Indy 500 2015: Breaking Down Race's Top Contenders

The most prestigious IndyCar event of them all is nearly upon us, as the Indianapolis 500 will be run Sunday, May 24. To help you get pumped up for the event, I'll break down some of the top contenders and notable names worth knowing below.

Feel free to crack open a bottle of milk while you read along. 

Scott Dixon

You can't dismiss the pole-sitter. Scott Dixon won this race in 2008, when he also sat on the pole, so he has to be one of the favorites heading into the weekend. 

But he isn't expecting it to be easy.

"The race for the pole is definitely prestigious, but it's not winning the Indianapolis 500," Dixon told The Associated Press (via Fox Sports). "If we could replicate 2008, that would be fantastic, that's the goal. It's very hard to pull that off."

Dixon comes into the race in good form, having won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, finishing third at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and 10th at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. He'll be tough to beat at the Indy 500.

Will Power

The defending IndyCar Series champion has never finished better than fifth at this race, the biggest feather of all for a driver's cap. But after finally ending his long championship drought in an otherwise stellar career, perhaps he can finally win the sport's biggest event. 

Anything less will be a disappointment for Power. 

Helio Castroneves

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Helio Castroneves has conquered this race before. Three times, in fact, and he's also finished in the top 10 in 12 of the last 13 runnings of the Indianapolis 500, compiling nine top-five finishes in that time. 

So, no, you can't ever count him out. And you can bet he'll be gunning for a fourth title, which would tie him with  A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears for the most ever.

It also helps that he has four top-six finishes in his five races this year, and while he doesn't have a win in 2015, he's still in excellent form. You can bet the rest of the field is wary of Castroneves.

Tony Kanaan

Tony Kanaan has two things going for him: He won this race in 2013, and he'll start from the fourth position after a solid qualifying run. Kanaan would have probably preferred Simon Pagenaud hadn't knocked him off the front row, but he still has to be pleased with a solid starting place. 

Ryan Hunter-Reay

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Previous success does not guarantee future results, but the fact that Ryan Hunter-Reay won this race a year ago will give him plenty of confidence heading into this year's event.

Hunter-Reay has really struggled this year, with his best finish of the season being a fifth-place spot at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, so he isn't coming into the event in his finest form. But last year's triumph means you simply can't take Hunter-Reay for granted.

Juan Pablo Montoya

With a win and three other top-five finishes this year, Juan Pablo Montoya hits this race in excellent form. He also triumphed at Indianapolis in 2000 before leaving the IndyCar series for well over a decade. After finishing fifth at the Indy 500 a year ago, Montoya will be looking to replicate his success from 15 years ago.