NASCAR Indianapolis predictions 2024: Expert picks for Cup Series Brickyard 400 race

The NASCAR Cup Series makes the necessary return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for Sunday's Brickyard 400.

The Cup Series shifted from the oval to the IMS road course after the 2020 season after 27 years of racing on one of the world's most prestigious oval race tracks.

Only three drivers entered into Sunday's race have won on the 2.5-mile rectangular oval (Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson). None of the three factor into The Tennessean's picks for Sunday's race.

Here are The Tennessean's expert picks for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race in Indianapolis:

NASCAR predictions for Cup Series Indianapolis race: Here's who wins Brickyard 400

Mike Organ's pick: Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Larson warmed up at the Indy 500 in May giving him an edge on the rest of the field on the oval Sunday at the Brickyard 400. With three wins already this season Larson is braced to move to the top of the points standings the week.

Tom Kreager's pick: Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford

Blaney and Denny Hamlin had the best cars at Pocono last week. I think that translates well to Indianapolis in the return to the oval. And let's be honest, Blaney drives for Roger Penske, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Blaney needs a good showing.

Nick Gray's pick: Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford

Roger Penske will want his race teams to excel at his track. Logano has the best track record among the Penske drivers at the IMS oval, and he has started to turn the corner in 2024 with four top-six finishes in the last seven races.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Pocono predictions 2024: Expert picks for Cup Series race