Indianapolis 500 primer
- Finish line (yard of bricks), Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
By CLIFF BRUNT
Things to look for at the Indianapolis 500.
Penske Racing vs. Andretti Autosport
These two dominant teams have the top six slots in the race.
For Penske, polesitter Ryan Briscoe has a chance to finally emerge as a star.
Penske’s other two drivers are contenders, too. Will Power has qualified 5th and three-time champion Helio Castroneves is sixth.
Briscoe is the overlooked member of Penske team because of Castroneves history and Power’s stunning success on road courses and ability to contend for titles. This could be his day.
For Andretti, James Hinchcliffe qualified second, Ryan Hunter-Reay third and Marco Andretti fourth.
Briscoe didn’t expect the Andretti team’s qualifying effort.
You know Andretti, they are always strong here in the race, he said. And the surprise was how good they were in qualifying, because normally they are a little bit off in qualifying, but really bring it in the race.
Castroneves had the fastest lap during Friday’s qualifying, with Andretti second and Briscoe third.
Briscoe respects the Andretti team, but he believes Penske has enough to win.
They have been strong in race runs, he said of the Andretti team. I feel like we have been just as strong, though, and I feel like there are a lot of cars out there that have been strong. I think it’s going to be a pretty wild race. I think nobody is going to be able to pull away. There’s going to be a lot of passing. It’s going to be a pretty grueling 500 mile race, and it’s going to be hard to predict a winner until you see them come out of turn four and maybe even then, you won’t know it.
American drivers
Nine U.S. drivers will start today, with four in the top 12 – Hunter-Reay, Andretti, Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal.
Newgarden said America needs a champion, or at least a contender.
It is important, he said. Some fans have been discouraged that we haven’t had successful Americans in a little while in IndyCar. That’s what they want to see. I think having Americans that are strong _ this is America’s racetrack here.
Newgarden and Bryan Clauson, rookie drivers for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, have been solid all month. Veterans Hunter-Reay. Townsend Bell and Ed Carpenter know the track well. J.R. Hildebrand nearly put the questions about American drivers to rest last year before crashing on the final lap and allowing Wheldon to cruise to victory. Charlie Kimball qualified 14th.
Add the Andretti-Rahal rivalry, and there’s much more than usual to watch for American fans.
This is, I think, the greatest American race there is, Rahal said. I think it’s important that one of us do well, but to be honest, I think there’s a lot of us that could do well. There’s a lot of guys running up front, and a lot of them are Americans.
Clauson who will start 31st, wants to help America reclaim its signature race.
It’s one of the biggest races in the world, definitely the biggest race in America, he said. We want the Americans to shine on this stage. We all want to be the American hero who wins the 500.
Andretti-Rahal
The rivalry between the families has escalated this season between Rahal and Andretti. A mutual dislike grew when Rahal caused an accident with Andretti at Long Beach last month. IndyCar said Rahal was guilty of blocking and initiating avoidable contact. Andretti’s car hit the back of Rahal’s, launched briefly into the air and spun into a tire barrier. Rahal said the rivalry is good for the sport. Andretti qualified 4th while Rahal qualified 12th, so they are in position to contend.
I don’t know that there’s any love lost between the two of us, Rahal said. It’s the way it goes. It’s the way it’s always been between our two families, and I’m sure it will continue that way.
Dan Wheldon’s memory
Last year’s winner, who died after injuries suffered in a race in Las Vegas at the end of last season, will be fondly remembered. Fans are to wear sunglasses on the opening parade lap, and on laps 26 and 98, for the numbers of the winning cars he drove.
I think that date in October changed a lot of our lives, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said. I think when you look back on it, I look back at probably one of the worst moments of my life, how fast life can change.
New cars
New engine manufacturers and aerokits give underdogs hope that they can find something unique to push them through this race. Chevrolet has the top six qualifiers, all with Penske and Andretti. Newgarden is Honda’s top qualifier, in 7th.
Rookies
Newgarden is the fastest rookie and the top qualifier for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. Rubens Barrichello of Brazil, a 40-year old rookie who made his name in Formula One, qualified 10th.
The next Danica?
Ana Beatriz of Brazil qualified 13th. Katherine Legge of England qualified 30th and Simona de Silvestro of Brazil qualified 32nd in the 33-car field.
Other notes: JR Hildebrand, last year’s runner-up, qualified 18th for this year’s race. Last year’s polesitter, Alex Tagliani, qualified 11th this year. Two former champs are a ways down the starting order. Scott Dixon will start 15th and Dario Franchitti will start 16th, both for the Ganassi team.
