INDIANAPOLIS — Travis Peterson, crew chief for Michael McDowell, highlighted the importance of Indianapolis during a mid-July discussion with NBC Sports’ Dustin Long. This was not an exaggeration.
“I just want to stay within … five points, 10 points getting to Indy road course time, and (I’ll) feel like we got them right where we want them,” Peterson told NBC Sports.
McDowell proved his crew chief correct with a dominant performance at Indianapolis. He led the most laps, won a stage and scored a race-high 19 stage points. He also recovered from losing the lead to Daniel Suarez on pit road.
Chase Elliott finished second while Suarez ended the day third after an unexpected issue on pit road. Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five.
LOCKED INTO THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN!@Mc_Driver and @Team_FRM are ready. pic.twitter.com/gcUejdd014
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 13, 2023
McDowell is now playoff-bound for the second time in his Cup Series career after a career-best performance, one that he delivered in his 453rd start. He gets to compete for a championship once again, and he will do so mere days after learning that he will return to Front Row Motorsports for the 2024 season.
One big difference between the win at Indianapolis and the Daytona 500 win was the post-race celebration. McDowell’s family was not present at Daytona in 2021, but they were on hand at Indianapolis.
“It’s such a big deal,” McDowell told NBC Sports’ Marty Snider about his family being part of the celebration. “Winning the Daytona 500 was one of the coolest moments you could ever have, but going to victory lane without your family, that was tough.
“So, we cherry pick. My family comes to the races we think we can win. We thought we could win this one. I’m just so proud.”
Michael McDowell’s win on the Indianapolis road course puts Bubba Wallace on the playoff cutline with two races left in the regular season.
Driver points report
Wallace has a 28-point lead on Daniel Suarez, a 49-point lead on Ty Gibbs and an 80-point lead on both Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman.
Martin Truex Jr. remains the points leader. He has a 60-point lead on Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin.
Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski are in position to clinch a playoff spot next weekend at Watkins Glen.
Sunday’s race saw drivers from seven different countries, including the U.S. Many of the drivers had limited or no previous Cup experience.
Shane van Gisbergen, who won the Chicago race in his Cup debut last month. Finished 10th in his second race despite not feeling well earlier in the day.
#NASCAR … Shane van Gisbergen finished 10th. He talked about his day and the contact on the track. pic.twitter.com/fR4UWjqYz5
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) August 13, 2023
Brodie Kostecki had to start in the rear instead of his 11th qualifying spot after going to a backup car because of a crash in qualifying. He finished 22nd.
#NASCAR … @supercars points leader Brodie Kostecki finished 22nd in his Cup debut after going to a backup car. He says “I hope to do it again.” pic.twitter.com/MAnmK4YpcK
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) August 13, 2023
Mike Rockenfeller placed 24th for Legacy MC. He’ll be back in the No. 42 car next week at Watkins Glen.
#NASCAR … Mike Rockenfeller finished 24th for Legacy MC. He talked about his day at Indy. pic.twitter.com/XHrAqm9NL4
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) August 13, 2023
Kamui Kobayashi finished 33rd in his Cup debut, driving for 23XI Racing.
#NASCAR … Kamui Kobayashi finished 33rd in his Cup debut but says “I want to come back.” pic.twitter.com/iVDzpPlZgA
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) August 13, 2023
Also, Jenson Button was 28th. The other international driver is full-time Cup driver Daniel Suarez, who placed third in Sunday’s race and remains outside a playoff spot.
Michael McDowell spent much of this season sitting above the playoff cutline on points. He fell to three points below the cutline after the race at Michigan, but now he has a secure spot in the playoffs.
With McDowell winning from below the cutline, he has shaken up the bubble with two races remaining in the regular season.
Bubba Wallace now sits in the final playoff spot with a 28-point advantage over Daniel Suarez. He entered the weekend with a 58-point advantage over the cutline, but he missed out on stage points while Suarez scored 17.
Ty Gibbs, who entered the weekend three points above the cutline, now has ground to make up. He finished 12th after getting spun early in the race, and he fell to 49 points below the cutline.
Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman both delivered top-five finishes, but they are in must-win situations. They are both 80 points back of the final playoff spot.
Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick still sit in solid positions with two races remaining. Harvick is 145 points above the cutline. Keselowski is 143 above the cutline.
Three spots in the playoffs remain after Michael McDowell claimed his.
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 13, 2023
Bubba Wallace currently holds the last spot with two races left. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/YzyyrWKOzV
Michael McDowell won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after leading a race-high 54 laps.
Click here for where everyone finished at Indianapolis.
Click here for the cumulative race report.
Click here for the penalty report.
For the first time in the Next Gen era, Michael McDowell has won a Cup race.
