FIRST 90TH INDIANAPOLIS 500 ENTRIES FILED FOR SHARP, MATSUURA
Delphi Fernandez Racing and Super Aguri Fernandez Racing filed the first entries for the 90th Indianapolis 500, naming Scott Sharp and Kosuke Matsuura as the drivers for their respective entries.
The 90th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Entries must be postmarked by midnight Wednesday, April 5.
Sharp, from Jupiter, Fla., will drive the No. 8 Delphi Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with a Panoz/Honda/Firestone entered as a backup car. Don Lambert is the chief mechanic.
2001 Indianapolis 500 pole winner Sharp will attempt to make his 12th Indianapolis 500 start. His best finish was seventh last year. Sharp is the 1996 IndyCar® Series co-champion.
Matsuura, a native of Japan who lives in Indianapolis, will drive the No. 55 Panasonic ARTA Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with an identical backup entered. Tony Leith is the chief mechanic.
2004 Indianapolis 500 JPMorgan Chase Bank Rookie of the Year Matsuura will attempt to make his third Indy start. His best finish was 11th as a rookie, while he recorded a best start of eighth last year.
Simon Hodgson is the general manager of both entries. Indianapolis 500 veteran Adrian Fernandez has ownership in both entries, while former Formula One driver and current F1 team owner Aguri Suzuki is part-owner of Super Aguri Fernandez Racing.
2006 INDIANAPOLIS 500 ENTRIES (as of March 14) - Driver/Entrant/Car/C/E/T/Entry Date
Scott Sharp
Delphi Fernandez Racing
8, 8T Delphi
D*/H/F
March 13
Kosuke Matsuura
Super Aguri Fernandez Racing
55, 55T Panasonic ARTA
D/H/F
March 13
Key: C/E/T-Chassis/engine/tire; D-Dallara; P-Panoz; H-Honda; F-Firestone; *-backup chassis is Panoz; (W)-Indianapolis 500 winner; (R)-Indianapolis 500 rookie; TBA-to be announced.
ENTRY SUMMARY
DRIVERS (2)
Former race winners: None.
Former pole winners (1): Scott Sharp (2001).
Rookies: None.
U.S. born (1): Scott Sharp.
Foreign born (1): Kosuke Matsuura, Japan.
Youngest: Kosuke Matsuura, 26.
Oldest: Scott Sharp, 38.
Most previous starts: Scott Sharp, 11.
CARS (4)
Chassis: Dallara 3, Panoz 1.
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Indy 500 tickets on sale: Tickets are on sale for the 2006 Indianapolis 500, the 90th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Fans can order tickets online at indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.
Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday, while online orders can be made at any time.
Ticket prices start at just $20.
