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Allstate 400: Five drivers to watch

By BRANT JAMES
Published August 7, 2005

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TONY STEWART

CAR: No. 20 Chevrolet.

STARTING POSITION: 22nd.

BEST FINISH: Fifth (2004, 2000).

NOTES: Indiana native wants to win so badly here it drives him (sorry) to distraction. Remember the 2002 photographer-pushing incident? Second in points and a winner of three of the past five races this season, he is primed to fulfill a dream.

JEFF GORDON

CAR: No. 24 Chevrolet.

STARTING POSITION: 7th.

BEST FINISH: First (2004, 2001, 1998, 1994)

NOTES: Shares the track record with four wins with open-wheel heavyweights A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. At 15th in points, he needs a top-five finish as much as a win to rekindle his title hopes.

DALE JARRETT

CAR: No. 88 Ford.

STARTING POSITION: 24th.

BEST FINISH: First (1996, 1999).

NOTES: The veteran always seems in contention at Indy, and finished second last year. His five consecutive top-20 finishes have vaulted him into the top 10 in points.

RUSTY WALLACE

CAR: No. 2 Dodge

STARTING POSITION: 41st.

BEST FINISH: Second (2002, 2000, 1995).

NOTES: He never has won here, but is incredibly consistent, averaging a finish of 8.9 in 11 starts and had finished in the top 10 nine times at the Brickyard.

KEVIN HARVICK

CAR: No. 29 Chevrolet.

STARTING POSITION: 14th

BEST FINISH: First (2003).

NOTES: Three top-10s in four starts (and 11th as a rookie), and came from 32nd starting position to finish eighth last season.

[Last modified August 7, 2005, 01:31:12]

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