 | |
 | |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Location | Speedway, Indiana, United States |
| Corporate sponsor | Royal Dutch Shell |
| First race | 2012 |
| Distance | 250 miles (400 km) |
| Laps | 100 Stage lengths TBA |
| Previous names | Indiana 250 (2012–2013, 2019) Lilly Diabetes 250 (2014–2018)[1] |
| Most wins (driver) | Kyle Busch (4) |
| Most wins (team) | Joe Gibbs Racing (4) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Toyota (4) |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
The Pennzoil 250 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2012. It takes place the Saturday of Kroger Super Weekend.[2][3] This race replaced the Kroger 200, which had been held at the nearby Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park, for the previous 30 years. Brad Keselowski won the inaugural event.
For 2016, as part of the Xfinity "Dash for Cash" format, the race was 250 miles in total, but two 20-lap heat races, similar to the Can-Am Duel, was to be added to be run prior to the 60-lap main event. In 2017, the race would not continue the heat races and instead use the new stage format with stages 1 and 2 being 25 laps each, and stage 3 being 50 laps. In addition, the event would not be a Dash for Cash event and that has been moved to Phoenix's Spring event. In late-June 2017, due to drivers saying that they could go easily 25 laps on tires and fuel, NASCAR increased the length of stages 1 and 2 from 25 laps to 30 laps each, with the final 40 laps making up Stage 3.
On January 15, 2020, new track owner Roger Penske announced that the race will move from the oval to the track's infield road course; Penske had purchased the track in late-2019. Despite the switch, the NASCAR Cup Series' Brickyard 400 continued to race on the oval,[4] although the Cup race did move to the road course the next season. Royal Dutch Shell took over as title sponsor of the race, renaming it the Pennzoil 150 after their Pennzoil brand.[5]
On March 26, 2020, as part of changes to the 2020 IndyCar Series schedule to account for the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that the series' GMR Grand Prix—an IMS road course race typically held as a prelude to the Indianapolis 500—would be postponed to July 4, 2020, and form an IndyCar/NASCAR double-header with the Pennzoil 150.[6][7]
On September 28, 2023, it was announced that the Cup and Xfinity Series races at Indianapolis would return to the oval in 2024, reviving the Brickyard 400 and the Pennzoil 250.[8]
- ^ "INDY NATIONWIDE RACE GETS NEW SPONSOR, NAME". NASCAR. July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ "Super Weekend At The Brickyard Coming To IMS in July 2012". IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com. July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ^ "Brickyard Schedule". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^ Albert, Zack (May 15, 2020). "Indianapolis Motor Speedway to run road course for NASCAR Xfinity Series race". NASCAR. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Indianapolis XFINITY race to be sponsored by Pennzoil; race details set". Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 4, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Indy road course set for July 4 NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader". NASCAR.com. March 26, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ "Could Tony Stewart attempt four races during the Brickyard weekend? 'Get me the good rides'". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ "Indianapolis Motor Speedway returning to oval layout for NASCAR in 2024". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2024.