Verizon IndyCar Series: Complete Preview and Prediction for the Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500.
Those three simple words have meant the pinnacle of motor racing not just in the U.S. but around the world.
It's the race that most people look forward to each year in its annual renewal on Memorial Day weekend.
This year's race is particularly special, in that it's the 99th running of what has come to be known over the last 60 years: The Greatest Spectacle In Racing.
While the 100th Indy 500 will be arguably one of the most special in the race's existence, winning the 99th also will mean a great deal to whoever takes the checkered flag first.
This year's race has perhaps the strongest field of drivers in at least the last five or more seasons. While big names like Dario Franchitti, Jacques Villeneuve and NASCAR driver Kurt Busch won't be in the field, there's few weaknesses from top to bottom in the 33-driver grid.
While weather could be a factor in Sunday's race—and don't forget, Indianapolis Motor Speedway does not have lights—let's hope for a turn in the right direction for the forecast as well as for the driver who goes on to win the most important race in their life.
By the Numbers: Indianapolis Motor Speedway/Indy 500
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Indianapolis 500
Place: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Date: Sunday
Time: 12 p.m. (ET)
TV: ABC, 11 a.m. (ET)
Radio: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Distance: 200 laps, 500 miles (2.5-mile track)
Defending Indy 500 winner: Ryan Hunter-Reay
Youngest Indy 500 winner: Troy Ruttman in 1952 (born March 11, 1930—22 years, two months, 18 days).
Oldest Indy 500 winner: Al Unser Sr. in 1987 (May 29, 1939—47 years, 11 months, 26 days).
Defending Indy 500 pole winner: Ed Carpenter, 231.067 mph
Most Indy 500 poles: Rick Mears (Six—1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1991)
TRACK NOTES:
- Mario Andretti is the only race car driver to win the Indy 500 (1969), Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula 1 championship (1978).
- Most Indy 500 wins by a driver: Four each by AJ Foyt, Unser and Rick Mears
- Danica Patrick, now driving in NASCAR, became the first woman in history to lead the Indy 500 (led three times for 19 laps) in 2005.
- Race record (fastest): Tony Kanaan, 2013, 187.433 mph
- Qualifying record: Arie Luyendyk, 1996, 237.498 mph
- There have been 98 Indianapolis 500 races to date. This year's race is the 99th edition. The 2016 race will be the 100th.
- The first Indy 500 was hosted in 1911, with Ray Harroun as the winner. The race was suspended from 1942-1945 because of World War II.
- Eight rookies have won the Indy 500, the most recent being Helio Castroneves in 2001.
Key Storylines
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Fourth for Helio? Castroneves can put himself in a very unique class if he wins Sunday's Indy 500. Castroneves has won the Greatest Spectacle in Racing three times. If he wins Sunday, he would join Foyt, Mears and Unser as the only drivers to have won the prestigious race four times.
No Hinch: James Hinchcliffe continues to recover from serious injuries in a crash during practice this past Monday. Hinchcliffe, who many considered as a potential winner in Sunday's race, will be sidelined for several months if not for the remainder of the season.
Super-sub Briscoe? Speaking of Hinchcliffe, Ryan Briscoe will substitute for his injured friend. Briscoe had a familiarization course Thursday and handled the Schmidt Peterson Racing open-wheeler quite well, particularly considering he hasn't raced an Indy Car in 2015. If Briscoe can finish in the top 10, it would be a good story. If he wins, it would go down in 500 annals as one of the greatest stories in the race's legendary history.
Annual Andretti angst? Ever since Mario Andretti won the 500 in 1969, no other member of the Andretti clan has ever gone on to Victory Lane at Indianapolis. Third-generation racer Marco Andretti, grandson of Mario and son of Michael, will once again make his bid to win at Indy. He's come close several times, but no one remembers you unless you win, right?
Safety: With Josef Newgarden, Carpenter, Castroneves and Hinchcliffe all having crashed during practice over the last two weeks, there could be a potentially heightened safety concern in this year's race. Will the cars stay stuck to the track with the new aero package? Will drivers be a bit more cautious and careful and not make risky moves because of what's happened thus far this month at Indy?
