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Jimmie Johnson among drivers sent to rear of field at Indianapolis

NASCAR.com July 23, 2017 at 9:14 AM

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Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson, a four-time winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will start Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race from the rear of the field.

Johnson had qualified fourth on Saturday evening at the famed 2.5-mile oval, but his No. 48 team had to change a rear gear post-qualifying. That adjustment will send him to the back when the green flag drops today (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App).

The No. 72 team of Cole Whitt also changed a rear gear and will join Johnson in the back. Joey Gase also will start from the rear after an engine swap in his No. 15 Toyota.

Johnson has three wins this season, tied for top in the series with Martin Truex Jr. He is exceptional at the Brickyard, his four wins here the second-most in NASCAR history behind Jeff Gordon. He has finished in the top 15 in all of his past five Indy starts, which includes a win, a runner-up and a third-place finish during that stretch.