Brick by brick.
You can’t tell the tale of American racing without the Brickyard. It’s the epicenter of all that is good and holy in the state, a living catacomb that injects vigor into onlookers the world over.
So what happens when that iconic surface gets scrapped? Or better yet, repurposed? Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be converted into a maze on Sunday, replete with a host of harrowing turns. Road courses are nothing to play with. And although the speed should be diminished, the intrigue will not; especially with just three races left before playoffs.
So, who has the advantage? Only time will tell. But one way or another, it will be chaotic. And that’s all NASCAR fans can hope for as the regular season nears its end.
MORE: Watch the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard live with Fubo (free trial)
The Sporting News is tracking live updates from this year’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard. Follow along below for the highlights and live results as NASCAR treks to Nap City one last time this year.
NASCAR at Indianapolis live updates, highlights from 2023 race
(All times Eastern)
4:51 p.m.: Allmendinger goes twirling into the dust. However, he straightens himself up and reaches minimum speed.
4:40 p.m.: No. 34 car working its way through the lap cars as he seeks his first Cup Series win of the season. Just 11 laps to go.
4:31 p.m.: McDowell holding firm in the front. Just 16 laps remaining, but it’s already been quite the day for the No. 34 car. All he needs now is a win.
4:23 p.m.: Busch having some issues. He’s headed to pit road now. That will drop him down the rankings a bit.
4:08 p.m.: Horrendous pit stop for Suarez, who is going to fall back massively. Reddick, who was seconds behind the No. 99, ends up getting himself back to contention. The No. 99 team will be kicking itself.
4:07 p.m.: Race leaders heading to pit road. 34 laps remaining, but things should get interesting. Can anyone gain an edge away from the track?
4:04 p.m.: Elliott’s out in front at the moment. However, it looks like the No. 9 car’s lead is slipping. Suarez puts a serious bump on Elliott to displace him, sending him into the grass. Might’ve been excessive contact there. Then again, this is for the playoffs.
3:53 p.m.: Things not looking good for Wallace. A P15 finish would represent a solid return for the 23XI star. However, with McDowell, Elliott and Suarez 1-2-3 and having earned stage points, that gap between Wallace and the rest of the pack gets that much smaller.
3:47 p.m.: McDowell takes the lead as Hamlin and Keselowski head to pit road. 45 laps to go, but it’s been a wonderful day for the No. 34 car thus far.
3:44 p.m.: Final lap of Stage 2. No caution flag will be waved, meaning that Hamlin and Keselowski are running low on fuel. Suarez is pushing hard, as is McDowell. Keselowski and Hamlin are missing corners left and right, but it will be Hamlin who takes the stage win. Elliott and Suarez are making their way up the totem pole, though.
3:43 p.m.: Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski have filtered their way to the front. Looks like they’re both seeking that all-important playoff point reward that stage winners receive.
3:39 p.m.: A.J. Allmendinger goes spinning after a bit of contact with Ryan Blaney. Sounds like the No. 16 will be gunning for the No. 12 if he gets the chance.
3:35 p.m.: Stage 2 going much the way of Stage 1 at the moment. Suarez and McDowell thrashing back-and-forth as they attempt to take hold of first-place. At the moment, it’s Suarez with the lead. With six laps remaining in the stage, though, anything can happen.
3:20 p.m.: Bit of a frustrating day for Logano, who suffered through a second on-track incident in Stage 1. He’s back in P33.
3:15 p.m.: Smooth racing from road course savant Michael McDowell carries him to a crucial Stage 1 win. Suarez finishes second, followed by fellow playoff hopeful Chase Elliott in third. van Gisbergen reels in a solid ninth-place showing in the first period of the race.
2:51 p.m.: CAUTION! Joey Logano gets into Justin Haley, sending him flying into the tire barrier. Gnarly collision for the No. 31 car. Things already getting testy and we’re only two laps in!
Joey Logano into Justin Haley!
Haley INTO the tire barrier!
Watch #NASCAR on @NBC. pic.twitter.com/nq659ibENP
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 13, 2023
2:49 p.m.: We’re under green at Indianapolis! Suarez and Tyler Reddick spearheading the squad to start.
2:41 p.m.: Shane van Gisbergen looking to secure win No. 2 of his Cup Series career. First race back since that famous victory at Chicago. He starts today’s race in P10.
2:35 p.m.: Speaking of playoffs, Bubba Wallace has his first-career playoff appearance in his sights. All he needs is an okay showing at IMS — road courses have long been his kryptonite, but he did snag a top-five finish here this time last year.
2:25 p.m.: American propaganda machine churning as always as we approach the start of today’s race. As expected.
2:15 p.m.: Big day for Daniel Suarez, who finds himself in the front of the pack to start Sunday’s race. Sitting on the outside looking in of playoff contention, Suarez is in desperate need of a win. He’s a noted road course enthusiast, having secured numerous top-five finishes amongst the chaos. He’ll need to do one better today as he attempts to make a last-gasp play at the postseason.
What channel is the NASCAR race on today?
The Verizon 200 will be broadcast on NBC in the United States. Canadian viewers can follow the action on TSN5.
MORE: Updated points, scenarios as drivers chase Cup Series championship
Veteran broadcaster Rick Allen will lead NBC’s coverage, serving as the race’s lap-by-lap announcer. He’ll be joined in the booth by Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte.
Fans can watch online via Peacock or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
NASCAR start time today
- Date: Sunday, Aug. 13
- Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Sunday’s race has a 2:30 p.m. ET listed start time, but pre-race activities are expected to push the waving of the green flag to 2:45 p.m. ET.
NASCAR at Indianapolis starting lineup 2023
| Starting pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing |
| 3 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 4 | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 6 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 7 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 8 | Shane Van Gisbergen | 91 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 9 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 10 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 11 | Brodie Kostecki | 33 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 12 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 13 | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 14 | Corey Lajoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
| 15 | Justin Haley | 31 | Kaulig Racing |
| 16 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | 17 | RFK Racing |
| 18 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
| 19 | Bubba Wallace | 19 | 23XI Racing |
| 20 | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske |
| 21 | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 22 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK Racing |
| 23 | Todd Gilliland | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 24 | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 25 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 26 | A.J. Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
| 27 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 28 | Kamui Kobayashi | 67 | 23XI Racing |
| 29 | Andy Lally | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 30 | Ryan Preece | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 31 | Jenson Button | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 32 | Josh Bilicki | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports |
| 33 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 34 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 35 | Ty Dillon | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
| 36 | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 37 | Mike Rockenfeller | 42 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 38 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 39 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |