Another one of the big storylines leading into race weekend right now is the weather. The current forecast calls for a good chance of Thunderstorms, which would obviously get in the way of the running of this great race. However, we have very little to worry about, thanks to improvements made to the track over the last year or so. The track has had sealant laid down, which prevents water from seeping into the track. This has allowed the speedway to be dried extremely quickly with just jet dryers and the track crew team of trucks. With the Air Titans that are expected to be rented from NASCAR once again, we may be looking at the shortest dry times ever for the track if it does indeed rain, which bodes well for us getting the race in.
With that, I will dive into the field of 33. Just like last year, I will classify each as a Favorite, a Dark Horse, or a Surprise. If you don't have a pick now, you should be able to pick one by the end of this article. Make things fun and pick one out of each category, just to cover all the bases! After all, you never know at Indy. That being said, I'm not responsible for any money you lose in the local work pool.
Row 11
Driver: Kyle Kaiser (United States)
Start Position: 33rd
Car #: 32
Team: Juncos Racing
Sponsor: 250ok
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 29th (2018)
This Indy sophomore may be the best story this Month of May. He had a lightning fast car all of last week before wrecking on Friday morning. After the team spent the night working on the backup car, Kyle managed to put the car in the field by bumping out Fernando Alonso on Sunday during the Last Row Shootout. Their primary sponsors left for Andretti Autosport, but team owner Ricardo Juncos has signed on tech company 250ok since then, so this car will not be blank come race day.
Category: Surprise
Driver: James Hinchcliffe (Canada)
Start Position: 32nd
Car #: 5
Team: Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Sponsor: Arrow Electronics
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 6th (2012)
The Mayor of Hinchtown returns to the 500 this year after almost missing the race due to a crash during his first qualifying run on Saturday. This place seems to hate James, and his 32nd starting position doesn't seem to bode well for his possible performance on Sunday. James almost won Dancing With the Stars a couple years back, but I guarantee you he would trade that performance for an Indy win.
Category: Dark Horse
Driver: Sage Karam (United States)
Start Position: 31st
Car #: 24
Team: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Sponsor: WIX Filters
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 9th (2014)
The young man from Nazareth, PA used to be rated as one of the up and coming drivers in the IndyCar series after his debut 500 in 2014. That being said, Sage has failed to back that performance up due to a variety of reasons including Alternator failures, accidents, and punctures. Sage desperately needs a good run, and he'll have his work cut out for him starting from Row 11.
Category: Surprise
Row 10
Driver: Pippa Mann (England)
Start Position: 30th
Car #: 39
Team: Clauson-Marshall Racing
Sponsor: Driven 2 Save Lives
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 17th (2017)
Just like Hinch, Pippa returns to the field after being bumped last year. This year, she sports the Driven 2 Save Lives sponsorship with a new team, Clauson-Marshall Racing, which used to field the late Bryan Clauson in several dirt track events. This small, new team made a good impression in qualifying, and should call it a success if they complete the 500 miles.
Category: Surprise
Driver: Felix Rosenqvist (Sweden)
Start Position: 29th
Car #: 10
Team: Chip Ganassi Racing
Sponsor: NTT Data
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: Rookie
Felix has been called a phenom by many after his many successes in a variety of series, including two wins at the Macau Grand Prix and several good runs in Formula E. His switch to IndyCar this year has been rather rough around the edges, but the young Swede holds promise for his future. Felix wrecked in practice early last week, but bounced back to qualify 29th.
Category: Surprise
Driver: Zach Veach (United States)
Start Position: 28th
Car #: 26
Team: Andretti Autosport
Sponsor: Gainbridge
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 23rd (2018)
Zach looks to improve upon his Indy performance from last year, which saw him burst into flames on a pit stop. He hopes to have a fiery run on Sunday, and he'll need it to move up from the 28th spot, a victim of the hot temperatures that prevailed on Saturday afternoon for qualifying. Veach's sponsor, Gainbridge, is also the presenting sponsor of the 500 this year.
