NASCAR returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend with Saturday’s Lilly Diabetes 250 and Sunday’s main event, the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400.
The legendary 2.5-mile oval has played host to the Monster Energy Cup Series since 1994 and the Xfinity Series since 2012.
As NASCAR returns to the home of the Indianapolis 500, there’s a bit of an anomaly to consider.
Kyle Busch comes into this weekend seeking his first NASCAR Cup win since his triumph in last year’s Brickyard 400.
But wait, there’s more:
* Busch actually has won the last two Brickyard 400s.
* Busch also has won the last two Xfinity Series races – and three of the last four – at IMS.
* That means Busch comes into this weekend riding a four-race winning streak at Indy.
* Busch has also won the last two Xfinity races on the 2017 season schedule (Kentucky two weeks ago and last Saturday at New Hampshire).
Here’s the weekend schedule at IMS:
(All times Eastern)
FRIDAY, JULY 21
9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
1 – 1:55 p.m. – First Xfinity practice (NBC Sports App)
3 – 3:55 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (NBC Sports App)
SATURDAY, JULY 22
6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
9 – 9:55 a.m. – Cup first practice (CNBC)
9 a.m. – Xfinity garage open
11 – 11:55 a.m.—Final Cup practice (CNBC)
12:45 p.m. – Xfinity qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds) (NBCSN)
2:15 p.m. – Xfinity driver/crew chief meeting
3 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
3:30 p.m. – Lilly Diabetes 250 Xfinity race (100 laps, 250 miles) (NBCSN, IMS Radio/PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
6:15 p.m. – Cup qualifying (multi-vehicle, three rounds) (NBCSN, IMS Radio/PRN)
SUNDAY, JULY 23
9 a.m. – Cup garage open
12:30 p.m. – Driver/crew chief meeting
1:50 p.m. – Cup driver introductions
2:30 p.m. – Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 (160 laps, 400 miles) (NBC, IMS Radio/ PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)