Drivers to Watch
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Graham Rahal: It's been a fairly good season thus far for Graham Rahal. While he hasn't won a race, he still comes into Sunday's race ranked fifth in the points, just 27 points behind series leader Juan Pablo Montoya. Plus, when your father is a former Indy 500 winner (Bobby Rahal, 1986 as a driver and 2004 as a team owner when Buddy Rice won), there's a family tradition the younger Rahal would like to continue.
Jack Hawksworth: It's been a very rough year for Jack Hawksworth thus far. He's mired in 20th place in the Indy Car Series, despite driving for the legendary Foyt. In talking with another fellow reporter, Ralph Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Hawksworth could surprise Sunday.
Takuma Sato: Another driver in the Foyt stable, Takuma Sato has improved as a driver but is still mired in 17th place in the IndyCar standings. Foyt likes Sato's talent and ability, but he'll have his work cut out for him, starting on the inside of Row 9 (25th position).
Tony Kanaan: The Brazilian won the 2013 Indy 500 in one of the most memorable and emotional finishes and Victory Lane celebrations I've ever seen. Tony Kanaan won for KV Racing in 2013 but is in the much better financed and experienced Chip Ganassi Racing camp for this year's race. There's been very little vibe about Kanaan thus far this month—and that's the way he likes it. The more he can fly under the radar, the less he's expected to pull off a surprise. But trust me, Kanaan is definitely a guy who likes surprises, especially when they're wins in a race like the 500.
Juan Pablo Montoya: JPM is off to a great start this season, having led the IndyCar points standings since his victory in the season-opening race at St. Petersburg, Florida. Montoya spent seven seasons in NASCAR before returning to the IndyCar circuit in 2014. Given the way he's performing this season, not to mention he won the Indy 500 in 2000, it would not be a surprise whatsoever to see him become the right Juan in Victory Lane on Sunday.
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Favorites
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Scott Dixon: The pole-sitter and 2008 Indy 500 winner prevented Team Penske from sweeping the front row and also stopped a Penske streak of eight consecutive poles (dating back to the last three races of 2014). Scott Dixon has Chip Ganassi Racing power behind him. If he can get out to an early lead and have good pit stops, he potentially could win his second career 500.
Helio Castroneves: Will the sixth time finally be the charm for Castroneves? His third and last 500 win came in 2009. Will his sixth try to win a record-tying fourth 500 title finally come through Sunday? I definitely like his chances.
Ryan Hunter-Reay: Last year's Indy 500 winner is looking to make it two in a row, a task that is much easier said than done. He'll start on the inside of Row 6 and could be mired in traffic early in the race. But if he can have some sparkling pit stops, particularly in the latter half of the race, Hunter-Reay could indeed win a second straight 500.
Marco Andretti: Will the third-generation racer finally break the curse? Andretti has had several strong runs and could potentially celebrate the 46th anniversary of his grandpa's win in the 500 with one of his own.
Will Power: How can you not include the defending IndyCar season champ from 2014, especially since Power is in the middle of the front row? One of four drivers in the Penske stable for the first time in that organization's history, Power is like Andretti in the 500: He's been close but is still seeking his first win there.
Dark-Horse Pick: Simon Pagenaud
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Team Penske and its leader, Roger Penske, have never had four teams in the 500.
But The Captain (Penske) thought so highly of Simon Pagenaud that he ultimately decided to put the Frenchman in a fourth car for the 500.
Thus far in May, Pagenaud has been one of the most talked about drivers at Indy.
And certainly, his starting position on the outside of the front row—right next to teammate Power—speaks even more about his potential to win in this race.
While Pagenaud may be a dark horse to win, he also has the talent—and especially, the team—to carry him to Victory Lane.
And the Winner Is: Helio Castroneves
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Call me a sentimentalist, but the time has come for Castroneves to win that elusive fourth 500 title.
One of the friendliest and classiest drivers in motorsports, Castroneves belongs in the most elite class of drivers there has ever been—Foyt, Mears and Unser—the only drivers to win the 500 four times each.
Let's face it: Castroneves is getting up in years, having just turned 40 on May 10.
While he may still run a number of more times in the 500, this could potentially be his last best chance to win it.
And if he does win, I guarantee there'll be more tears shed in Indy than milk spilt over his head after pulling into Victory Lane.
Follow me on Twitter @JerryBonkowski
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