Category: Surprise
Row 9
Driver: Ben Hanley (England)
Start Position: 27th
Car #: 81
Team: DragonSpeed
Sponsor: 10Star
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: Rookie
This rookie driver and team has been another one of the great stories from this year's race. They were quiet and confident all week long, and they managed to lock themselves into the field after Saturday qualifying. This team has been cutting its teeth overseas in the European Le Mans Series and the World Endurance Challenge before it began its IndyCar program.
Category: Surprise
Driver: Jordan King (England)
Start Position: 26th
Car #: 42
Team: Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing
Sponsor: Rich Energy
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: Rookie
Another one of the Indy rookies looks to make his mark this year with RLL Racing. Last year, he drove the road course events for Ed Carpenter in the #20 entry. This year, he has a variety of programs in sportscars, Formula 2, and, of course, IndyCar. His sponsor, Rich Energy, is the title sponsor of the Haas F1 team.
Category: Surprise
Driver: Jack Harvey (England)
Start Position: 25th
Car #: 60
Team: Meyer Shank Racing
Sponsor: SiriusXM/AutoNation
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 16th (2018)
The young Brit rounds out the all-English row while having the best season of his short career with Meyer Shank Racing. They finished 3rd to kick off this month in the IndyCar Grand Prix. Team owner Michael Shank has stated that this team is just starting to gel, so I would not count them out on race day.
Category: Dark Horse
Row 8
Driver: Matheus Leist (Brazil)
Start Position: 24th
Car #: 4
Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Sponsor: ABC Supply
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 13th (2018)
Another one of the Indy sophomores looks to have a better run that his midpack jaunt last year. Leist runs for the Foyt team that always seems to be strong in the race at Indy, but teammate Tony Kanaan has said that they don't have the same speed they did last year. Leist won the 2017 Freedom 100 Indy Lights race, so he knows his way around Indy.
Category: Surprise
Driver: Santino Ferrucci (United States)
Start Position: 23rd
Car #: 19
Team: Dale Coyne Racing
Sponsor: Cly-Del
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: Rookie
Ferrucci is a former F1 developmental driver who made the switch back to America late last year. Since then, he has had several sold runs for the Dale Coyne team. This month, he's looked especially strong for a rookie, especially with the race setup.
Category: Dark Horse
Driver: Ryan Hunter-Reay (United States)
Start Position: 22nd
Car #: 28
Team: Andretti Autosport
Sponsor: DHL
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 1st (2014)
The 2014 champion of this race had an abysmal qualifying run and was unable to requalify later in an attempt to move up. All hope is not lost for Captain America, however. He came from deep in the field in 2014 to win the race, and the same is surely possible this year. That being said, it will be undoubtedly a tougher go for RHR this year compared to 2014.
Category: Dark Horse
Row 7
Driver: J.R. Hildebrand (United States)
Start Position: 21st
Car #: 48
Team: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Sponsor: Salesforce
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 2nd (2011)
This year might just be the year track announcer Dave Calabro doesn't refer to Hildebrand as the guy who almost won it all in 2011 during driver intros. Hildebrand has been a solid Indy-only entrant for a couple of years now, and he looks solid once again this year. His #48 is a tribute to the late great Dan Gurney.
Category: Dark Horse
Driver: Charlie Kimball (United States)
Start Position: 20th
Car #: 23
Team: Carlin Racing
Sponsor: Fiasp
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 3rd (2015)
Charlie is the only driver from the Carlin stable to qualify this year. He has been quoted as saying that his #23 Fiasp Chevrolet is the best car he's ever had at Indy, which is saying something after his rides with Ganassi here earlier in his career. He is a new dad this year, so hopefully he'll get enough sleep the night before the race!
Category: Dark Horse
Driver: Oriol Servia (Spain)
Start Position: 19th
Car #: 77
Team: Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports/Team Stange
Sponsor: Lucas Oil/MotoGator
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 4th (2012)
The wily veteran returns once again this year, back with Schmidt Peterson for the first time since 2016. As Tony DiZonno put it, we all look forward to the moment in the race with about 30 laps to go where Servia is up front and we all go, "where did he come from?" This man seemingly always finds his way to the front, and its plausible to believe that he can repeat that again on Sunday. Plus, for those Marvel fans out there, he kind of looks like Bruce Banner in his half-Hulk form when he wears his glasses!