The 2021 Daytona 500 winner officially punched his ticket to the playoffs by delivering a career performance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He led a race-high 54 laps, and he won the opening stage.
McDowell also held off the active leader in road course wins to punch his ticket to the playoffs. Chase Elliott did everything he could during the final stage to chase down the No. 34, but he could not get within two seconds before the white flag flew.
Elliott used aggressive moves to cut the lead to less than one second on the final lap, but he just could not get to McDowell’s bumper. The veteran driver avoided mistakes, and he held off the 2020 Cup champion at the Brickyard.
REPOST to congratulate @Mc_Driver!
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 13, 2023
Michael McDowell conquered Daytona in 2021, and now he conquers Indianapolis! 🏁🏁 pic.twitter.com/TW9zzHqfMp
Michael McDowell is seven laps away from winning on the road course at Indianapolis, which would be his second career win.
McDowell’s previous win came in the 2021 Daytona 500.
McDowell leads Chase Elliott by 2.1 seconds.
Daniel Suarez is third, 7.4 seconds behind McDowell.
Michael McDowell has pulled a little further ahead of Chase Elliott with 12 laps to go.
McDowell leads Elliott by 2.908 seconds.
Daniel Suarez is third, running 6.362 seconds behind McDowell
Tyler Reddick is fourth, running 7.255 seconds behind McDowell
Alex Bowman is fifth, running 21.077 seconds behind McDowell.
Chase Elliott trails leader Michael McDowell by 2.3 seconds with 15 laps to go in Sunday’s Cup race on the Indy road course.
A win gets McDowell into the playoffs. Elliott also needs a win to get into the playoffs.
Daniel Suarez continues to run third.
Michael McDowell continues to lead with 60 of 82 laps complete.
McDowell entered the race three points out of a playoff spot.
Chase Elliott, who needs a win to make the playoffs, is running second. He’s about 3 seconds behind McDowell.
Pole-sitter Daniel Suarez is running third. He’s more than 8 seconds behind McDowell after losing time on that last pit stop.
Tyler Reddick runs fourth and Brad Keselowski is fifth.
Shane van Gisbergen is running 12th. Brodie Kostecki is running 19th.
50 of 82 laps are complete. Shane van Gisbergen leads in the middle of a green flag pit cycle but he has to pit soon.
The big issue happened to Daniel Suarez’s team.
He came on to pit road second to Michael McDowell and ahead of Chase Elliott.
Suarez left behind them after the air hose got stuck on the left side of the car. The team’s jackman had to come back around to the left side to get the car up so the air hose could be cleared. That’s cost Suarez plenty of time.
He entered this race outside a playoff spot.
Michael McDowell is leading at Lap 40 of 82 on the Indy road course.
Here’s a look at those who have scored the most points in the first two stages:
19 points - Michael McDowell
17 points - Daniel Suarez
14 points - Chase Elliott
11 points - Tyler Reddick
10 points - Kyle Busch
10 points - Denny Hamlin
7 points - Brad Keselowski
7 points - Kyle Larson
6 points - Alex Bowman
4 points - Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin won the second stage in Sunday’s Cup race on the Indy road course.
Hamlin did not pit in either stage and used that to move into the lead.
Top 10 order and those scoring points in the second stage:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Michael McDowell
3. Daniel Suarez
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Chase Elliott
6. Kyle Busch
7. Tyler Reddick
8. Alex Bowman
9. Chase Briscoe
10. Kyle Larson
Michael McDowell won the opening stage in Sunday’s 82-laps race.
Here are the top 10 drivers scoring stage points:
1. Michael McDowell
2. Daniel Suarez
3. Chase Elliott
4. Tyler Reddick
5. Kyle Larson
6. Kyle Busch
7. Christopher Bell
8. Alex Bowman
9. Shane van Gisbergen
10. Martin Truex Jr.
Michael McDowell, who entered today’s race three points out of the final playoff spot, took the lead on Lap 6.
Ty Gibbs is running outside the top 20 after contact from Shane van Gisbergen spun him. Gibbs entered the race holding the final playoff spot.
Contact with Joey Logano sent Justin Haley into the tire barriers in Turn 6 on the second lap of the race.
In a separate incident, Kamui Kobayashi spun after contact from behind.
Daniel Suarez leads. Tyler Reddick is second, followed by Michael McDowell, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson.
Two cars will start at the rear for today’s Cup race on the Indy road course.
Brodie Kostecki, who qualified 11th, will go to the rear after going to a backup car. He hit the wall in qualifying.
William Byron will start at the rear because he was not allowed to qualify. His car failed inspection three times on Saturday. He also will have to do a pass thru penalty after taking the green flag.
