LITTLE ROCK — Profiles of the 33 drivers in today’s Indianapolis 500, in starting order with age, hometown, engine, race team and biographical information (w-former winner; rrookie; all chassis Dallara): ROW 1 RYAN BRISCOE, 30, Sydney, Australia; Chevy, Team Penske Won pole by narrowest margin in 500 history - 9.168 inches. Has fininished 5th, 14th, 7th and 25th this season. Has been among top six in points each of past four years but never won title.
BEST INDY FINISH 5th in 2007 (Started 26th, finished 27th in 2011) JAMES HINCHCLIFFE, 25, Toronto; Chevy, Andretti Autosport Replaced Danica Patrick at Andretti in January and is off to fast start. Finished 4th at St. Pete, 6th at Birmingham, 3rd at Long Beach and 6th at Brazil despite leading only two total laps in those races and is third in points. Had seven top-10s last season.
BEST INDY FINISH Started 13th and finished 29th as Indy rookie in 2011.
RYAN HUNTER-REAY, 31, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Chevy, Andretti Started in No. 41 car and from 33rd spot in last year’s Indy 500 after failing to qualify in his No. 28 car. Got into race when Michael Andretti and A.J. Foyt buried family rivalry and cut deal to put Hunter-Reay in Foyt’s qualified car. IndyCar series Rookie of Year in 2007. Has five career IndyCar victories and has three victories since April 2008. Fourth in points after finishing 3rd, 12th, 6th and 2nd in 2012.
BEST INDY FINISH Finished 6th in 2008, earning Rookie of Year honors ROW 2 MARCO ANDRETTI, 24, Nazareth, Pa.; Chevy, Andretti Still chasing family’s first victory at Brickyard since grandfather, Mario, won in 1969. Father, Michael, has been to Indy’s Victory Lane twice as team owner. Made last year’s race with gutsy four-lap qualifying run on last attempt of Bump Day, knocking out teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay. Ended 77-race winless streak last year by winning at Iowa for second career IndyCar victory.
BEST INDY FINISH 2nd in 2006 WILL POWER, 31, Toowoomba, Australia; Chevy, Team Penske Two-time series runnerup is IndyCar series points leader with three victories after seventh-place finish in season-opener at St. Pete. Won six times in 2011 and tied series single-season record for most poles (8). Making fourth consecutive start from front three rows at Indy, but hasn’t finished higher than fifth.
BEST INDY FINISH 5th in 2009 W-HELIO CASTRONEVES, 37, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Chevy, Penske Only foreign-born three-time 500 winner and 2003 runner-up. Has nine top-10s in 11 career Indy starts. Tied with Rex Mays and A.J. Foyt for second-most career Indy poles (4), trailing only Rick Mears (6). Has won 19 races since moving to IndyCar in 2001 and is second in points in 2012, 45 behind teammate Will Power.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st (2001, 2002, 2009) ROW 3 R-JOSEF NEWGARDEN, 21, Hendersonville, Tenn.; Honda, Sarah Fisher Primary driver for Fisher’s team and youngest starter at Indy. Finished all 190 laps of season’s first two races, finishing 11th and 17th. But after starting second at Long Beach, failed to complete any laps after collision with four-time IndyCar winner Dario Franchitti. Finished 61 of 75 laps at Brazil before another crash forced him to settle for 23rd. Was 2011 Indy Lights champ after winning 5 of 14 races.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st start TONY KANAAN, 37, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Chevy, KV Racing Technology Finished in top six in points every year since 2003, including 2004 when he completed every lap of every race and won series title. Won Indy pole in 2005. Only driver to lead laps in each of first seven starts at Indy.
BEST INDY FINISH Has a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th in 10 starts E.J. VISO, 27, Caracas, Venezuela; Chevy, KV Racing Technology Only Venezuelan starting this year’s 500. Finished season-best eighth at St. Pete and has two top-10s this year (9th at Brazil). Has two top-fives in 69 career IndyCar starts with career-best finish of third at Iowa in 2010. Was Formula One test driver in 2006. Competed in European GP2 Series, winning twice.
BEST INDY FINISH 24th in four starts ROW 4 R-RUBENS BARRICHELLO, 40, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Chevy, KV Racing Two-time Formula One runner-up made jump to IndyCar this season and has joined his pal, Kanaan, as teammate. Started record 322 F1 races, winning 11 times. Americans remember him as man who let teammate Michael Schumacher move past him in final straightaway at 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, per team orders. One of seven drivers in field who have won at Indy - his victory coming at 2002 U.S. Grand Prix with Ferrari.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st start ALEX TAGLIANI, 38, Lachenaie, Quebec; Honda, Bryan Herta Last year’s surprise pole winner returns in No. 98 car that won race with Dan Wheldon last year and with team Wheldon drove for. Switched engines in April, giving up Lotus for Honda. Had six top-10 finishes in 2011 including season-high fourth at Texas and Motegi. Has one career victory in 176 career starts between Champ Car and IndyCar.
