Tyler Reddick might just be on his way to making history. The 23XI driver is revving up to become the first ever to conquer both the oval and road course at Indianapolis. Having previously won at Indianapolis in 2022, Reddick is eager to repeat his success, but this time on the track’s original oval configuration- which returns after spending three years on the road course. And he’s already set the stage to remain ahead of everyone. After dominating practice and qualifying at Indianapolis, Reddick has secured the pole position, earning the best view of the track for the Brickyard 400.

But that’s not all – besides the track’s return to its former glory, drivers will face another wildcard. The unpredictable Next Gen cars will be making their oval debut. The air is hence thick with speculation. Do you think Tyler Reddick can score his own ‘double’ at Indy? Well, he certainly is confident of adding a crown jewel to his resume.

Tyler Reddick has faith in himself and his team

Tyler Reddick’s pole-clinching performance at Indianapolis marked his second pole of the season, eighth of his career, and first at the iconic Brickyard. Every driver knows that a strong starting position is crucial at Indy, especially with the Next Gen cars’ unique handling characteristics. The new cars corner better, but their aerodynamics behave differently, making the race a track position one. As the Oval celebrates its 30th anniversary since Jeff Gordon’s inaugural win in 1994, one constant remains: the recipe for victory demands a potent blend of speed, strategy, and good fortune

There is no doubt Tyler Reddick has got the pace to win at the Brickyard. His flying lap started from practice and continued into the qualifications. For any driver, conquering Indianapolis is a dream. Reddick has already tasted victory at the Verizon 200 in 2022, but the true holy grail, or the crown jewel as we call it, remains elusive – winning on the iconic oval.

After earning the frontmost seat on track, Tyler Reddick’s uncertainty gave way to growing confidence. He emphasized the positive change he noticed in his team’s morale and dynamic. All in all, Reddick exuded palpable enthusiasm and excitement, which could translate into a historic win for him. He said in a press conference, “I was a little conflicted but recently I can see it in my team and my shop. A lot of individuals that have ran the brickyard for years. They are working on the team. We are excited to return.”

While doing little jumps of excitement, Reddick also acknowledged the broader significance of the event. He said, “I could see it in the fans and honestly in someways myself. It was a different feeling coming here and running the road course than it is when you are on the oval. I’m glad we were able to come back especially on the 30th day of running here. Huge moments have happened here.”

The qualifications were a disappointment for Hamlin’s second driver, Bubba Wallace, who finished in 17th position. However, they proved to be good for the veteran himself, Hamlin, who will start the Brickyard from P2. He will be followed by Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Kyle Larson, making up the top 5. The race at the Brickyard is the most sought-after, and it’s not just because of the history. It’s a strategic track, with electrifying fans, enthusiasm, and a whole package. Who better to tell us about it than the star of Brickyard, Kevin Harvick?

What’s it like to race on the Brickyard?

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Kevin Harvick has kissed the bricks twice in a row, in 2019 and 2020. Technically, he’s the reigning champion of the brickyard oval course. When asked how was the kiss, he said, “Tastes like dirt.” In one of his podcast episodes of Happy Hour, he reminisced about the past and his first Indianapolis victory in 2003. “It’s the closest that I have ever been able to actually explain to people living out your childhood dream. I grew up being a huge Rick Mears fan. I wanted to race Indy cars, I wanted to win the Indy 500, and to go and win the first time in 2003 was the coolest thing ever.”

Also, what is a sport without its fans? According to Harvick, fans are an integral part of the Indianapolis culture. They are one of the biggest reasons for Brickyard being what it is. He said, “There are so many of them (fans) that are ingrained in the city around the race track, and the race track is so much a part of everything the community does. If you don’t know about racing in Indiana, you need to move because you’re not going to fit in,” Harvick further went on to say that Indy fans are the smartest, they understand racing like no one else.

The first man to take the checkered flag on Brickyard had similar views as Harvick. Jeff Gordon shared the moments of that race with ESPN. Overcome with nostalgia, he said, “I’ve never seen that many people show up in support of a test and a race. It was chaos. But it was amazing chaos because you knew you were a part of something really special.” He went on to share how special that experience was for him; “To me, being able to compete there was just unreal and over the top, let alone to go there and actually win the race.”

All the winners would echo the words of these two veterans. This is why Brickyard is so special. And why everyone wants to be on its list of winners. Would it be the favorite Hamlin or Would Tyler Reddick take his momentum past the finish line? We’ll know soon enough.