Indy 500 2015: Complete Starting Grid, Lineup, Race Schedule and Predictions
There are few greater traditions in auto racing than the Indianapolis 500, and Sunday's 99th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing promises to keep it going strong.
It seems as though there are more contenders than ever before, as at least half of the field appears to have a legitimate chance to take the checkered flag. With so many potential winners gunning for Victory Lane, the 2015 Indy 500 promises to be equal parts exciting and unpredictable.
As one of the most famous sporting events in the world draws closer, here is a full rundown of vital information needed to enjoy the Indianapolis 500 along with predictions for how some of the top drivers in the Indy Racing League will fare.
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Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana
When: Sunday, May 24 at 12:15 p.m. ET
Watch: ABC
Indy 500 Field
| 1 | Scott Dixon | 9 |
| 2 | Will Power | 1 |
| 3 | Simon Pagenaud | 22 |
| 4 | Tony Kanaan | 10 |
| 5 | Helio Castroneves | 3 |
| 6 | Justin Wilson | 25 |
| 7 | Sebastien Bourdais | 11 |
| 8 | Marco Andretti | 27 |
| 9 | Josef Newgarden | 21 |
| 10 | JR Hildebrand | 6 |
| 11 | Carlos Munoz | 26 |
| 12 | Ed Carpenter | 20 |
| 13 | Oriol Servia | 32 |
| 14 | Charlie Kimball | 83 |
| 15 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 2 |
| 16 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 28 |
| 17 | Graham Rahal | 15 |
| 18 | Carlos Huertas | 18 |
| 19 | Simona de Silvestro | 29 |
| 20 | James Jakes | 7 |
| 21 | James Davison | 19 |
| 22 | Alex Tagliani | 48 |
| 23 | Sage Karam | 8 |
| 24 | Ryan Briscoe | 5 |
| 25 | Conor Daly | 43 |
| 26 | Townsend Bell | 24 |
| 27 | Takuma Sato | 14 |
| 28 | Pippa Mann | 63 |
| 29 | Gabby Chaves | 98 |
| 30 | Sebastian Saavedra | 17 |
| 31 | Jack Hawksworth | 41 |
| 32 | Stefano Coletti | 4 |
| 33 | Bryan Clauson | 88 |
Indy 500 Predictions
Winner: Will Power
Will Power is undoubtedly one of the best drivers in the world, as the fact that he claimed the 2014 IRL title makes evident. With that said, he has struggled to solve the Indianapolis 500 although 2015 could possibly be his year.
The Aussie has never finished better than fifth in the Indy 500, and while he is coming off an eighth-place result last season, it has been quite some time since he was a true threat to win it. After qualifying second with a blazing-fast time, though, the 34-year-old veteran is in prime position.
Power finally got the monkey off his back last season by winning the points title after three second-place finishes. While he acknowledges that he has accomplished his main goal, Power also isn't hiding the fact that he wants to kiss the bricks in Indianapolis, according to Brant James of USA Today:
"Obviously, everyone is going to say the Indy 500 is the thing you want. That's it for sure, in this series, the next box to check. ...
To me a championship was always a bigger deal to me. Always. It's the best driver in a number of races. There's no question, really. The best guys always seem to fight for the final championship. Indianapolis is a different story. It's definitely got to be your day.
"
Things have never come together for Power in the Indy 500, but after winning the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in his most recent outing, perhaps the tide is starting to turn in his favor.
Power enters the 2015 Indianapolis 500 with a win under his belt and a great starting position to his credit as well. If the Australian star is ever going to get the job done in his sport's version of the Super Bowl, then the time is now.
Biggest Disappointment: Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya is enjoying a strong season as the points leader with a win already to his credit, but after qualifying a disappointing 15th, the Colombian star could potentially be in for a rocky outing in the 2015 Indianapolis 500.
Montoya won the Indy 500 way back in 2000 and finished fifth there last season in his return to the IRL. There is no question that he has a great resume at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but he won't be able to rest on his laurels Sunday.
With so many contenders in the mix, the 39-year-old driver will have to be at his very best on race day. He wasn't during qualifying although he believes the conditions were partially to blame for that:
Montoya is so well-known and has been so successful over the course of his career that anything short of a finish near the front of the pack is a disappointment. He will have some ground to make up on Sunday, but he will be met with plenty of resistance.
Look for Montoya to finish somewhere on the precipice of the top 10, which would be a great result for some drivers but undoubtedly a missed opportunity for someone of his caliber.
Biggest Surprise: Sage Karam
At 20 years of age, Sage Karam is short on experience in the IRL, but he is one of the most promising drivers on the circuit, and that was on full display in last year's Indianapolis 500.
The Nazareth, Pennsylvania, native finished a surprising ninth in that race, and while he hasn't enjoyed similar success early in the 2015 season, he has been running respectably inside the top 20.
Karam will start 23rd in Sunday's Indy 500, which means he will have to make up plenty of ground in order to repeat or improve upon what he did last year. Based on what he did after qualifying, though, that seems likely.
According to Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star, nobody was faster than Karam during Monday's practice session:
That certainly doesn't guarantee success in the race itself since it is a totally different animal, but it proves that Karam has the machinery needed to compete.
Provided he can keep his car clean and avoid getting caught up in any wrecks, Karam has all the makings of a driver primed for a top-10 result.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.
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