Newman has history at Indy -- but little success

It's the dream of every young racecar driver in the Midwest: winning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"Indianapolis is THE racetrack as far as history goes," said Indiana-born Ryan Newman. "It is truly an honor to get to race where so many incredible drivers have raced and won.

"The track is especially special to me because it's in my home state. I remember going there and watching races as a kid with my family and even watching the first open NASCAR test session there [in 1993]."

Fast facts
What Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
When 2 p.m. ET Saturday
TV ESPN, 1 p.m. ET
Radio MRN (Sirius Ch. 28), 1 ET

• Track Page | Tickets | Travel
• By the Numbers: IndyNewman's next opportunity to race and win at Indy is Sunday. The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will be the 15th NASCAR race at the fabled track.

Newman seemingly couldn't have found himself in a better position to chase victories at the Brickyard than with Penske Racing. For the past seven years, he has driven for the most successful owner in the track's 99-year history: Roger Penske has dominated the Indianapolis 500 for the past 37 years with 14 wins since 1972.

But that success hasn't translated to Cup races at the Brickyard. Newman's best finish came in 2002, when he qualified fifth and finished fourth. It is his only top 10 in seven races.

"I've been close to winning a pole there, and I have had some good runs there. But Indianapolis is a track that has bit us in the past," said Newman, who cited performance issues in his decision to leave Penske Racing at the end of the season. "Despite that, I look forward to going back there. To me, this is the second biggest race of the season. We won the Daytona 500, which I think is the biggest race of the year, and we would love to get another big win at Indianapolis."

Newman's rookie teammate, Sam Hornish, has won at Indy. He gave Penske his record-extending 14th victory in the Indy 500 in 2006. Even with previous success at IMS on his resumé, Hornish will face a steep challenge in his first stock car start at the Brickyard.

"I love racing at Indianapolis," Hornish said. "Flat tracks have not been our strong suit this season, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a flat track. I can't think of a better place to turn that around than at Indy."

For 2003 Brickyard winner Kevin Harvick, racing at Indy was something reserved for open wheel heroes of his youth. That includes fellow Bakersfield native and four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears.

"I grew up an open wheel fan and a huge fan of Rick Mears and always wanted to race in the Indy 500," Harvick said. "Winning at Indianapolis was pretty special, and every time we go there it's just the history and the mystique of the whole racetrack that I enjoy. You've got the old covered grandstands, just everything about Indy is just neat for everybody."

Two Indy 500 winners are entered. In addition to Hornish, 2000 winner Juan Montoya will be in the field. Montoya is the only driver in the field to have run in three major events at IMS. He also ran in the Formula One United States Grand Prix from 2001 through 2006. He finished second in his only NASCAR start at Indy in 2007.