DFS Xfinity Series Picks for Indianapolis

The Xfinity Series will join the Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. It has been a while since we have seen the Xfinity Series on the traditional track at Indianapolis. Justin Allgaier won at the Brickyard in 2018 and “Little Gator” nearly beat Kyle Busch in the last race in 2019. This is also the track where William Byron had his breakout when he out-raced Kyle Busch and Joey Logano for the win. This track has had some good races in the past. I expect the same today. The Pennzoil 250 can be seen today at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING AT INDIANAPOLIS

The Xfinity Series had a 50-minute practice session Friday to dial in their cars for today’s race. Indianapolis is a 2.5-mile, rectangular-shaped, flat track. Most of the drivers were able at least a five-lap run in practice so we can combine that data with the stats from the race last week at Pocono to help predict which drivers will run up front today.

* About 15 drivers went out and made a qualifying run at the end of practice and that screwed the lap speeds. I would focus more on the five-lap average speeds for this practice.

Here are the practice speeds for the Pennzoil 250 …

SINGLE-LAP AVERAGE SPEED

STATS TO USE FOR INDIANAPOLIS

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is similar to Pocono Raceway. Turn two (the tunnel turn) at Pocono was designed to replicate the corners at the Brickyard. The drivers who had speed last week at Pocono should be fast this week in Indianapolis. I will be focusing on the stats from last week to predict which drivers should run up front today.

Here are the key stats from the race last week at Pocono….

STRATEGY FOR INDIANAPOLIS

The race today is scheduled for 100 laps (250 miles). That means there are 70 dominator points up for grabs. The trend in the races at Indianapolis is for one driver to lead 30 laps and score 14 fastest laps (13.8 dominator points). Another driver leads 24 laps and scores 14 fastest laps (12.3 dominator points). It would be nice to have both of these dominators in our lineup today, but it is not necessary. We need at least one of these drivers and at least four drivers who can score some place differential points and finish in the top-12.

The drivers with the best chance to score dominator points today includes Cole Custer, Aric Almirola, Justin Allgaier, Riley Herbst and Chandler Smith

The drivers with the best chance to score place differential points include Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Ryan Sieg, Sammy Smith, Parker Kligerman, Matt DiBenedetto,Joe Graf Jr., Kyle Sieg and Brennan Poole

DRIVER RANKINGS FOR INDIANAPOLIS