SPEEDWAY, Ind. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. never aspired to race in the Indianapolis 500. Open-wheel racing never peaked his interest enough to get him behind the wheel of an IndyCar—he preferred stock cars on a short track to the open wheel speed machines.
But Earnhardt has a chance to accomplish something Sunday on the track made famous by open-wheel cars that's only been done three times at the 105 year old racetrack: win the Brickyard 400 and Daytona 500 in the same season.
Winning the two crown jewel events in the same year is a daunting task that only three drivers have been able to accomplish. Jamie McMurray was the last to do so in 2010, as have Jimmie Johnson (2006) and Dale Jarrett (1996).
And although he doesn't like to think about the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 together, Earnhardt said a win at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway is near the top of his bucket list.
"This place just has so much history," Earnhardt said. "It's just amazing what's gone on here. I would love to win here and hope to be able to accomplish that at some point in my career."
Earnhardt's track record at Indianapolis hasn't been stellar throughout his Sprint Cup career. His average finish of 19.29 is among one of his least successful tracks on the schedule.
But Earnhardt believes the numbers don't always tell the story of how well he's run at Indianapolis. In his last two races, he's finished 6th and 4th and says he has a good car this weekend.
"We've had some good cars in the past and just didn't do the strategy right," he said. "Somebody did it better than us or somebody made it on fuel and won the race or what have you, but we've had some good cars here."
Strategy may play a big factor in deciding a winner Sunday, as most drivers and teams tackle the 2.5 mile oval like they would a road course.
Earnhardt believes his crew chief Steve Letarte is one of the best in the garage when it comes to putting his car in a position to win and wants to give Letarte a few more wins before he leaves the team at the end of the year to pursue a broadcast career.
"He's one of the guys that's one of the best on the box when it comes to strategy, and this style of race and the way the tires are going to play into that, this is right in his wheelhouse," he said. "I think he's going to give us a great opportunity."
Working for Earnhardt this weekend has been his Hendrick Motorsports engine package. Chevrolet has won the last 11 consecutive Indianapolis 500's, and Hendrick engines have been near the forefront of the success. Seven of the top nine drivers in last year's race boasted Hendrick power.
A win for Earnhardt also bodes well for his championship hopes. In 20 NASCAR races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, nine of the race winners have gone on to be champions in the same year.
Earnhardt would join Jimmie Johnson as those who doubled up and went on to become champion. To do so, he'll have to make up ground quickly on track. He starts 23rd.
"I'd love to win here. This is such a historic racetrack regardless of whether we won Daytona or not," Earnhardt said. "But just winning here alone would be tremendous."
