Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard- Here's All You Need to Know

Author: Yash


The Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard is back. The race is happening at Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on August 15, 2021.

 

The Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard is one of the top races of the Nascar Cup. It is held every year at Indiana's Motor Speedway in Speedway. In the inaugural year itself, the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard became the most-attended event of Nascar. It attracted a crowd of more than 200,000 fans. The Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard also has one of the highest purses in Nascar. Brickyard is the historical nickname of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The racecourse started in 1909. At that time, the surface of the track was tar and crushed stone. There were several accidents on the poor course, some of which proved fatal. Thus, the track was restructured using millions of bricks. Eventually, asphalt was used to pave over the bricks. A one-yard strip of bricks remains exposed at the start and finish lines till now.

 

Till 2017, the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard was held in late July or early August. It was made the last race of the Nascar season and held after Labor Day for the next two years. The following year, the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard took place on the weekend of Independence Day. This year, the race will once again be held in August. The racecourse layout is a modified version of the circuit utilized by the Formula One Grand Prix. The IndyCar GMR Grand Prix presently uses it.

 

Schedule of Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard

 

 

Time

Event

Friday, August 13

 

2 PM

Gates Open

3 PM to 4 PM

Indycar Practice 1

5.35 PM to 6.25 PM

Xfinity Practice 1

7 PM to 7.50 PM

Indycar Qualifying

8 PM

Gates Close

Saturday, August 14

 

7 AM

Gates Open

9 AM to 9.30 AM

Indycar Practice 2

10.05 AM to 10.45 AM

Xfinity Qualifications

11.05 AM to 11.55 AM

Cup Series Practice 1

1 PM

Indycar Grand Prix

4 PM

Xfinity Grand Prix

6 PM

Gates Close

Sunday, August 15

 

8 AM

Gates Open

9.05 AM to 10 AM

Cup Series Qualifying

1 PM

Cup Series Grand Prix

4 PM

Gates Close

 

Ticket Prices of Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard

 

 

Location

Saturday

Sunday

A Penthouse

$145

$165

B Penthouse

$145

$165

B Stand

GA

$95

E Penthouse

$145

$165

E Stand

$45 - $60

$95

H Stand

$45 - $85

$55 - $85

J Stand

$45 - $85

$55 - $85

Northwest Vista

$45 - $85

$60 - $90

Northwest Vista Deck

$145

$165

Paddock

GA

$95

Paddock Penthouse

$145

$165

South Terrace

n/a

$50

South Vista

$45 - $75

$60 - $82

South Vista Deck

$145

$165

Southeast Vista

n/a

$55 - $87

Southeast Vista Deck

n/a

$165

Southwest Vista

Flex

Flex

Southwest Vista Deck

$145

$165

Tower Terrace

$45 - $60

$72 - $95

General Admission

$35

$35

Flex Stands

$50

$50

 

Allowed Items at the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard

 

- Non-commercial personal video and photo cameras are allowed. Audio recording equipment and video cameras are not permitted within concert areas.

- Headsets, camelbacks, scanners, and binoculars.

- Camera stands such as monopods and tripods. They must not hinder the view of other fans or lead to a safety hazard. You cannot take camera stands within concert areas or grandstands.

- Wagons and carts are permitted every day. They will not be allowed on Indy 500 Race Day. The use of wagons and carts is restricted in some parts.

- Coolers may be soft or hard-sided and no larger than 18" x14" x14". 

- Flags are allowed, but they should not hinder the view of other fans. No flags are permitted in the concert areas.

- Food and beverages such as beer, soft drinks, water, and wine in non-glass containers.

- Disabled guests are allowed to use mobility aids. The responsibility of securing unattended scooters and wheelchairs is with the guests alone. The organizers can deny access to any such device based on considerations such as size. 

Folding camping chairs, lawn chairs, and strollers are allowed. Folding chairs, regular height lawn chairs, and strollers are not permitted in the VIP areas or the Concert Pit.

Umbrellas are permitted. But they should not hinder the view of other fans. The responsibility for the safe usage of the umbrella lies with the owner.

 

Results of 2020's Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard

 

Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard was held on Independence Day weekend. The race took place without any fans because of the pandemic. Also, the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard was used as a doubleheader weekend. The Pennzoil 150 for the Xfinity Series and the IndyCar Series GMR Grand Prix took place the day before on the combined road course. The Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard took place at the Oval.

