Four winners, 42 entries in 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 field
Eighty-three cars comprise the 42 entries, the most entries since 2002. It's the third consecutive year with at least 40 entries on the list. It's also the eighth consecutive year in which the number of entries has climbed or held steady.
Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (2007, 2010) leads the list of past winners, which also includes Helio Castroneves (2001-02, 2009), Scott Dixon (2008) and Dan Wheldon (2005). Franchitti will attempt to become just the 10th driver to earn at least three Indianapolis 500 victories, while Castroneves is trying to become just the fourth four-time winner in the illustrious history of the race, joining A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.
Series champions include Dixon (2003, 2008), Franchitti (2007, 2009, 2010), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Wheldon (2005).
Thirty-five drivers have been named to the 42 entries filed this year for the 33 starting spots in "The Most Important Race in History." This guarantees plenty of dramatic action on both qualifying days, Pole Day on Saturday, May 21 and Bump Day on Sunday, May 22.
The 2010 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to start at noon (ET) Sunday, May 29 and will be broadcast live by ABC, the IMS Radio Network and XM 145/Sirius 212. Opening Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, which also will feature the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Celebration of Automobiles.
There is outstanding depth and quality in this year's field. Besides four past race winners and four series champions, 18 of the 35 drivers named to entries have won at least one race in either IZOD IndyCar Series or Champ Car World Series/CART competition.
Five drivers comprise a strong rookie crop: IZOD IndyCar Series rookie regulars JR Hildebrand, James Hinchcliffe, James Jakes and Charlie Kimball, and Jay Howard.
Plenty of young talent that recently advanced through the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system also will be on display, as the field includes three of the last five Firestone Indy Lights champions – Howard (2006), Raphael Matos (2008) and Hildebrand (2009). Other recent Firestone Indy Lights graduates on the entry list include Marco Andretti, Ana Beatriz, Ed Carpenter, Kimball, Graham Rahal and Sebastian Saavedra.
Three women were among the drivers named to entries: 2005 Chase Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick, 2010 Chase Rookie of the Year Simona De Silvestro and Beatriz.
Andretti Autosport is involved in five entries, more than any other team. The team, which won the 2005 and 2007 Indianapolis 500, filed four entries and is co-entrant along with NASCAR legend Richard Petty on another entry.
DRIVERS (35)
Former race winners (4): Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009), Dan Wheldon (2005), Dario Franchitti (2007, 2010), Scott Dixon (2008).
Former pole winners (4): Bruno Junqueira (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003, 2007, 2009, 2010), Tony Kanaan (2005), Scott Dixon (2008).
Rookies (5): JR Hildebrand, James Hinchcliffe, Jay Howard, James Jakes, Charlie Kimball.
Youngest: Sebastian Saavedra, 20.
Oldest: Davey Hamilton, 48.
Most previous starts: John Andretti, 11.
2011 INDIANAPOLIS 500 ENTRY LIST
(Car, Driver, Hometown, Car Name, Entrant)
2, Oriol Servia, Pals, Spain, Telemundo Newman/Haas Racing, Newman/Haas Racing
2T, Oriol Servia, Pals, Spain, Telemundo Newman/Haas Racing, Newman/Haas Racing
3, Helio Castroneves (W), Sao Paulo, Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske, Team Penske
3T, Helio Castroneves (W), Sao Paulo, Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske, Team Penske
4, J. R. Hildebrand (R), Sausalito, Calif., National Guard Panther Racing, Panther Racing
4T, J. R. Hildebrand (R), Sausalito, Calif., National Guard Panther Racing, Panther Racing
5, Takuma Sato, Tokyo, KV Racing Technology – Lotus, KV Racing Technology – Lotus
5T, Takuma Sato, Tokyo, KV Racing Technology – Lotus, KV Racing Technology – Lotus
6, Ryan Briscoe, Sydney, Izod Team Penske, Team Penske
6T, Ryan Briscoe, Sydney, Izod Team Penske, Team Penske
7, Danica Patrick, Roscoe, Ill., Team GoDaddy, Andretti Autosport
7T, Danica Patrick, Roscoe, Ill., Team GoDaddy, Andretti Autosport
8, TBA, Dragon Racing, Dragon Racing
8T, TBA, Dragon Racing, Dragon Racing
9, Scott Dixon (W), Auckland, New Zealand, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing
9T, Scott Dixon (W), Auckland, New Zealand, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing
10, Dario Franchitti (W), Edinburgh, Scotland, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing
10T, Dario Franchitti (W), Edinburgh, Scotland, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing
11, Davey Hamilton, Nampa, Idaho, HP/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
11T, Davey Hamilton, Nampa, Idaho, HP/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
12, Will Power, Toowoomba, Australia, Verizon Team Penske, Team Penske
12T, Will Power, Toowoomba, Australia, Verizon Team Penske, Team Penske
14, Vitor Meira, Brasilia, Brazil, ABC Supply Co A. J. Foyt Racing, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
14T, Vitor Meira, Brasilia, Brazil, ABC Supply Co A. J. Foyt Racing, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
16, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
16T, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
