.022
Brodie Kostecki 11 22 3 42.388 9 14.380 22 56.768 17 55.068 58.229
Denny Hamlin 25 19 2 42.576 15 14.297 21 56.873 18 55.145 58.600
Harrison Burton 24 21 2 43.173 35 13.713 14 56.886 19 56.325 57.446
Kamui Kobayashi 28 33 3 43.330 38 13.558 10 56.888 20 55.898 58.646
Corey Lajoie 14 29 2 43.057 31 13.848 18 56.904 21 55.396 58.412
Kyle Busch 5 36 3 42.233 5 14.703 25 56.936 22 54.314 58.477
Michael McDowell 4 1 2 42.181 4 14.797 28 56.978 23 55.969 57.986
Chase Briscoe 13 6 2 42.365 7 14.698 24 57.063 24 55.625 58.500
Chris Buescher 17 11 2 42.497 11 14.798 29 57.295 25 55.731 58.858
Ryan Preece 30 31 3 43.069 32 14.269 20 57.338 26 55.708 60.002
Mike Rockenfeller 37 24 2 42.972 25 14.513 23 57.485 27 56.114 58.856
Aric Almirola 33 39 1 42.968 24 14.782 26 57.750 28 57.750 57.750
Kevin Harvick 38 23 2 43.026 27 14.782 26 57.808 29 55.031 60.585
Justin Haley 15 38 2 42.631 18 15.297 32 57.928 30 57.196 58.659
Tyler Reddick 2 4 2 43.039 28 15.065 30 58.104 31 57.190 59.017
Andy Lally 29 30 2 43.050 30 15.099 31 58.149 32 56.842 59.456
Christopher Bell 7 9 2 42.145 3 16.867 35 59.011 33 57.561 60.461
Jenson Button 31 28 2 42.016 1 17.250 38 59.265 34 56.855 61.675
Shane van Gisbergen 8 10 2 42.657 19 17.117 37 59.774 35 59.297 60.250
Ricky Stenhouse Jr 34 25 2 42.789 21 17.001 36 59.789 36 58.135 61.443
Erik Jones 36 35 2 43.223 36 16.668 34 59.891 37 59.338 60.443
Josh Bilicki 32 32 2 43.863 39 16.634 33 60.496 38 58.118 62.874
Todd Gilliland 23 37 1 42.554 14 19.186 39 61.740 39 61.740 61.740

Pit Stop Detailed Report

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