BEST INDY FINISH 10th in 2010 GRAHAM RAHAL, 23, New Albany, Ohio; Honda, Chip Ganassi Son of 1986 race winner Bobby Rahal became youngest winner in IndyCar history (19 years, 93 days) when won IndyCar debut in 2008 at St. Pete. Hasn’t won in 49 races since that victory at St. Pete. Qualified fourth and seventh for Indy in 2009 and 2010.
BEST INDY FINISH 3rd in 2011(5 starts overall) ROW 5 ANA BEATRIZ, 27, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Chevy, Andretti Autosport Highest qualifier of three women drivers in this year’s field. Spent 2008 and 2009 competing on Indy Lights circuit, becoming first woman to win in series - at Nashville in 2008. Won Indy Lights Rising Star Award in 2008. Finished fifth in South American Formula 3 points in 2006 and won three times in Brazilian Formula Renault Series in 2003-2005.
BEST INDY FINISH 21st in 2010 and 2011 CHARLIE KIMBALL, 27, Camarillo, Calif.; Honda, Chip Ganassi Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2007 and wears device that monitors blood-glucose level during races. Became prominent part of 2011 finish when J.R. Hildebrand tried to avoid his slowing car in final turn of last lap, starting memorable crash. Coming off career-best eighth at Brazil.
BEST INDY FINISH 13th in 2011, first and only start W-SCOTT DIXON, 31, Auckland, New Zealand; Honda, Chip Ganassi Currently sixth in IndyCar standings. Ganassi drivers have won past four points titles, would have been five if Dixon hadn’t run out of fuel on last turn of last lap of 2007 season finale. Two-time points champ (2003 and 2008). Has 27 career victories in IndyCar and Champ Car.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st in 2008, 6 consecutive top-6 finishes ROW 6 W-DARIO FRANCHITTI, 39, Edinburgh, Scotland; Honda, Chip Ganassi Four-time series champ won third consecutive points title in 2011 after ending illfated NASCAR experiment in 2008. Won four times and claimed two poles in 2011,finishing in top 5 in 13 of 17 races. Has four career starts on Indy’s front row, all in No. 3 spot. Both Indy victories finished under caution. Missed 2003 race after breaking back in motorcycle accident. Married to actress Ashley Judd.
BEST INDY FINISH Two-time Indy winner (2007, 2010) R-JAMES JAKES, 24, Leeds, England; Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Made IndyCar debut last season with 16 starts and best finish of 13th at Motegi. Was bumped out of Indy’s starting field last season. Has finished 26th, 16th, 11th and 15th in first four races this season. One of four English drivers in race. Has competed in British Formula Renault, Formula 3 Euro, GP2 and GP3 series.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st start J.R. HILDEBRAND, 24, Sausalito, Calif.; Chevy, Panther Racing Last year’s Indy 500 Rookie of the Year appeared headed toward victory when disaster struck on final turn of last lap. He skidded across finish line in second place, behind Dan Wheldon. Would have been first American rookie to win race since Louis Meyer in 1928. Finished second in overall 2011 Rookie of the Year standings. Won 2009 Indy Lights title with 4 victories, 5 poles.
BEST INDY FINISH 2nd (2011) ROW 7 TAKUMA SATO, 35, Tokyo; Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Former Formula One driver jumped to IndyCar Series in 2010 and has started all 38 races since changing series. Finished 21st in points as rookie, 13th last season with three top-5s and seven top-10s. Now driving for 1986 Indy winner Bobby Rahal. Career-best finish at Indy was third at F1’s 2004 U.S. Grand Prix.
BEST INDY FINISH 20th in 2010 TOWNSEND BELL, 37, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Honda, Sam Schmidt Making his season debut at Indy for fourth consecutive year. Indy Lights rookie of the year in 2000 and series champion in 2001. Drove in former CART series in 2002 and Formula 3000 in 2003 before joining IndyCar in 2004. Had three top-10 finishes in 2008.
BEST INDY FINISH 4th in 2009 JUSTIN WILSON, 33, Sheffield, England; Honda, Dale Coyne Racing English driver rejoined Dale Coyne’s team in offseason. Got only IndyCar victory in 2009 at Watkins Glen, driving for Dale Coyne, and has 19 top-10s since then. Is tallest driver in IndyCar Series at 6-3.
BEST INDY FINISH 7th in 2010 ROW 8 MICHEL JOURDAIN JR., 35, Mexico City; Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Making first open-wheel start since 2004. In 1996, became youngest driver to start Champ Car race (19 years, 6 months and 12 days) in debut at Long Beach. Made 152 starts in the CART/Champ Car series between 1996 and 2004, winning twice in 2003 with Bobby Rahal’s team. Drove in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in 2005-2008 and NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series in 2006.
