Four winners, 42 entries in 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 field

Four past winners and four IZOD IndyCar Series champions are among the drivers named to the 42 entries filed for the 2011 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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