NASCAR at Indianapolis results: AJ Allmendinger wins chaotic, crash-filled race at The Brickyard

Only three races remain in the regular season of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series, and the margin for error is getting ever thinner for playoff hopefuls who haven't won a race yet this season.

That's true even for Denny Hamlin, who despite having no wins to his name this season entered last week's race at Watkins Glen International as the outright regular-season points leader, guaranteeing him a spot in the postseason. Kyle Larson, with five wins on the season, tied him with 917 points after winning the 2021 Go Bowling at the Glen. Fifteen playoff points are on the line between the two in the last three races of the year.

As it stands now, Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Tyler Reddick are the last three drivers into the 16-man playoff, none of whom has a win on the season. A first-time winner in any of the three remaining regular-season races — barring the three previously mentioned — would knock out Reddick, then Harvick, then Hamlin (assuming he does not retain the points lead). Austin Dillon isn't too far behind Reddick, either.

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It'll be a fascinating sprint to the finish line over the last three weeks of the regular season. With that, Sporting News is tracking live updates and lap-by-lap highlights from NASCAR's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Follow below for complete results from the 82-lap, 200-mile Verizon 200 at The Brickyard.

NASCAR at Indianapolis live updates, highlights from The Brickyard

(All times Eastern)

12:54 p.m.: Reminder that today's race has stage ends on Laps 15, 35 and 82.

12:38 p.m.: Hamlin will likely root for Chase Elliott in the last road course of the season:

The last four road course race winners: Elliott, Larson, Elliott, Larson.

As the @NASCAR Cup Series heads to @IMS' road course for the first time, will the @TeamHendrick drivers continue the trend? pic.twitter.com/QfRL2nadaK

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 15, 2021

12:36 p.m.: The tension is palpable.

Playoff positions are on the line.

Gotta do it big at the Indy Road Course. 😤

1 PM ET on NBC. @DowSports | @BetMGM pic.twitter.com/tw1vJATJJK

— RCR (@RCRracing) August 15, 2021

NASCAR start time today

• Time: 1 p.m. ET (TV time)
• TV channel: NBC (TSN 3, 5 in Canada)
• Live stream: NBCSports.com | fuboTV (7-day free trial)

The green flag for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2.439-mile road course is scheduled to drop at 1:13 p.m. ET.

Weather conditions should be ideal. The National Weather Service's forecast for Sunday afternoon at the track calls for sunny skies and a high temperature near 80 degrees.

NASCAR starting lineup at Indianapolis

Here is the complete starting lineup for NASCAR's race at Indianapolis, the Verizon 200 at The Brickyard.