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Commentary: Brickyard 400 race could be more riveting

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer Updated 9:06 PM Monday, July 25, 2011

In recent years I’ve always felt a twinge of guilt during this particular week.

The reason?

The Brickyard 400.

I love NASCAR and I love the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And I love that the two have hooked up every year since 1994.

But I can’t seem to fall in love with the race itself.

Perhaps it’s the lack of passing. Or maybe because you can’t watch all the action unfold around the 2.5-mile track.

And despite all of IMS’s history and energy — driving under the stands into the infield will always give me goosebumps — I’ve seldom considered the Brickyard on par with winning at Daytona, especially in recent years.

And on Monday I discovered I’m not alone. As I listened to The WING Racing Show hosted by Brian Casey on 1410-AM, it increasingly sounded like a support group.

That’s not to say NASCAR should pull out of IMS. There are few things like spending a weekend at a NASCAR event — especially at IMS — from strolling around the souvenir haulers to watching the cars roll through Gasoline Alley toward the track to watching how crazy the infield celebrations can get.

But that’s also the problem. Most of the Brickyard 400’s most memorable moments are either before or after the race, from Tony Stewart’s fence climb in 2007 to the traditional kissing of the bricks.

I’d never suggest NASCAR bypass Indy as a stop. I just want to see it pick up the pace.

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