Category: Dark Horse
Row 6
Driver: Scott Dixon (New Zealand)
Start Position: 18th
Car #: 9
Team: Chip Ganassi Racing
Sponsor: PNC Bank
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 1st (2008)
Dixie has been strong every Month of May it seems, and this month has been no exception. He has been really fast in race trim this month, which bodes well for him to move up from his 18th starting spot. Do not count this New Zealander out on Sunday.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Graham Rahal (United States)
Start Position: 17th
Car #: 15
Team: Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing
Sponsor: United Rentals
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 3rd (2011)
As a fan of Graham's, it hurts my heart to say that it will be very tough for the Ohioan to be competitive on Sunday. After a bullish outlook on the month early, the RLL team has struggled since the switch to the oval, and one has to wonder if they still have the same chance they thought they had earlier. He always tends to trend towards the front of the field, so maybe he will still claw his way up.
Category: Dark Horse
Driver: Tony Kanaan (Brazil)
Start Position: 16th
Car #: 14
Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Sponsor: ABC Supply
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 1st (2013)
The 2013 champ has had a tough month, much like many others, but I doubt that will keep TK from going after his 2nd crown hard on Sunday. Foyt literally told TK to get to the front or wreck trying last year, and I expect that will be his same attitude this year.
Category: Dark Horse
Row 5
Driver: James Davison (Australia)
Start Position: 15th
Car #: 33
Team: Dale Coyne Racing with Byrd/Hollinger/Belardi
Sponsor: Byrd Group
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 16th (2014)
The Aussie had an outstanding qualifying run on Saturday to take the 15th spot in the field for this weekend. He had a masterful performance subbing for Sebastien Bourdais in 2017, and he hopes to show off some of that magic again this year after a disappointing 2018 race.
Category: Dark Horse
Driver: Takuma Sato (Japan)
Start Position: 14th
Car #: 30
Team: Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing
Sponsor: Mi-Jack/Panasonic
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 1st (2017)
The 2017 champ is just beginning to bond with the RLL team, and it has showed with a dominant win earlier this year at Barber. He drives a throwback paint scheme that is a tribute to the Mi-Jack cars of the 90s and early 2000s, a change from his normal blue and white.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Marcus Ericsson (Sweden)
Start Position: 13th
Car #: 7
Team: Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Sponsor: Arrow Electronics
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: Rookie
The former Sauber F1 driver makes his first start at Indy this year for the Schmidt team, and has been so far very impressive. Asides from a slight wall brush on Monday, he has kept the car clean and has shown speed. You can identify his car from the other Arrow car by the gold wingplates.
Category: Dark Horse
Row 4
Driver: Helio Castroneves (Brazil)
Start Position: 12th
Car #: 3
Team: Team Penske
Sponsor: Pennzoil
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 1st (2001, 2002, 2009)
The three-time winner of this race once again heads out in a quest for number four after a wreck ended his run early last year. Helio is always a threat here and has come so close in recent years (2014 and 2017 especially) to joining the four-time club. He drives his familiar "Yellow Submarine" Pennzoil colors.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Conor Daly (United States)
Start Position: 11th
Car #: 25
Team: Andretti Autosport
Sponsor: United States Air Force
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 21st (2018)
Conor comes into this Indy with the best car in his career, and he's made the most of it. He has his best-ever start this year, and he led the charts on Fast Friday at over 231mph. That being said, in typical Bad Luck Conor fashion, it was the first year without prize money for posting said fastest lap. Conor looks to make a statement on Sunday, and looks well-poised to do so.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Marco Andretti (United States)
Start Position: 10th
Car #: 98
Team: Andretti-Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian
Sponsor: US Concrete
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 2nd (2006)
It is the 50th anniversary of Mario's win here in 1969, and Marco hopes to break that Andretti winless streak on Sunday. He drives a fluorescent red car in tribute to his grandfather's paint scheme this year. Marco will have to keep his cool and make it through the first 400 miles solidly to have a shot on Sunday.
