The NASCAR Cup Series is set to return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the second consecutive year, marking a highly anticipated race weekend. After a three-year stint utilizing the track's road course, the return to the traditional 2.5-mile oval in 2024 was met with widespread approval from both drivers and fans.

The weekend schedule is packed with activity. Friday, July 25th, includes practice sessions for both the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series. Saturday features Xfinity qualifying followed by Cup qualifying, and then the Xfinity Series race itself. The main event, the Brickyard 400 Cup Series race, will take place on Sunday, July 27th.

Qualifying for the Brickyard 400 is scheduled for Saturday, July 26th, from 2:35 PM to 3:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on truTV and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The qualifying order for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been released.

NASCAR employs a performance metrics system to determine the qualifying order. This system considers a combination of factors, and separates all vehicles into two qualifying groups. Group 1 consists of vehicles with the higher Performance Metrics Based Line-Up score, while Group 2 consists of vehicles with a lower score. A team representative must be present at the Qualifying vehicle release point when their vehicle is released for a Qualifying attempt. That team representative must scan NASCAR Race Control and have direct radio communications with the driver during a Qualifying attempt.

The qualifying format for oval tracks like Indianapolis Motor Speedway typically involves one round, with each car completing one timed lap.

The Brickyard 400 will be 160 laps, covering a total distance of 400 miles. Stage 1 will end at Lap 50, and Stage 2 will conclude at Lap 100. The race is the final event of the In-Season Challenge, with a $1 million prize awarded to the highest-finishing team. Thirty-second seeded Ty Dillon will face sixth-seeded Ty Gibbs.

Kyle Larson won the Brickyard 400 in 2024 when the race returned to the oval. Riley Herbst, who has since moved to the Cup Series, secured the Xfinity Series victory at Indy in the same year.

NASCAR recently made a rule change regarding the number of entries for a race, now able to limit the number to 40 at its discretion. In such cases, open teams will be determined based on Team Owner Points standings. There are now 30 chartered cars. However, recent adjustments to the rules ensure that all three 23XI Racing entries and all three Front Row Motorsports entries are effectively locked into each race.