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Doyel: 2016 Brickyard 400 — a race no one saw

Clark Wade/IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS — The umbrella has my attention. It’s red and enormous, big enough to shade two people under it, and big enough to block the view of 10 or 15 fans behind it. But it’s not blocking anybody. Because there aren't any fans — not within 20 feet of the umbrella. None to the left, none to the right, none behind that big red thing.

The umbrella is in Indianapolis Motor Speedway's grandstands. The Brickyard 400 finish line is so close, I’m counting the individual bricks as I approach the umbrella.