Category: Favorite
Row 3
Driver: Alexander Rossi (United States)
Start Position: 9th
Car #: 27
Team: Andretti Autosport
Sponsor: NAPA Auto Parts
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 1st (2016)
Rossi wowed both fans and competitors last year with his ballsy passes around the outside on restarts, and may use some of that same flair to move up on Sunday. He has been arguably the strongest car this year at the track, and will be tough to beat.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Josef Newgarden (United States)
Start Position: 8th
Car #: 2
Team: Team Penske
Sponsor: Shell V-Power Nitro+
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 3rd (2016)
Josef already has done almost everything in his two seasons with Roger Penske. He has won races and championships, but he is still chasing Indy. Like any Penske car on race day, he's a favorite, but he will have to be at his best as all three of his teammates have arguably performed better here than he ever has.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Sebastien Bourdais (France)
Start Position: 7th
Car #: 18
Team: Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan
Sponsor: SealMaster
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: 7th (2014)
I have always said that Sebastien Bourdais and Craig Hampson are a dangerous driver-engineer combo, and we cannot count them out for Sunday's race. While saddled with the less-powerful Honda motor, they still found a way to put their car in the Fast Nine on Saturday, and a seventh spot on the grid puts them in a good spot to make up for their accident last year.
Category: Favorite
Row 2
Driver: Will Power (Australia)
Start Position: 6th
Car #: 12
Team: Team Penske
Sponsor: Verizon 5G
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 1st (2018)
The defending champ will look to defend his crown on Sunday with a sleek black Verizon 5G Chevy that has been at the top of the charts all month long. Like every race, it may very well come down to who has the best car at the end, and Power will have to keep up on his adjustments in order to beat the group of four or five competitors that will surely show up by the end of the race.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Colton Herta (United States)
Start Position: 5th
Car #: 88
Team: Harding Steinbrenner Racing
Sponsor: Gess RNG Biogas
Engine: Honda
Previous Best: Rookie
The nineteen-year old has impressed many this year with his performances, especially with the win at COTA in Austin, Texas. Herta is calm and confident, two characteristics that will do him well on raceday. He is hoping to become the youngest 500 winner ever.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Ed Jones (United Arab Emirates)
Start Position: 4th
Car #: 63
Team: Ed Carpenter Racing with Scuderia Corsa
Sponsor: WeatherTech
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 3rd (2017)
Many might be surprised by Jones' performance this month, but I, for one, am not. Jones brought a car with a hole in its nose and its floor to third in 2017. That performance made me believe in his abilities here, and it is showing once again in his drive with Ed Carpenter Racing. If Jones can win on Sunday, it very well might define the rest of his career.
Category: Favorite
Row 1
Driver: Spencer Pigot (United States)
Start Position: 3rd
Car #: 21
Team: Ed Carpenter Racing
Sponsor: Autogeek
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 18th (2017)
Pigot dominated as he came up the Road to Indy ladder series, but he has failed so far to achieve success in IndyCar. With a good showing on Sunday, this could very well be Pigot's coming out party in IndyCar. He has had fun this month, posing as a lookalike for his sponsor's mascot.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Ed Carpenter (United States)
Start Position: 2nd
Car #: 20
Team: Ed Carpenter Racing
Sponsor: Preferred Freezer Services
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 2nd (2018)
The Butler Bulldog has always been a threat at Indy, but last year was his best run yet. Carpenter ran up front all day long, but was unable to catch Power at the end of the race. If he can hold the lead on Sunday, Carpenter will be extremely tough to get by. He has all the tools he needs, and the city of Indianapolis will go crazy if he does pull it off.
Category: Favorite
Driver: Simon Pagenaud (France)
Start Position: 1st
Car #: 22
Team: Team Penske
Sponsor: Menards
Engine: Chevrolet
Previous Best: 6th (2018)
Pagenaud has paid his dues here at Indy, with everything from a broken wing to engine issues plaguing him. Indy has a history of drivers having "their months." This has been undoubtedly Pagenaud's month, seeing him win both the IndyCar Grand Prix and the pole position for the 500. Can he follow in Will Power's footsteps and win the race? We will find out at about 3:30pm on Sunday.
Category: Favorite
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is your field of 33 for the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500. They come from all across the world for this great race, in pursuit of immortality and a cold glass of milk. Only one will emerge on Sunday, but without a doubt it will be another amazing early summer afternoon in Indianapolis.
No comments:
Post a Comment