A new look to NASCAR racing will take center stage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time this weekend.
Stage racing will make its IMS debut Saturday, July 22 during the Lilly Diabetes 250 for the NASCAR XFINITY Series and Sunday, July 23 during the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
NASCAR introduced stage racing at the start of the 2017 season to divide the race into segments, with additional championship and playoff points awarded to drivers running in the top 10 at the end of the first two stages. The new format has added intensity and more competition to earlier portions of races.
Here’s a look at the stage distances for the two races this weekend at IMS:
Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 (Sunday, July 23)
- Stage 1: Laps 1-50
- Stage 2: Laps 51-100
- Stage 3: Laps 101-160
Lilly Diabetes 250 (Saturday, July 22)
- Stage 1: Laps 1-30
- Stage 2: Laps 31-60
- Race: Laps 61-100
There are caution periods between the first and second stages and second and third stages in both races, followed by green-flag restarts.
Drivers who finish in the top 10 in Stage 1 and Stage 2 earn additional race points, with the winner of each stage earning 10 points, second place earning nine points, third place earning eight points, etc., down to one point for 10th place. The final stage produces the final results and awards points for the entire field.
Cars in the Lilly Diabetes 250 for the NASCAR XFINITY Series also will race at IMS with restrictor plates for the first time this weekend. Restrictor plates limit air flow into engines and have bred exciting, fender-to-fender pack riacing at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
The Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 will start at 2:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday, July 23. The Lilly Diabetes 250 starts at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22.
Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for all 2017 IMS events, including the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 and Lilly Diabetes 250, and for more information on all events.