BEST INDY FINISH 13th in 1996, only start R-SIMON PAGENAUD, 28, Poitiers, France; Honda, Schmidt-Hamilton Driving the No. 77 car that sat on pole in 2011. Finished second in last year’s 12 Hours of Sebring and Le Mans 24 Hours. Had six top-5s in 14 starts in only Champ Car season (2007) and was eighth in points that year.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st start SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA, 21, Bogota, Colombia; Chevy, Andretti Autosport Started 32nd at Indy two years ago. Made 15 starts in 2011 with season-best 11th at Brazil. Indy Lights Rookie of Year in 2009, finishing third in points. Returned to Indy Lights Series this year and already has won two poles and finished third, first and second in first three races of season. Also competed in Indy Lights Freedom 100 on Friday, finishing fifth.
BEST INDY FINISH 23rd in 2010 ROW 9 SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS, 33, Le Mans, France; Chevy, Dragon Racing Had 5 top-10s in 9 IndyCar starts last season, finishing sixth three times. Driving for Jay Penske this year. Won 31 of 73 races during five-year Champ Car career includingfour consecutive titles. Also has competed in F1 and SuperLeague Formula.
BEST INDY FINISH 12th in 2005, only start R-WADE CUNNINGHAM, 27, Auckland, New Zealand; Honda, A.J. Foyt Second Kiwi to qualify for this year’s race, joining Dixon. Like Barrichello, has won at Brickyard, just not in 500. Is only three-time winner of Indy Lights’ Freedom 100 and became first two-time winner in 2009. Started only three races in IndyCar’s developmental series in 2010. Indy will be his season debut.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st start ORIOL SERVIA, 37, Pals, Spain; Chevy, Panther-Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Qualified for race on Bump Day after crash on warm-up lap in qualifying on Pole Day. Qualified third, finished sixth and led 18 laps at Indy in 2011. Had 11 top-10s last season. Won Indy Lights title in 1999. Was Champ Car runner-up in 2005. Made late switch to Dennis Reinbold’s team after Newman-Haas decided not to run full-time schedule in 2012.
BEST INDY FINISH 6th in 2011 ROW 10 ED CARPENTER, 31, Indianapolis; Chevy, Ed Carpenter Racing Butler graduate and stepson of former speedway executive Tony George qualified in backup car last weekend after crashing hard during Pole Day attempt. Won first IndyCar race in October driving for fellow Butler alum Sarah Fisher. Made 10 starts in 2011 with Fisher’s part-time team. Has 29 top-10 finishes and 1 career pole in 117 IndyCar starts. Making first Indy start as owner-driver.
BEST INDY FINISH 5th in 2008, 8 career starts MIKE CONWAY, 29, Bromley, England; Honda, A.J. Foyt Suffered back injury during last-lap crash in 2010 and missed the remainder of the season. Failed to qualify at Indy last year. Earned first IndyCar victory at Long Beach in 2011. Took over Foyt’s famed No. 14 car this season and has been solid, with season-best seventh at Alabama, one of two races he’s not had mechanical problems this year. Had qualified on Pole Day but was bumped near end of first segment and had to requalify on Bump Day.
BEST INDY FINISH 18th in 2009 R-KATHERINE LEGGE, 31, Guildford, England; Chevy, Dragon Racing Was first woman to win major open-wheel race in North America, driving in Toyota Atlantics in 2005. Was first woman to compete in Champ Car. Following merger between Champ Car and IndyCar, returned to Europe as factory driver in DTM touring-car series. Had six top-10 finishes in 28 Champ Car starts in 2006-2007.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st start ROW 11 R-BRYAN CLAUSON, 22, Noblesville, Ind.; Honda, Sarah Fisher Was fast in practice but had rough start to qualifying, crashing on fourth and final lap of first attempt on Pole Day. Team rebuilt car overnight and Clauson requalified next day at much slower speed than he had been posting. Owns 55 career wins in other series including 23 in USAC, once key feeder program into IndyCar BEST INDY FINISH 1st start SIMONA DE SILVESTRO, 23, Thun, Switzerland; Lotus, Lotus-HVM Racing Has been slow all month and finally topped 210 mph when Indy gave engines a power boost. Became fan favorite at Indy last year with courageous qualifying run, driving with burned hands sustained in frightening, fiery practice crash two days earlier. Second woman to win in Atlantics and five career victories are most by woman in Atlantics history.
BEST INDY FINISH 14th in 2010 R-JEAN ALESI, 47, Avignon, France; Lotus, Journe-Fan Force United Oldest rookie in Indy history is almost 13 months older than previous recordholder (Jack Hewitt). Made 201 career starts in Formula One but did not drive on Brickyard’s 2.5-mile oval until this month. Competed in DTM touring car series in 2002-2006 after retiring from F1, winning four times in five seasons. Competed in Speedcar stock car series in Middle East and Far East in 2008-2009. Was second in Le Mans Series in 2010.
BEST INDY FINISH 1st start
Sports, Pages 26 on 05/27/2012