Fantasy Fastlane: Will native Hoosier Chase Briscoe get redemption at Indy?

MUST START:
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 9-2
With five consecutive top-two finishes in 2022, Elliott has set himself apart from the rest of the field. In those starts, the No. 9 team has increased its points lead by 89 points (now at 105 with five races remaining in the regular season) and has earned 17 playoff points. And, oh yeah, this rendition of Indy is a road course, where Elliott is a master. He did note earlier this week that he struggled in the inaugural race last season, despite leading 14 laps and finishing fourth.

MUST START:
Chase Briscoe | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 16-1
The No. 14 team has been wildly inconsistent this season, though they show speed on road courses, capturing a stage win at Road America. Given that Briscoe is from nearby Mitchell, Indiana, there will be an extra pep in his step this weekend. He came close last year, in position to win on the final restart. Unfortunately for him, he was penalized for cutting the course in a tight battle with Denny Hamlin.

MUST START:
Austin Cindric | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Through the three road-course races in the Next Gen era, Cindric is one of three drivers to have top-10 results in each of them, along with Elliott and Ross Chastain. He also has more experience than most drivers at the Indianapolis Road Course, running both Xfinity Series races -- and winning last year -- and making his final Cup start of the 2021 season at the venue. It shouldn't shock anyone if the rookie gets his second win of the year on Sunday.

MUST START:
AJ Allmendinger | View stats
Kaulig Racing, No. 16 Chevrolet
Odds: 18-1
Remember how last year's race ended? Sheesh, it was a wild one. It was Allmendinger who was smooching the bricks on the frontstretch, picking up Kaulig's first Cup Series win. Whenever he's in the field at a road course, the California native has a fighter's chance of winning.

SLEEPER PICK:
Daniel Suárez | View stats
Trackhouse Racing, No. 99 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
After winning his first Cup race at Sonoma, Suárez shouldn't be considered that much of a sleeper this weekend. He backed that up with a top-five effort at Road America. And before both of those races, the No. 99 car was the fastest thing in Austin in March before he got shuffled to the rear and lost power steering. This would be an ideal weekend to use Suárez.

SLEEPER PICK:
Michael McDowell | View stats
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Odds: 25-1
When you think McDowell is going to fall off in performance this year, he turns out another top-10 effort. With eight top 10s on the season, 32% of his career top 10s (25) have come in the opening 21 races of 2022. He also knows how to sling a car around any road course, earning finishes of third and eighth in his last two road-course starts. The No. 34 team was docked 100 points earlier this week, but that shouldn't affect his road-course prowess.

SLEEPER PICK:
Chris Buescher | View stats
RFK Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 25-1
This is probably starting to sound a lot like the Road America Fastlane, isn't it? Like McDowell, Buescher has been fantastic on road courses over his last two starts, earning a runner-up finish at Sonoma and sixth at Road America. The only thing Buescher will be chasing this weekend is the checkered flag.

STAY AWAY FROM:
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 16-1
It wasn't long ago that Busch was considered among the best road course racers in the field, always finishing near the top of the scoring pylon. This year, however, the No. 18 has shown little speed, with an average finish of 29th in three starts. Sit Busch this weekend and save him for Michigan.

STAY AWAY FROM:
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Admittedly, Hamlin said at Pocono that Toyota found a touch of speed in its last outing on a road course at Road America. Still, the manufacturer had a best result of 13th with Martin Truex Jr. This will be a common theme in what drivers to stay away from, as I don't expect the No. 11 team to get retribution from its last two trips to Indy.

STAY AWAY FROM:
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 28-1
It's hard to get a grip of the No. 22 team in recent weeks, as Logano has just one finish inside the top 15 since winning at Gateway in early June. He also has just one top-10 result in his last seven starts when turning left and right.

MY LINEUP: Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Suárez
GARAGE: Chris Buescher