17, Raphael Matos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc., AFS Racing
17T, Raphael Matos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc., AFS Racing
18, James Jakes (R), Leeds, England, Acorn Stairlifts, Dale Coyne Racing
18T, James Jakes (R), Leeds, England, Acorn Stairlifts, Dale Coyne Racing
19, TBA, Boy Scouts of America, Dale Coyne Racing
19T, TBA, Boy Scouts of America, Dale Coyne Racing
22, Justin Wilson, Sheffield, England, Z-Line Designs/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
22T, Justin Wilson, Sheffield, England, Z-Line Designs/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
23, Paul Tracy, Scarborough, Ontario, WIX Filters/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
23T, Paul Tracy, Scarborough, Ontario, WIX Filters/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
24, Ana Beatriz, Sao Paulo, Team Ipiranga/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
24T, Ana Beatriz, Sao Paulo, Team Ipiranga/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
26, Marco Andretti, Nazareth, Pa., Team Venom, Andretti Autosport
26T, Marco Andretti, Nazareth, Pa., Team Venom, Andretti Autosport
27, Mike Conway, Bromley, England, Team GoDaddy.com, Andretti Autosport
27T, Mike Conway, Bromley, England, Team GoDaddy.com, Andretti Autosport
28, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Boca Raton, Fla., Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda, Andretti Autosport
28T, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Boca Raton, Fla., Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda, Andretti Autosport
30, Bertrand Baguette, Verviers, Belgium, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
30T, Bertrand Baguette, Verviers, Belgium, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
34, Sebastian Saavedra, Bogotá, Colombia, Conquest Racing, Conquest Racing
34T, Sebastian Saavedra, Bogotá, Colombia, Conquest Racing, Conquest Racing
36, TBA, Conquest Racing, Conquest Racing
36T, TBA, Conquest Racing, Conquest Racing
38, Graham Rahal, New Albany, Ohio, Service Central, Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing
38T, Graham Rahal, New Albany, Ohio, Service Central, Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing
43, John Andretti, Indianapolis, Team Window World, Richard Petty/Andretti Autosport
43T, John Andretti, Indianapolis, Team Window World, Richard Petty/Andretti Autosport
44, TBA, Panther Racing, Panther Racing
44T, TBA, Panther Racing, Panther Racing
57, TBA, Sarah Fisher Racing, Sarah Fisher Racing
59, E. J. Viso, Caracas, Venezuela, PDVSA – KV Racing Technology- Lotus, KV Racing Technology – Lotus
59T, E. J. Viso, Caracas, Venezuela, PDVSA – KV Racing Technology- Lotus, KV Racing Technology – Lotus
67, Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Dollar General/Sarah Fisher Racing, Sarah Fisher Racing
67T, Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Dollar General/Sarah Fisher Racing, Sarah Fisher Racing
77, Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Quebec, Bowers & Wilkins/Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
77T, Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Quebec, Bowers & Wilkins/Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
78, Simona De Silvestro, Thun, Switzerland, Nuclear Clean Air Energy HVM Racing, Nuclear Clean Air Energy HVM Racing
78T, Simona De Silvestro, Thun, Switzerland, Nuclear Clean Air Energy HVM Racing, Nuclear Clean Air Energy HVM Racing
82, Tony Kanaan, Salvador, Brazil, Geico – KV Racing Technology – Lotus, KV Racing Technology – Lotus
82T, Tony Kanaan, Salvador, Brazil, Geico – KV Racing Technology – Lotus, KV Racing Technology – Lotus
83, Charlie Kimball (R), Camarillo, Calif., Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen, Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing
83T, Charlie Kimball (R), Camarillo, Calif., Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen, Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing
88, Jay Howard (R), Basildon, England, Service Central Schmidt-RLL Racing, Sam Schmidt – RLL Racing
88T, Jay Howard (R), Basildon, England, Service Central Schmidt-RLL Racing, Sam Schmidt – RLL Racing
89, TBA, China Racing, China Racing
89T, TBA, China Racing, China Racing
98, Dan Wheldon (W), Emberton, England, Bryan Herta Autosport, Bryan Herta Autosport
98T, Dan Wheldon (W), Emberton, England, Bryan Herta Autosport, Bryan Herta Autosport
99, Townsend Bell, San Luis Obispo, Calif., Herbalife Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
99T, Townsend Bell, San Luis Obispo, Calif., Herbalife Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
06, James Hinchcliffe (R), Toronto, Sprott Newman/Haas Racing, Newman/Haas Racing
06T, James Hinchcliffe (R), Toronto, Sprott Newman/Haas Racing, Newman/Haas Racing
07, Tomas Scheckter, Cape Town, South Africa, Team REDLINE Xtreme – Circle K, KV Racing Technology – SH Racing
07T, Tomas Scheckter, Cape Town, South Africa, Team REDLINE Xtreme – Circle K, KV Racing Technology – SH Racing
TBA, Bruno Junqueira, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, A. J. Foyt Racing, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
TBAT, Bruno Junqueira, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, A. J. Foyt Racing, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
Notes:
— Forty-two (42) entries, eighty-three (83) cars entered
— All cars use Dallara chassis, Honda engines and Firestone tires.
(R) – Indianapolis 500 rookie; (W) – Indianapolis 500 winner