bob jennings' WORLD O' RACING  05/15/99

1997 "Brickyard 400"

Bob Jennings

Indianapolis Star columnist Robin Miller enjoys referring to the "Brickyard 400" as the biggest race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Of course Robin is offering his opinion that the Indy Racing League era, at the "Indianapolis 500" has downgraded the status and popularity of the "500." The huge popularity that NASCAR enjoys, at the expense of Indy car racing, means that the "Brickyard 400," in five races, has become one of the three most important races in the U.S, with the "Indianapolis 500" and the "Daytona 500."

The France family raised the purse for the 1998 "Daytona 500" to $7 million and increased the total to $8 million for 1999. Prior to that, however, the "Brickyard 400" paid NASCAR's biggest purse by a large amount. In terms of attendance, the "Brickyard 400" remains NASCAR's number one, as crowd estimates for the August race have been as high as 320,000.

I have attended all five runnings of the "Brickyard 400." Unlike the "Indianapolis 500," which is like a religious experience for me, I approach the "Brickyard 400" in a casual manner. Only once, 1995, have I had my "Brickyard 400" ticket prior to getting in the vicinity of the Speedway for the race. Only twice (1994 and 1998) have I been in my seat for the start of the race.

Of the 12 cars I caught, in the photo on this page, going through turn two, I can recognize the cars of Kenny Wallace, Rich Bickle, Rusty Wallace, Rick Mast, Bill Elliott and Bobby Hamilton. I can't recall if I had a 200 mm lens or 135 mm lens fitted on my camera. I wish I had the opportunity to get some better stuff than this, at the the "Brickyard 400." But we're always there trying.