NASCAR at Indianapolis: 10 Drivers Who Will Be in the Mix at the Brickyard 400

Racing at the "Brickyard" is about history and prestige. NASCAR's elite series will do battle for the win, points and perhaps more important, the opportunity to kiss the "Yard of Bricks."

The Brickyard may not be the most exciting racing that we see in the series, but for the drivers, this track ranks right up there with going for a win in the Daytona 500.

The first Cup race was in 1994 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Jeff Gordon capturing the win.

Track position is critical on the 2.5-mile flat track with nine degree banking in each of the corners. Passing can be difficult. Long green-flag runs are common.

Winning at this track may well depend on driving smart with pit strategy on fuel and tires apt to be a game-changer when the checkered flag flies.

The 10 drivers on this list are hot picks to mix it up for the win. See how many would be on your list of candidates to hoist the coveted trophy at Indianapolis.

Tony Stewart

Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Tony Stewart, lives in Indiana and likes to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won the Brickyard 400 in 2005 and 2007.

Stewart was driving the Home Depot car for Joe Gibbs Racing when he got those wins and a win as owner/driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet would mean even more.

His chances are pretty good having finished six times in the top five and nine times in the top 10 with an average finish of 8.1.

Stewart already has three wins this season and he typically runs well in the summer heat.

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet, is hanging tough with his sixth place slot in the point standings, but he is seeking his first win.

Harvick won the Brickyard 400 in 2003 and has four top-five and seven top-10 finishes with an average of 10.0.

The Richard Childress Racing driver has nine top-10 finishes this season. Last year his teammate, Paul Menard won this race. Can this RCR driver be the one to kiss the "Yard of Bricks" in 2012?

Clint Bowyer

Michael Waltrip Racing is showing strength this season with Martin Truex Jr. eighth in the points and Clint Bowyer one slot behind in ninth. Bowyer has an advantage with one win this season.

The driver of the No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota has six starts at Indianapolis with two top-five finishes and and average of 11.8.

Bowyer has been consistent this year with 10 top-10 finishes, but he knows how important that second win can be. Look for him to perhaps outperform Truex in this race and go for the win.

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&Ms Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, has not had the season he wanted. Poor finishes, pit miscues and engine problems have plagued his team.

Busch finds himself 13th in the standings with one win and eight top-10 finishes. He knows he needs a second win to have a sure shot at the wild card slot in the Chase.

At Indianapolis, this driver has not won, but has one top-five and five top-10 finishes with an average of 13.1.

With seven races left, Busch is counting on his car to be healthy. If he has the speed, a good qualifying run and clean pit stops, he should be in the mix to win the Brickyard 400.

Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Fastenal Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, is 11th in the point standings. He remains winless with nine top-10 finishes this season.

Edwards has one top-five and three top-10 finishes with an average finish of 11.0 at Indianapolis.

This could be a telling race for Edwards being that it is his first race with his new crew chief, Chad Norris. His long-time crew chief, Bob Osborne, assumed other duties at RFR after guiding this driver to 18 Cup wins.

If Edwards lacks speed and performance at Indianapolis, it may well mean he is on the path to missing the Chase with six races left. He would need to win a third of those races for the wild-card slot.

Jeff Gordon

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Jeff Gordon, also has four wins at the Brickyard in 1994, 1998, 2001 and 2004. His record shows 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes with an average of 9.1.

Gordon was runner-up to winner, Paul Menard, in the 2011 race.

The driver of the No. 24 for Hendrick Motorsports has had a season so bad that it is almost laughable with the bad luck that has followed him. He is 17th in the point standings and winless.

Gordon knows his only shot at the Chase is by winning a couple races. He has had a fast car, but overall his season has been ugly. His luck is bound to change and it may well be at Indy.

Greg Biffle

Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, is third in the point standings. He has won one race, has eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes this season.

Biffle has not won at Indianapolis, but he has finished eighth or better the last four years with an average finish of 13.1.

Biffle's performance in recent years is slightly better in this race than teammate and points leader, Matt Kenseth.

Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski is carrying the banner for Penske Racing in his No. 2 Dodge. He has three wins this season and wants to make a statement to not only his boss, but to Dodge who is leaving Penske.

Keselowski has only two starts at the Brickyard 400. He finished 19th in 2010 and ninth in 2011.

This driver can never be counted out to win at Indy, despite his lack of experience. He is a tough contender in most races and has made his way to 10th in the point standings.

Keselowski just may be one of those surprise winners who rolls the dice with his crew chief at the end of the race and finds victory.

Jimmie Johnson

Five-time Cup champion, Jimmie Johnson, has driven his Lowe's No. 48 Chevrolet to victory at the Brickyard 400 in 2006, 2008 and 2009. His average finish is 18.4, so it is feast or famine.

The driver of the Lowe's Kobalt No. 48 could join an elite group of drivers who have won more than three times at Indy in the major series of motorsports including teammate, Jeff Gordon.

Johnson is fourth in the point standings with two wins, nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes this season. There is little doubt he is prepared to make a run for the 2012 Cup title with the performance he has shown.

Track position is important at Indy and if this driver can qualify well, look for him to run with the lead dogs much of the race and just maybe find himself kissing the bricks once again.

Joey Logano

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing, is in a contract year and though JGR says they are behind their driver, he may not be in the Home Depot car in 2013.

Logano's season has been inconsistent but he has three top-10 finishes in the last six races, one of which was a win. He is ranked 16th in the point standings.

This driver knows he needs at least another win to secure a wild card slot for the Chase. He also wants to show JGR he can get the job done.

Logano only has three starts at Indianapolis, but one ended in the top 10 and his average finish is 15.3.