Indianapolis Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Ryan Newman – Ryan Newman is a solid performer at Indy. He’s a past champion who’s finished 14th or better in 8 of the last 10 races. Over the last 5 Indy races Newman has the 8th best driver rating, an 8.4 average finish and a 14.2 average running position. Last year at Indy Newman started dead last but came home with an 11th place finish. He had a good car and over the last 30 laps he continually ran 11th or higher. When the checkered flag waved he finished 11th. In 2014 he also finished 11th. Additionally in that race he earned the 12th best driver rating and had a 15th place average running position. In 2013 Newman had a strong car and raced his way to victory lane. In that event he started 1st, finished 1st, earned the second best driver rating, had a 3rd place average running position and led 45 laps. When the green flag waved he led the first 29 laps and then lost the lead during the first pit cycle. In the middle 80% percent of the race he typically ran between 3rd and 8th. In the race he didn’t have the best car but that didn’t stop him from going to victory lane. During his last pit stop his team opted for two tires and nearly everyone else did four. That got him a healthy lead in which he hung on to as Jimmie Johnson was closing the gap rapidly in the closing laps. In 2012 he finished 7th, had a 12th place average running position and earned the 9th best driver rating. In his four Indy races prior to that he had results of 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th. At Pocono earlier this year Newman finished 12th. (Yahoo B Driver)

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Kasey Kahne – Kasey Kahne is a quality dark horse fantasy option at Indy. He’s run extremely well here and has come close to victory lane. At this venue he’s finished in the top five 25% percent of the time, in the top ten 50% percent of the time and in the top thirteen 67% percent of the time. Last year when his team was uncompetitive he just never ran well. He had an 18th place average running position and finished 24th. Leading up to that event he was very successful. In 2014 Kahne had a great car and was a serious threat to win. In the race he earned the 2nd best driver rating, had a 4th place average running position, finished 6th and led a race high 70 laps. He would’ve finished better except late in the race after he lost the lead to Jeff Gordon he faded back in the running order. In 2013 he had one of the strongest cars and was consistent front runner. In the race he finished 3rd and earned the 3rd best driver rating. At Pocono this spring Kahne had one of his better performances this season and finished 6th. (Yahoo B Driver)

Further Recommended Reading – Indy Top Tier Elite Picks

Kyle Larson – Kyle Larson can’t be counted out at Indy. He’s been successful here and is a perfect 2 for 2 in terms of finishing in the top ten. His average finish between his combined races is 8.0. Last year he had a strong showing and was consistent 5th through 10th place performer. When the race reached its conclusion he earned the 6th best driver rating, had an 8th place average running position and finished 9th. In 99.8% percent of the laps completed he ran in the top fifteen. In 2014 when Larson made his series debut at the Brickyard he ran well. He started 15th, had a 9th place average running position, finished 7th and earned the 7th best driver rating. He ran well throughout the event and over the final 100 laps he consistently ran within a few deviations of 7th. Also through pit strategy it should be noted he led 5 laps. Pocono is the most similar track on the schedule and Larson always run well there (9.0 average finish). This spring he finished 11th. (Yahoo B Driver)

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