Drivers have their reasons for why they love racing at the Brickyard, but in past years their love for the track and its prestige hasn't necessarily produced the exciting brand of racing NASCAR fans have come to expect.

There's reason to think when the green flag waves shortly after 2 p.m. today, this year's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard could be a bit different and possibly more fan friendly, but drivers aren't necessarily embracing it.

Stacks of shredded tires after Saturday's practice sessions prove Indianapolis Motor Speedway is tough on stock-car tires, and maybe more so now than in years past.

Nobody in the Sprint Cup Series knows Indy better than Jeff Gordon. He's the only driver to win four Brickyard races and has led more laps than any other driver. He says tire wear is always an issue at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but this year the issue is pronounced.

Gordon's advice for today's race: slow down.

“This track is very abrasive, and our cars are tough on tires,” Gordon says. “It's the first time here with the new car, so we know we're going to see a little bit of extra wear. It's typical. It's a little bit extreme and something we're going to have to monitor and watch but not anything we're totally caught off-guard by.

“(NASCAR) will probably do some competition yellows to monitor it early during the race. We'll evaluate those sets of tires, and that'll give us an idea of how hard we can push. There's not a lot we can do setup-wise. All you can do is just slow down.”

Typically the driver with the best car wins at Indy due to several factors, including the track's length, absence of banking and narrow width. Competition yellow flags and slower speeds could even the playing field, forcing drivers to stay bunched up longer and reconsider their strategy.

Pole sitter Jimmie Johnson already has some things figured out.

“This racetrack is probably one of the worst for us being as narrow and flat as it is,” Johnson says. “Great facility, tons of history and all positive things about this racetrack, but when you run single-file the first car has the best air, and on back it gets worse and worse.

“You'll hear a lot about being tight, a lot about track position. I predict more than what you've heard in the past. This car seems to be more sensitive to that stuff. We're proud of where we're starting. That's why I put so much effort into starting up front …”

Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton says the tire issue isn't new, that NASCAR understands it and has enough tires to get through the race, but several drivers and their teams remain skeptical.

One look at the steel belting showing through used tires in Dale Earnhardt Jr's garage on Saturday could serve notice to other drivers that Gordon's advice might get them through the race. If so, driver skepticism could breed fan optimism.