INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Four past winners and four IZOD IndyCar Series champions are among the drivers named to the 42 entries filed for the 2011 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Eighty-three cars comprise the 42 entries, the most entries since 2002. It's the third consecutive year with at least 40 entries on the list. It's also the eighth consecutive year in which the number of entries has climbed or held steady.
Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (2007, 2010) leads the list of past winners, which also includes Helio Castroneves (2001-02, 2009), Scott Dixon (2008) and Dan Wheldon (2005). Franchitti will attempt to become just the 10th driver to earn at least three Indianapolis 500 victories, while Castroneves is trying to become just the fourth four-time winner in the illustrious history of the race, joining A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.
Series champions include Dixon (2003, 2008), Franchitti (2007, 2009, 2010), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Wheldon (2005).
Thirty-five drivers have been named to the 42 entries filed this year for the 33 starting spots in "The Most Important Race in History." This guarantees plenty of dramatic action on both qualifying days, Pole Day on Saturday, May 21 and Bump Day on Sunday, May 22.
The 2010 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to start at noon (ET) Sunday, May 29 and will be broadcast live by ABC, the IMS Radio Network and XM 145/Sirius 212. Opening Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, which also will feature the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Celebration of Automobiles.
There is outstanding depth and quality in this year's field. Besides four past race winners and four series champions, 18 of the 35 drivers named to entries have won at least one race in either IZOD IndyCar Series or Champ Car World Series/CART competition.
Five drivers comprise a strong rookie crop: IZOD IndyCar Series rookie regulars JR Hildebrand, James Hinchcliffe, James Jakes and Charlie Kimball, and Jay Howard.
Plenty of young talent that recently advanced through the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system also will be on display, as the field includes three of the last five Firestone Indy Lights champions - Howard (2006), Raphael Matos (2008) and Hildebrand (2009). Other recent Firestone Indy Lights graduates on the entry list include Marco Andretti, Ana Beatriz, Ed Carpenter, Kimball, Graham Rahal and Sebastian Saavedra.
Three women were among the drivers named to entries: 2005 Chase Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick, 2010 Chase Rookie of the Year Simona De Silvestro and Beatriz.
Andretti Autosport is involved in five entries, more than any other team. The team, which won the 2005 and 2007 Indianapolis 500, filed four entries and is co-entrant along with NASCAR legend Richard Petty on another entry.
DRIVERS (35)
Former race winners (4): Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009), Dan Wheldon (2005), Dario Franchitti (2007, 2010), Scott Dixon (2008).
Former pole winners (4): Bruno Junqueira (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003, 2007, 2009, 2010), Tony Kanaan (2005), Scott Dixon (2008).
Rookies (5): JR Hildebrand, James Hinchcliffe, Jay Howard, James Jakes, Charlie Kimball.
Youngest: Sebastian Saavedra, 20.
Oldest: Davey Hamilton, 48.
Most previous starts: John Andretti, 11.
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2 Oriol Servia Pals, Spain Telemundo Newman/Haas Racing
2T Oriol Servia Pals, Spain Telemundo Newman/Haas Racing
3 Helio Castroneves (W) Sao Paulo Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske
3T Helio Castroneves (W) Sao Paulo Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske
4 JR Hildebrand (R) Sausalito, Calif. National Guard Panther Racing
4T JR Hildebrand (R) Sausalito, Calif. National Guard Panther Racing
5 Takuma Sato Tokyo KV Racing Technology - Lotus
5T Takuma Sato Tokyo KV Racing Technology - Lotus
6 Ryan Briscoe Sydney IZOD Team Penske
6T Ryan Briscoe Sydney IZOD Team Penske
7 Danica Patrick Roscoe, Ill. Team GoDaddy Andretti Autosport
7T Danica Patrick Roscoe, Ill. Team GoDaddy Andretti Autosport
8 TBA Dragon Racing Dragon Racing 8T
TBA Dragon Racing Dragon Racing
9 Scott Dixon (W) Auckland, New Zealand Target Chip Ganassi Racing
9T Scott Dixon (W) Auckland, New Zealand Target Chip Ganassi Racing
10 Dario Franchitti (W) Edinburgh, Scotland Target Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chip Ganassi Racing
10T Dario Franchitti (W) Edinburgh, Scotland Target Chip Ganassi Racing
11 Davey Hamilton Nampa, Idaho HP/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
11T Davey Hamilton Nampa, Idaho HP/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
12 Will Power Toowoomba, Australia Verizon Team Penske
12T Will Power Toowoomba, Australia Verizon Team Penske
14 Vitor Meira Brasilia, Brazil ABC Supply Co A.J. Foyt Racing
14T Vitor Meira Brasilia, Brazil ABC Supply Co A.J. Foyt Racing A.J. Foyt Enterprises
