INDIANAPOLIS — He’s raced here seven times, winning twice. But each time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson pulls into historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he can’t escape the wow factor.

The Brickyard, celebrating its Centennial Era, is equal parts Fenway Park for its history; Lambeau Field for the tradition; Wimbledon for its reverence; Churchill Downs for its wall-to-wall crowds; and Daytona for its speed.

Johnson tried soaking it all in as he arrived this week to defend his Allstate 400 at the Brickyard title on Sunday.

“When you pull on the track, it takes your breath and you’re trying to understand where you’re at and what you’re doing,” Johnson said. “But, when you have a chance to actually race in the event, whether it’s the (Indianapolis) 500 or the Brickyard 400, it’s an amazing experience.

“One of the coolest moments I experienced in the race my rookie season was coming around to take the green flag. And, when you look down the front stretch into turn one, with the fans on both sides of the track and so close, and in the hard turn that it makes, that spectacle and that view is just amazing. It’s just like a 90-degree turn down the end of this tunnel full of color. It’s really special.”

NASCAR began racing at the home of the Indianapolis 500 in 1994, and some of the sport’s greatest names have kissed the bricks after winning, including Jeff Gordon (four times), Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Tony Stewart (twice) and Johnson in 2006 and last year, when he won from the pole.

Next to the Daytona 500, it’s NASCAR’s most prized event. And one of its most challenging, especially last year, when Johnson and the rest of the field had to endure poorly designed tires that kept exploding on the Brickyard’s asphalt.

Goodyear put new tires through rigorous testing for Sunday’s race, so all the drivers have to worry about are negotiating the nuances of the 2.5-mile speedway.

“The track is tricky,” Johnson said. “Clouds blow over, it changes the track dramatically, and speed and how the car handles. All four corners are different and technical. The true character of that track shows up and the challenge of that track presents (itself) to everybody who shows up.

“I did not realize that the straightaways were that long and the corners were that tight, especially in a stock car. There’s a fair amount of braking that’s needed to get through turns one and three, and it took me by surprise.

“For a lot of years, it’s haunted me. But, here, the last couple times, it’s been good to me.”

Indeed, Johnson has used performances at the Brickyard 400 to move up the standings and position himself for his three Chase for the Sprint Cup championships.

Johnson, winner of two races this season, is sitting in third place, 212 points behind leader Tony Stewart, who has alternated with Johnson in winning the Brickyard during the last four years, winning it in 2005 and 2007.

Johnson, coming off an eighth-place finish at Chicago and a second at Daytona in his last two races, can draw from his experiences from winning the last three championships in preparing for the 10-race Chase that begins Sept. 20.

“We’re really doing things right,” Johnson said. “Lot of speed in our cars … still made a few mistakes on pit road, which I have to quit doing and taking ourselves out of contention at times. I think as a whole, we are in great shape. It really boils down to those 10 races. Our world as a team and driver changes in those 10, and right now we are all just trying to make sure that our pit stops are right … our cars are right … trying to get wins for those 10 bonus points.

“When you get in to those final 10 races … the pressure, I mean every lap you make on the track, you are worried about the ultimate goal. Qualifying, race, every pit stop. It is just a different feel to it. I’m not in that mode yet. We’ll be ready for it when September gets here.”

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