Fast Facts: NASCAR at the Indy 500

This weekend marks one of the most exciting weekends in auto racing, as two of the sport’s biggest races take place: IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR Sprint Cup’s Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In addition to being held on the same day, there have been other similarities throughout the years – here’s a few of the

connections.

• Three drivers have attempted “Double Duty” – running both races in the same day: John Andretti, Robby Gordon, and Tony Stewart. Only Stewart has completed all 1,100 miles, finishing 6th at Indy and 3rd at Charlotte in 2001.
• In the 1960s and early 1970s the races were held on different days, allowing more NASCAR drivers to make an attempt at Indy. Those drivers included Bobby and Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, and Lee Roy Yarbrough.
• A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti hold the distinction of being the only drivers to win the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500.
• John Andretti is back at Indy in 2011, racing for Andretti Autosport (cousin Michael’s team) in conjunction with Richard Petty.
• In 1965, the Wood Brothers were hired as the pit crew for Jim Clark for the Indy 500 thanks to their innovations on the pit stop; Clark won that race.