NASCAR WCUP: Chassis Notes, Brickyard 400

4 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

[The following are facts and figures regarding the chassis Pontiac teams will be running this weekend during the NASCAR Winston Cup event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.]

Johnny Benson comes to Indy with new life this weekend after signing a primary sponsor this week for the remainder of the season. Benson is running the same chassis he ran at the last two Pocono races, where he ran solidly in the top 10 before mechanical problems hurt his effort.

This version of the Conseco Pontiac is brand new, having only been run in the team's private test here back on July 24 and 25. It wasn't their quickest piece in qualifying trim, but posted great lap times in race trim.

Bobby Labonte will look to better his past three finishes here at Indy with a brand new chassis that was tested here during the GM open test. Labonte, who has led the Winston Cup points since May 1, posted runner-up finishes here in 1997 and '99, and finished third in '98.

Home Depot Grand Prix driver Tony Stewart has won three of the last seven races on the Winston Cup circuit, and would love to make it four of eight in his second NASCAR run at The Brickyard. Stewart will campaign a brand new chassis this weekend that the team tested during the GM open test.

Ward Burton comes to Indy this week ranked 7th in the Winston Cup point standings and is running a chassis that has more than helped his effort this season. So far this season, Burton has earned a win at Darlington, a third at Bristol a sixth at Michigan and an eighth at Dover with this piece. In nine career starts, it has eight top 10s.

Eel River Racing ran its first race as a team in last year's Brickyard 400. Driver Mike Bliss will hope to make it a memorable milestone with a brand new chassis that was tested here during the GM open test.

Ken Schrader has netted two top 10s in six starts here at Indy with a best finish of 7th in the inaugural event. Schrader returns this year with the same chassis he posted an 18th place finish with at Pocono in June.

The last time John Andretti ran this chassis he qualified on the outside of the front row at Pocono in June. Andretti will hope to better his best Brickyard finish of 7th (1998) as he returns to his hometown.

Kyle Petty will make his last start at Indy this weekend in the No. 44 Pontiac, as he prepares for a move to the No. 45 machine next year. Petty will look for his first top 10 at The Brickyard behind the wheel of a new chassis that has never turned a lap.

Amoco Pontiac Grand Prix driver Dave Blaney is coming off his best career finish - an 18th at Pocono two weeks ago, and will look to back that up this weekend at Indy with the same chassis he ran there.

Text provided by Al Larsen

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