NASCAR Sprint Cup: 10 Lessons We Learned at the Brickyard 400

When NASCAR's elite series comes to the Brickyard each year, it is about more than history and prestige. The flat 2.5-mile track is a test for drivers and teams with strategy and edgy cars that are fast.

The nine-degree banking in each turn may look the same, but each has its own character.

Coming down the front stretch and into Turn 1 looks somewhat like heading into a tunnel with the grandstands overpowering the track and the quick left turn.

Finding balance on a car is critical, because this track requires running full throttle—as much as possible—to get off the turns for the long straightaways. Teams find this one of the more technical tracks.

Passing can be tough, so the driver who wins maintained great track position and had clean pit stops or perhaps just had really good pit strategy with fuel and tires when the checkered flag waved.

Let us look at some of the lessons learned as drivers fought their battles at Indy with the hope of kissing the historic "Yard of Bricks."

Kissing Bricks Is Good

History comes to life for the winner of the Brickyard 400, when they find themselves with their significant others and the team on their knees to kiss the famed "Yard of Bricks."

The 2012 edition of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Indy found winner Jimmie Johnson making history again, with his fourth win at the Brickyard 400. He led 99 of the 160 laps.

He was in championship form as he tied teammate Jeff Gordon for four wins at IMS, placing him in an elite class of drivers who have accomplished that across several series.

Johnson is fourth in the point standings, with three wins and 10 top-five finishes this season. There is little doubt he is going to be a contender for the 2012 Cup title.

Each time Johnson has won the Brickyard 400, he has gone on to win the series title.

Carl Edwards Foiled Again

It looked to be a rejuvenated No. 99 Fastenal team, led by crew chief Chad Norris.

Edwards qualified second and was fast—until lap 13, when he thought perhaps he had dropped a cylinder while running third.

The driver came down pit road and up went the hood. After refiring the car under the orders of Norris, the car came back to life...but the pit stop was very costly to Edwards, who badly needed a win.

Edwards unofficially was scored in 29th position, and is now 12th in the point standings—and winless.

Where Were the Fans?

NASCAR tried to rally the fans with three different races over the three days at Indy.

Those who follow road-course races in the Rolex Series were treated to the Brickyard Grand Prix on Friday, but rain put a damper on the race run around the 13-turn course at IMS.

The inaugural Nationwide race on Saturday had a strong presence of Cup drivers and some pretty interesting moments during the race that was won by Brad Keselowski under controversial conditions.

The much-hyped Brickyard 400 race at the legendary track had racing pretty typical of this event, and a lot of storylines that could be game-changers for several drivers.

Despite all the promotion of the races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, fans were light in the stands. It looked to be the worst attendance since NASCAR came to the track.

Jeff Gordon Failed to Win Again

The four-time winner of the Brickyard 400 and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion was in desperate need of winning a race to give him the slightest chance of making the Chase.

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, started the race 17th in points and 183 markers out of the lead. His car was fast, and he was in the top five much of the day.

Gordon finished fifth after starting ninth, but that win remains elusive. He did move up to 15th in the point standings.

Sam Hornish Jr. Continues Cup Adventures

Sam Hornish Jr. drives the No. 12 Dodge for Penske Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He finished second in the inaugural race for the series at the Brickyard behind his teammate, Brad Keselowki.

Hornish wants to drive in the Cup series. After the driver of the No. 22, A.J. Allmendinger, tested positive for amphetamines, he was suspended from NASCAR indefinitely.

The vacant seat in the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge has been filled by Hornish at Daytona and Loudon.

He returned to Indy—where he won the Indianapolis 500 in 2006—to further try and prove his talent as a driver in the Cup series.

Hornish started 24th on the grid and finished in a respectable 16th place.

Points Leader Has Tough Day

Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 for Roush Fenway Racing, has led the points for many weeks, but the race at the Brickyard was not kind to him.

A spin by Joey Logano with 28 laps to go took out Kenseth who spun his flaming car to a stop. He was running 21st at the time.

Kenseth started 10th, but his finish was a dismal 35th. He is second in the point standings.

The New Points Leader

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports, has been solid this season with one win, nine top-five and 15 top-10 finishes.

Earnhardt finished fourth in the Brickyard 400 and took the point lead by 14 markers over Matt Kenseth. This is the first time he has been atop the standings since 2004.

Not Everyone Wants to Kiss Bricks

Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra Johnson, wanted their baby daughter to be part of the historic kissing the "Yard of Bricks" after his win.

Despite coaxing from both parents, little Genevieve knew she wasn't supposed to be putting her mouth on the ground.

Photographers were still able to get photos that will be treasured by the Johnsons for many years to come.

Chevy Strong

Chevrolet mandates a desirable weight load for their new Camaro convertibles, but it surely was exceeded with winner Jimmie Johnson, his wife, and team taking the traditional ride around the track.

Time Is of the Essence

Time is running out for some to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but two of the top contenders may well work out of the same garage at Hendrick Motorsports.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson have exhibited consistency and the ability to win the title, but certainly drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush Fenway Racing will be in the mix.

Normally by this point in the season, those in the top six or seven—so far as standings—pretty much stay about the same.

Shifts toward the bottom of the top 10 will occur, and those running for the wild-card slot still must win races. Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch look to be the favorites for those positions.

There are only six races left to take care of business when it comes to making the Chase. For some, it may be a daunting task to win two races.