Indy 500 raceday notes

The crowd is making its way into IMS

It's about 10 a.m. here at IMS. Below, are a few notes to help get you ready for today's Indy 500:

***Our math says the fuel windows will be somewhere in the range of 30-33 green flag laps

***In terms of fuel-mileage, we expect Honda to the advantage over Chevy by about 1.5-2 laps per stint.

***The window for the final pit stop open on lap 167. Theoretically, if someone is saving fuel it could be sooner. But 167 seems to be the number.

***Should it come into play our math says the green-flag pit delta is somewhere between 24 and 26 seconds.

***If you remember last year's race went green for the first 153 laps. A lot of drivers have said they plan to be patient in the early going. If that's the case, expect a long green-flag stint early on.

***Three drivers to watch in the back of the field:

Takuma Sato makes a move down the inside of Dario Franchitti on lap 200 of the 2012 Indianapolis 500

Takuma Sato

Sato, of course, started the 2012 race 19th and charged through the field before crashing in turn 1 attempting to pass eventual winner Dario Franchitti on the final lap. While the aggressive Japanese driver has struggled so far this season, we all know Sato is as fast as anyone when's he on. He posted the fifth fastest time in Friday's Coors Light Carb Day final practice, and will start today's race 24th.

Sage Karam

As a rookie last year, Sage Karam started 31st and without the assistance of any caution flags was ran in the top-10 during much of the third stint before falling down the order. Karam then charged back through the field again to finish 9th.

While the Nazareth, PA native has struggled in his three IndyCar races this season and had a disappointing qualifying, he is clearly comfortable here at the Speedway. Karam will roll off 21st today.

The very distinct #24 Robert Graham Chevrolet

Townsend Bell

Last, you'll have no problem recognizing the eye-catching livery on Townsend Bell's #24 Robert Graham Dreyer and Reinbold Racing Chevrolet. Bell started 25th last year and was running second, when he crashed coming out of turn 3 on lap 192.

In short, with Sato, Karam and Bell, you have three drivers who have shown the ability to charge through the field here at Indianapolis. And while getting to victory lane will be difficult for all three, you have to imagine one, if not more all of them will be heard from before the day is done. Bell starts today's race 23rd.

Brian C. reporting for IMS