Indy 500 Starting Grid: Will Power and Drivers Equipped to Win Historic Race

The 2012 edition of the Indianapolis 500 is sure to be one of the most memorable in history.

When the engines fire Sunday afternoon, a handful of accomplished drivers will take the track in hopes of either building on their impressive resumes or adding their name to the list of Indy champions. 

Here are three drivers equipped to wind up in victory lane at Indy this weekend:

Will Power

Australian Will Power will be looking to win his first Indy 500 this weekend, and there's no reason why he shouldn't be in the running for first in the race's final moments. Power will take off from fifth place on Sunday and look to challenge the leaders.

Power is emerging as one of the best talents in the sport and has a quick car based on how well he qualified for the race. 

Helio Castroneves

Brazilian racer Helio Castroneves will be gunning for his fourth career win at Indy this weekend; he last won in 2009 after repeating at the legendary track in 2001 and 2002. Castroneves will start right alongside Will Power in sixth. 

Castroneves can join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as only the fourth driver in history to have won at Indy four times in their career. 

Dario Franchitti

The two-time Indy 500 champion is just one year removed from conquering the field of 33 in 2010. In 2007, Franchitti won a rain-shortened Indy 500, but he got to drink the famous milk nonetheless. Franchitti will start towards the middle of the pack in the No. 16 spot.

Franchitti is well equipped to join Helio Castroneves as the only active driver with three Indy 500 victories on Sunday.

2012 Indy 500 Starting Grid With Lap Averages (courtesy of IndyStar.com):

1. Ryan Briscoe, 4 Lap Average: 226.484

2. James Hinchcliffe, 4 Lap Average: 226.481

3. Ryan Hunter-Reay, 4 Lap Average: 226.240

4. Marco Andretti, 4 Lap Average: 225.456

5. Will Power, 4 Lap Average: 225.422

6. Helio Castroneves, 4 Lap Average: 225.172

7. Josef Newgarden, 4 Lap Average: 224.037

8. Tony Kanaan, 4 Lap Average: 224.751

9. E.J. Viso, 4 Lap Average: 224.422

10. Rubens Barrichello, 4 Lap Average: 224.264

11. Alex Tagliani, 4 Lap Average: 224.000

12. Graham Rahal, 4 Lap Average: 223.959

13. Ana Beatriz, 4 Lap Average: 223.920

14. Charlie Kimball, 4 Lap Average: 223.868

15. Scott Dixon, 4 Lap Average: 223.684

16. Dario Franchitti, 4 Lap Average: 223.582

17. James Jakes, 4 Lap Average: 223.482

18. J.R. Hildebrand, 4 Lap Average: 223.422

19. Takuma Sato, 4 Lap Average: 223.392

20. Townsend Bell, 4 Lap Average: 223.134

21. Justin Wilson, 4 Lap Average: 222.929

22. Michel Jourdain, 4 Lap Average: 222.893

23. Simon Pagenaud, 4 Lap Average: 222.891

24. Sebastian Saavedra, 4 Lap Average: 222.811

25. Sebastien Bourdais, 4 Lap Average: 223.760

26. Wade Cunningham, 4 Lap Average: 223.258

27. Oriol Servia, 4 Lap Average: 222.393

28. Ed Carpenter, 4 Lap Average: 222.324

29. Mike Conway, 4 Lap Average: 222.319

30. Katherine Legge, 4 Lap Average: 221.624

31. Bryan Clauson, 4 Lap Average: 214.455

32. Simona de Silvestro, 4 Lap Average: 214.393

33. Jean Alesi, 4 Lap Average: 210.094

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