Indy 500 post-qualifying tidbits

– There are four former Indianapolis 500 winners in the starting field: Buddy Lazier (1996), Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005). Between them they have five victories. The record for most former winners in the field is 10, in 1992. The fewest, other than the inaugural race in 1911, is zero in 1912.
– Dan Wheldon has led 204 career laps in the Indianapolis 500, more than any other driver in this year’s field. Tony Kanaan is the only other driver in the field who has led more than 200 career laps in the Indianapolis 500. Kanaan has led 202 laps.
– There is a combined 104 previous Indianapolis 500 starts among the 33 drivers in this year’s field. The record is 260 years of experience, set in 1987 and 1992. There were 160 years of combined experience in last year’s field.
– The oldest driver is Marty Roth, 49. The youngest qualifier is Graham Rahal, 19.
– This is the 10th-closest matched field by time in Indianapolis 500 history. 5.3748 seconds separate fastest qualifier Scott Dixon and slowest qualifier Marty Roth. The record is 3.2422 seconds set in 2001.
– Troy Ruttman became the youngest Indianapolis 500 winner when he won the 1952 race at age 22. Ruttman started the 1952 race from the seventh position. Marco Andretti will start the 2008 Indianapolis 500 from the seventh position. Marco Andretti is 21.
– Buddy Lazier qualified for his 16th Indianapolis 500. This will be his first start from the Last Row. Previously, his lowest starting position was 28th in 2004.
Lazier is the most experienced driver in the field, with 15 previous Indianapolis 500 starts. The record is 35, set in consecutive years from 1958-1992 by A.J. Foyt.
– Eleven rookies have qualified for the Indianapolis 500, the most since 13 in 1997. This year’s rookies are Hideki Mutoh, Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson, Alex Lloyd, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Will Power, Oriol Servia, E.J. Viso, Mario Moraes, Enrique Bernoldi and Jaime Camara. Mutoh is the fastest rookie at 223.887 mph.
– In addition to the 11 rookies in the race, there are two drivers (Townsend Bell, Bruno Junqueira) who did not start in last year’s race.
– There are nine graduates of Firestone Indy Lights in the field. They are Marco Andretti, Jaime Camara, Ed Carpenter, A.J. Foyt IV, Alex Lloyd, Hideki Mutoh, Graham Rahal, Marty Roth and Jeff Simmons.
– If a driver is going to win the Indianapolis 500, he or she will most likely do it in either their third or fourth start, based on past results. Thirteen drivers won for the first time in their third start, and 13 drivers won for the first time in their fourth start. The 2008 Indianapolis 500 will be Danica Patrick's fourth Indianapolis 500.
– The 2008 Indianapolis 500 will be Tomas Scheckter's seventh Indianapolis 500 start and his seventh start from the fourth row. Scheckter is starting the 2008 race from the 11th position.
– Townsend Bell qualified a career-best 12th for the Indianapolis 500. He qualified 15th in his only other start in 2006.
– Darren Manning qualified a career-best 14th for the Indianapolis 500. His previous best was 15th in 2004 and 2007.
– Davey Hamilton qualified 18th, his best start since starting 11th in 1999. Hamilton started 20th, 26th and 28th in his last three Indianapolis 500s (2007, 2001 and 2000, respectively).
– Milka Duno qualified 27th, bettering her rookie effort of 29th last year.