How the return of the Brickyard 400 will highlight the contrast in the racing world between NASCAR and IndyCar

The upper echelon of American stock car racing is set to return to one of the country’s biggest and most iconic racing venues this weekend with the 2024 Brickyard 400. The NASCAR Cup Series is returning to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s quad-oval layout after a three-year hiatus, and teams and drivers will want to prepare for what’s considered one of the sport’s crown jewels.

Because of the history and appeal of the upcoming race’s 2.5-mile setting, the Brickyard 400 is undoubtedly an event that every driver wants to cross off their list of victories at some point in their career. The rectangular oval also plays host to the nation’s premier open-wheeled series, IndyCar, as well as one of the biggest spectacles in global motorsports, the Indy 500.

While the track is identical for both the IndyCar and NASCAR machinery, the two races will play out differently. Due to the characteristics of the car and how passing and racecraft are adjusted to the needs of the car, IndyCar-style drafting/slingshot passing may not be as prevalent this Sunday as the stock cars tear around the facility.

The Next Gen Cup Series car characteristically encounters dirty air from the rears of other cars as drivers attempt to navigate the track’s four turns while staying close enough to the car ahead to slide and execute an overtaking maneuver entering the next corner.

Track position is considered crucial during the 160-lap event. The best overtaking opportunities for drivers could come around Turn 1, when the field races down the track’s long straights, gathering a slipstream to blast past their rivals. Another opportunity could come around Turn 3, after a similarly long backstretch.

However, passing on the outside of cars in corners is something fans can only expect from IndyCar due to its superior aerodynamics and ability to create faster runs via an enhanced slipstream effect.

What do the drivers think?

Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman, a contender for the 2024 postseason after snapping his winless streak at the Chicago Street Race weekend, is one of the drivers who has been performing like a newcomer of late.

Speaking about how he expects the Next Gen Cup Series car to perform at Indy, the #48 Chevrolet Camaro driver said: “We don’t build those big runs like IndyCar does. I think it will look a lot different. The race will look the same (for Pocono), a race that is very focused on track position. It could even be tougher.” Bowman told Frontstretch

Bowman further elaborated on how the Next Gen car behaves when driving in the dirty air of another car in front, adding: “You get some grip on the straight, but in the corner you’re slower, so that’s basic aerodynamics 101.” It remains to be seen how the seventh-generation Cup car will fare on the 2.5-mile oval circuit next Sunday.