16 TBA TBA TBA TBA
16T TBA TBA TBA TBA
17 Raphael Matos Belo Horizonte, Brazil Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc. AFS Racing
17T Raphael Matos Belo Horizonte, Brazil Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc. AFS Racing
18 James Jakes (R) Leeds, England Acorn Stairlifts Dale Coyne Racing
18T James Jakes (R) Leeds, England Acorn Stairlifts Dale Coyne Racing
19 TBA Boy Scouts of America Dale Coyne Racing
19T TBA Boy Scouts of America Dale Coyne Racing
22 Justin Wilson Sheffield, England Z-Line Designs/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold acing
22T Justin Wilson Sheffield, England Z-Line Designs/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold acing
23Paul Tracy Scarborough, Ontario WIX Filters/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
23T Paul Tracy Scarborough, Ontario WIX Filters/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
24 Ana Beatriz Sao Paulo Team Ipiranga/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
24T Ana Beatriz Sao Paulo Team Ipiranga/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
26 Marco AndrettiNazareth, Pa. Team Venom Andretti Autosport
26T Marco Andretti Nazareth, Pa. Team Venom Andretti Autosport
27 Mike Conway Bromley, England Team GoDaddy.com Andretti Autosport
27T Mike Conway Bromley, England Team GoDaddy.com Andretti Autosport
28 Ryan Hunter-Reay Boca Raton, Fla. Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda Andretti Autosport
28T Ryan Hunter-Reay Boca Raton, Fla. Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda Andretti Autosport
30 Bertrand Baguette Verviers, Belgium Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Rahal Letterman Lanigan acing
30T Bertrand Baguette Verviers, Belgium Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
34 Sebastian Saavedra Bogotá, Colombia Conquest Racing Conquest Racing
34T Sebastian Saavedra Bogotá, Colombia Conquest Racing Conquest Racing
36 TBA Conquest Racing Conquest Racing
36T TBA Conquest Racing Conquest Racing
38 Graham Rahal New Albany, Ohio Service Central Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing
38T Graham Rahal New Albany, Ohio Service Central Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing
43 John Andretti Indianapolis Team Window World Richard Petty/ Andretti Autosport
43T John Andretti Indianapolis Team Window World Richard Petty/ Andretti Autosport
44 TBA Panther Racing Panther Racing
44T TBA Panther Racing Panther Racing
57 TBA Sarah Fisher Racing Sarah Fisher Racing
59 E.J. Viso Caracas, Venezuela PDVSA – KV Racing Technology- LotusKV Racing Technology – Lotus
59T E.J. Viso Caracas, Venezuela PDVSA – KV Racing Technology- Lotus KV Racing Technology – Lotus
67 Ed Carpenter Indianapolis Dollar General/Sarah Fisher Racing Sarah Fisher Racing
67T Ed Carpenter Indianapolis Dollar General/Sarah Fisher Racing Sarah Fisher Racing
77 Alex Tagliani Lachenaie, Quebec Bowers & Wilkins/Sam Schmidt MotorsportsSam Schmidt Motorsports
77T Alex Tagliani Lachenaie, Quebec Bowers & Wilkins/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Sam Schmidt
Motorsports
78 Simona De Silvestro Thun, Switzerland Nuclear Clean Air Energy HVM Racing Nuclear Clean Air
Energy HVM Racing
78T Simona De Silvestro Thun, Switzerland Nuclear Clean Air Energy HVM Racing Nuclear Clean Air
Energy HVM Racing
82 Tony Kanaan Salvador, Brazil GEICO – KV Racing Technology – Lotus KV Racing Technology - Lotus
82T Tony Kanaan Salvador, Brazil GEICO – KV Racing Technology – Lotus KV Racing Technology - Lotus
83 Charlie Kimball (R) Camarillo, Calif. Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi
Racing
83T Charlie Kimball (R) Camarillo, Calif. Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing
88 Jay Howard (R)Basildon, England Service Central Schmidt-RLL Racing Sam Schmidt – RLL Racing
88T Jay Howard (R) Basildon, EnglandService Central Schmidt-RLL Racing Sam Schmidt – RLL Racing
89 TBA China Racing China Racing
89T TBA China Racing China Racing
98 Dan Wheldon (W) Emberton, England Bryan Herta Autosport Bryan Herta Autosport
98T Dan Wheldon (W) Emberton, England Bryan Herta Autosport Bryan Herta Autosport
99 Townsend Bell San Luis Obispo, Calif. Herbalife Sam Schmidt MotorsportsSam Schmidt Motorsports
99T Townsend Bell San Luis Obispo, Calif. Herbalife Sam Schmidt Motorsports Sam Schmidt Motorsports
06 James Hinchcliffe (R) Toronto Sprott Newman/Haas Racing Newman/Haas Racing
06T James Hinchcliffe (R) Toronto Sprott Newman/Haas Racing Newman/Haas Racing
07 Tomas Scheckter Cape Town, South Africa Team REDLINE Xtreme – Circle K KV Racing Technology – SH Racing
07T Tomas Scheckter Cape Town, South Africa Team REDLINE Xtreme – Circle K KV Racing Technology – SH Racing
TBA Bruno Junqueira Belo Horizonte, Brazil A.J. Foyt Racing A.J. Foyt Enterprises
TBAT Bruno Junqueira Belo Horizonte, Brazil A.J. Foyt Racing A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Forty-two (42) entries, eighty-three (83) cars entered. All cars use Dallara chassis, Honda engines and Firestone tires.
(R) – Indianapolis 500 Rookie; (W) – Indianapolis 500 Winner Issued: 4/14/2011
