There are 36 points races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, but none carry quite the same significance for Team Penske as the Brickyard 400.
After all, this isn’t just another stop on the calendar. It’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the historic venue owned by Roger Penske himself.
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Every driver dreams of kissing the bricks. For Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric, Sunday’s race offers something even more meaningful: the chance to deliver a Brickyard 400 victory to the owner who has built one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations and has become synonymous with Indianapolis.
The challenge won’t be easy. Christopher Bell topped Friday’s practice, while Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and several other contenders also showed impressive speed. But if history is any indication, Team Penske has every reason to believe one of its three drivers could be in the mix when it matters most.
Joey Logano Has Experienced the Highs and Lows of Indianapolis
No Team Penske driver has experienced more extremes at Indianapolis than Joey Logano.
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The three-time Cup Series champion finished runner-up in both 2015 and 2019, proving he knows how to contend at the famed 2.5-mile oval. He also added a fourth-place finish in 2017 and qualified on the pole before finishing 10th during the pandemic-era race in 2020.
The past two Brickyard 400s, however, have been a different story.
Logano crashed out of both events, finishing 34th in 2024 and 32nd last season after separate accidents. Those disappointing results make this weekend an opportunity to reset at one of NASCAR’s crown jewel races.
The veteran driver also enters Indianapolis fresh off his first 2026 win after last weekend’s 280-miler at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
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Ryan Blaney Has Quietly Built a Strong Indianapolis Resume
Ryan Blaney may not own a Brickyard victory, but his recent performances suggest he’s getting closer.
The 2023 Cup champion finished seventh last year and third in the 2024 race. Even earlier in his career, Blaney showed speed at Indianapolis, leading 19 laps during the 2019 event before finishing seventh.
His consistency also continued Friday, when he ranked sixth among drivers in 10-lap average during practice, an encouraging sign for Sunday’s 400-mile race.
With Team Penske searching for a breakthrough at its owner’s home track, Blaney may enter the weekend with the strongest recent Indianapolis résumé on the team.
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Austin Cindric Could Be the Wild Card
Austin Cindric doesn’t have the same Brickyard history as his veteran teammates, but he has already shown he can excel at Indianapolis.
During NASCAR’s years racing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Cindric finished second in the 2022 Cup race after qualifying on the front row. While the oval presents an entirely different challenge, that performance demonstrated his comfort at one of motorsports’ most iconic venues.
Now, he’ll look to translate that success to the Brickyard 400 and give Team Penske another contender on Sunday.
A Brickyard Victory Would Mean More Than Most
Winning the Brickyard 400 is a career-defining accomplishment for any NASCAR driver.
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For Team Penske, though, the stakes are different.
Roger Penske isn’t simply the organization owner watching from atop the pit box. He’s also the steward of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, making this one of the few races where team success and venue ownership intersect.
Whether it’s Logano rediscovering his Brickyard form, Blaney continuing his recent consistency or Cindric delivering a breakthrough performance, Team Penske has three legitimate chances to add another memorable chapter to Roger Penske’s Indianapolis legacy.
On a weekend that means so much to “The Captain,” there may be no trophy the organization wants more.
