Does Jeff Gordon get to kiss the bricks again this year?

Will we see the 2008 NASCAR Nextel Champion in the winner’s circle this week?

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Brickyard 400, the track that makes a champion. Six of the last winners went on to be crowned NASCAR Cup Champion. Some say the reason for this is because only a strong team can win here.

The Brickyard is a unique track. It has two straightaways over a half-mile long and four sharp corners with nearly no banking. You’ll not see another track like this one on the circuit, with a late entry into the corner and not much brake usage, it is hard for some drivers to get used to.

The degree of difficulty here is what makes a win at this track a precursor to a Championship win. A driver needs a strong engine, great handling and good aerodynamics to compete here – the entire package. The team and driver that have the entire package will be the one who can not only win here at Indianapolis, but win and run well at other tracks and therefore win the championship.

If you are “on” and this is your year, chances are you’ll be kissing the bricks on Sunday.

Track position is important, and it is hard to dig out from the back unless you take two tires or use pit strategy. Pit strategy will take some doing, as well, since pit road is narrow here and so are the pit boxes. The right side tires will be on the line, and this will put the pit crew in a precarious position. The pit boxes are longer than usual, but the narrowness of it all is what affects the pit stops the most.

My first gut reaction without even looking at stats or listening to any information is to say Tony Stewart is going to win this race. He has done it before, and his win at Chicago will begin his second half of the season run.

Denny Hamlin runs very well on flat tracks, and so far this year, despite only having one win, he has shown that his team and his car usually do have the whole package needed to win here.

I have a conundrum with my next pick, Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson. It is hard for me to back the forty-eight car since its rapid descent into loserville, although loserville for Jimmie is a step up for a lot of drivers. Jeff Gordon has proven himself time and again all year and has Indianapolis’ track down pat, and I’ll not be a bit surprised if he wins Sunday.

I also think both Martin Truex Jr. and Casey Mears have an excellent shot at getting their second win here at the Brickyard. Despite the fact that I have sworn Truex will be the first to get his second win, I think Mears has a better chance at this track. Even though he qualifies as a dark horse, I am not putting him in that category.

Roush- Fenway needs to make a showing this week, and I think Carl Edwards is the man for the job. My first instinct was to pick Jamie McMurray, but I have a feeling even though Carl has an injured thumb, he will be able to pull off a solid run.

I am going to go to my favorite dark horse pick and say that Clint Boyer will finally get his first win, which of course means he won’t, but I’m still picking him.

Have a question or comment for Jennifer? Email her at jenniferpatterson@sportsgrumblings.com