After a weekend off in the 2007 season, the Nextel Cup Series returns to racing at one of auto racings most famous venues, the Brickyard, for the All-State 400. 

Run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the All-State 400 is a race comparable to those run at Pocono due to the relatively flat surface on both tracks.  This track is a 2.5 mile quad-oval paved with 3.2 million bricks, thus the label of the Brickyard, with 9 degree banking in the front and back stretch and 12 degree banking in the corners.  When it comes to racing here, horsepower and car setup are the biggest factors.  Setting up a car requires a setup that is not perfect for each corner but is the best middle ground.  A good handling car is very important in the corners as there is a lot of passing in those corners and horsepower is essential going into the straightaways.  Track position, whether that is gained on the track or in the pits, is important as well.  That means a pit crew will be important as will the pit strategy as the race gets closer to the finish.  More then likely, this race will be won by the driver who has a great engine, one of the best handling cars and a pit crew that is consistent on each stop with no errors.

If you could say that one driver owns a track, it would have to be Jeff Gordon at Indy.  Of the 13 races here, Gordon has 4 wins and 8 top 10's.  Tony Stewart would have to be considered Gibbs best bet after finally notching his first win of 2007 at Chicago.  The Indiana native has won here before and look for him to go all out to make it 2 wins in a row overall.  Stewart's teammate, Denny Hamlin has struggled the past two races but he should rebound as he excels on these flat tracks, including a win earlier this year at Pocono.  Kevin Harvick has been really solid for RCR at Indy, with the 2nd best average finish, including a win in the past 7 races at this track. 

Others to Watch

Matt Kenseth - He's run well at Indianapolis, placing second last year at the track. He also owns the most Top 10s (4) and Top 5s (4) in past five seasons at the track.

Clint Bowyer - As a rookie, Bowyer started second and clinched fourth in first try at Indianapolis. He ranks 10th in the Cup standings after registering seven Top 10s in his last 10 races.  If you're looking for a driver who could win his first race, Bowyer is the best bet

Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch - Another group that gets up a little bit more for Indy is Penske Racing South. Roger Penske has won 14 Indy 500s, and his No. 2 and No. 12 stock cars have always run well at the Brickyard.

DEI/Ginn Racing - obviously the big news this week was the merge between these two.  How it affects Dale Earnhardt Jr, Martin Truex Jr, Paul Menard and Mark Martin will be something to watch, with Martin being the biggest winner on the track in this deal.

Juan Pablo Montoya - As a rookie at the track, he won one of the most presitigious races in all of motor sports, the 2000 Indianapolis 500.  How will he fare in his first attempt as part of the Nextel Cup Series

What the experts think

My pick - Tony Stewart - Stewart won in ‘05 at the Brickyard. He's clinched at least 12th in seven of eight races at the track. He won his first race of the season at Chicagoland and has clinched seven Top 10s in his last 10 Cup races.

Sleeper - Kyle Busch - Hendrick will run well at this track, and Kyle Busch has alot of motivation on and off the track as he gets closer to making a deal for the 2008 season.  Busch has found his stride in the last six weeks with six consecutive top 13 finishes (four Top 10's).