CONCORD, N.C. – Hendrick Motorsports returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Cup Series' annual stop in the Hoosier State. For the second consecutive year, the road course configuration will play host to the event.
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After 27 races on the famed oval configuration, 2021 saw the first Cup Series event that was held on the facility’s 14-turn road course. The 2.439-mile track includes several passing zones, specifically in turns one and seven, which sit at the end of long straightaways.
Last season’s event saw Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott finish inside the top five despite a chaotic final few laps. William Byron ran inside the top-three spots for the majority of the race before an incident in turn six on lap 79 ended his day. Alex Bowman narrowly dodged several accidents in the latter portion of the day but was forced off the racing surface on the final lap, costing him several positions and resulting in a 17th-place finish.
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Elliott enters this event with five straight top-two finishes and three wins in that stretch of races. The 26-year-old's run is the eighth streak of five consecutive top-two results since 1986 and six of those streaks centered around a Hendrick Motorsports driver. The 2020 champion's road course acumen is well known as his seven road course wins are the most among active drivers and third-most all time. In addition, he is one of three drivers to finish in the top 10 in all three road course races so far this season - with a best finish of second at Road America.
Larson has also fared well on road courses with three victories coming on this track type - fourth-most among active drivers. Earlier this month, the reigning Cup Series champion finished third at Road America.
Byron earned the pole position for this race last year with a fast lap in qualifying of 100.044 mph. Bowman has the sixth-most points on road courses this season (97), highlighted by a runner-up finish at Circuit of The Americas in March.
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This weekend also marks the second of three 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series events that Hendrick Motorsports will run the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Bowman will be behind the wheel with veteran crew chief Kevin Meendering on top of the pit box. Larson’s effort at Road America in the same car yielded a second-place run and 31 circuits in front of the field. The organization has 26 victories in the Xfinity ranks with the latest coming in 2009 with Tony Stewart as the winning driver.
The facility will also host IndyCar racing on Saturday afternoon for a rare doubleheader weekend between NASCAR and IndyCar at the same venue.
Here is what you need to know to catch this weekend’s action.
WHAT TIME IS PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING?
On Saturday, July 30, Cup Series group practice will start at 9:35 a.m. ET on USA Network. Group qualifying will also take place immediately after practice, starting at 10:35 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on USA Network as well. Coverage will also be available on the NBC Sports App. Byron and Larson will be in Group A, while Bowman and Elliott will part of Group B.
The Xfinity Series will take to the track on Friday, July 29, for practice and group qualifying. USA Network will cover both events beginning at 3:05 p.m. ET. Bowman will qualify in Group B.
RELATED: Bowman ready for extra laps in the No. 17 Xfinity Series ride
WHAT TIME IS THE RACE?
The 200-mile Cup Series main event is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 31, and will be broadcast on NBC.
The Xfinity Series race will take place at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 30, and will also be broadcast on NBC.
CAN I LISTEN ON THE RADIO?
Both races will be on the IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (channel 90).
CAN I STREAM ONLINE?
Yes. Download the NBC Sports App for online coverage. Fans can also keep up with the action on Twitter by following @TeamHendrick.
FIVE FAST FACTS HEADING INTO INDIANAPOLIS
Data courtesy of Racing Insights
3: The number of pole positions Byron has earned in the last seven road-course races that have held qualifying. Hendrick Motorsports has six of the last eight poles at road courses that have held qualifying.
14: This is the number of weeks in a row that Elliott has held the outright regular season points lead. His victory at Pocono Raceway puts him 105 points up on Ross Chastain with five regular season races left.
30: Larson, who is the reigning Cup Series champion, turns 30 on Sunday. He will attempt to be the sixth instance of a driver winning on their birthday.
88: Laps led by Hendrick Motorsports on tracks turning left and right this season. This mark lands the organization in second place in the Cup Series, 66 circuits ahead of third place.
97: The total number of points Bowman has earned on road courses in 2022, the sixth-most of any Cup Series driver this season.