 

There was lightning in the area, due to which the race was postponed by about an hour. After that, the red flag was brought out on lap 17 after a crash in the pits. Denny Hamlin was leading Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth in the final stage. But in the closing laps, Hamlin's tires started wearing out. With six laps remaining, Hamlin's right-front tire wore down on turn one. This sent him hard into the outside wall. That impact led to an overtime finish between Kenseth and Harvick. The latter got the jump during the race restart. He was able to get the victory. It was the third victory in the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard. He got the distinction of being only the third driver to win the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard in back-to-back years.

 

 

#

St.

Driver

Entrant

Model

Status

1

11

Kevin Harvick

Busch Light Patriotic Ford

Ford/Ford

123.162

2

21

Matt Kenseth

McDelivery Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

3

5

Aric Almirola

Smithfield Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

4

9

Brad Keselowski

Discount Tire Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

5

30

Cole Custer

HaasTooling.com Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

6

7

Kyle Busch

Skittles Red White & Blue Toyota

Toyota/Toyota

Running

7

27

Michael McDowell

carparts.com Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

8

13

Tyler Reddick

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

9

17

Bubba Wallace

World Wide Technology Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

10

1

Joey Logano

Shell Pennzoil Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

11

10

Chase Elliott

NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

12

35

Christopher Bell

Rheem Toyota

Toyota/Toyota

Running

13

2

Kurt Busch

Monster Energy Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

14

29

Ty Dillon

GEICO Military Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

15

19

John Nemechek

Fire Alarm Services Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

16

22

Clint Bowyer

Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

17

32

Ross Chastain

Melon Man Brand Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

18

16

Austin Dillon

Dow Salutes Veterans Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

19

15

Matt DiBenedetto

RED KAP/Menards Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

20

37

Daniel Suarez

Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota

Toyota/Toyota

Running

21

34

J.J. Yeley

GREENLIGHT Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

22

40

BJ McLeod

Koolbox Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

23

33

Quin Houff

Mane 'n Tail Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

24

28

Garrett Smithley

AXELE.COM Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

25

39

Josh Bilicki

Insurance King Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

26

25

Joey Gase

Red Rock Secured Ford

Ford/Ford

Running

27

18

William Byron

Liberty University Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Running

28

6

Denny Hamlin

FedEx Express Toyota

Toyota/Toyota

Accident

29

38

Timmy Hill

ROOFCLAIM.COM Toyota

Toyota/Toyota

Running

30

3

Alex Bowman

ChevyGoods.com/Adam's Polishes Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Accident

31

20

Chris Buescher

SunnyD Ford

Ford/Ford

Accident

32

12

Ryan Blaney

Menards/Atlas Ford

Ford/Ford

Damaged 

33

23

Erik Jones

STANLEY Security Toyota

Toyota/Toyota

Accident

34

14

Ryan Newman

Oscar Mayer Ford

Ford/Ford

Accident

35

26

Brennan Poole

Spartan Mosquito Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Damaged 

36

24

Ricky Stenhouse

Kroger Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Damaged 

37

4

Justin Allgaier

Ally Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Accident

38

8

Martin Truex Jr.

Auto Owners Insurance Toyota

Toyota/Toyota

Accident

39

31

Corey LaJoie

Trump 2020 Ford

Ford/Ford

Accident

40

36

Ryan Preece

Kleenex Chevrolet

Chevrolet/Chevrolet

Accident

 

Conclusion:

Last year, the Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard took place for a 400-mile distance on an oval measuring 2.5 miles. From this year, the race will be for a distance of 200 miles. It will be held on a combined road course. Naturally, fans are waiting with bated breath to experience the race in this new format!

 

 


Smoke, Stripes, and Speed: NASCAR's Most Iconic Traditions
Racing with Respect: Unraveling the Etiquette of Motorsports
Virtual Velocity: The Rise of Esports in Car Racing
Uncovering the Remarkable Safety Features in Formula 1 Cars
Rainy Day Speedsters: The Art of Car Racing on Wet Surfaces
Driver's Mind: Mental Strategies for Success in Car Racing
Beyond Boundaries: Navigating the Edge of Speed and Control