Penske, Panther, Cheever file entries for 90th Indianapolis 500
Three teams with a winning pedigree – Marlboro Team Penske, Panther Racing and Cheever Racing – filed entries April 4 for the 90th Indianapolis 500.
Penske Racing, which has won a record 13 Indianapolis 500-Mile Races, filed three entries. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and two-time IndyCar® Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. were named as drivers of two of the entries.
Panther Racing, which won the IndyCar Series title in 2001 and 2002, filed two entries. Vitor Meira was named as the driver of one entry.
Cheever Racing filed two entries. Eddie Cheever Jr., who won the 1998 Indianapolis 500 as an owner-driver, was named as the driver of one entry.
The 90th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Entries must be postmarked by midnight Wednesday, April 5.
Castroneves, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, will drive the No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with an identical backup entered. Rick Rinaman is the chief mechanic.
Castroneves has produced one of the most impressive early records in Indianapolis 500 history. He won his first two starts in the race, in 2001 and 2002, with Marlboro Team Penske. He finished runner-up to Penske teammate Gil de Ferran after winning the pole in 2003.
In total, Castroneves has finished in the top 10 in each of his five Indianapolis 500 starts.
Hornish, from Napoleon, Ohio, will drive the No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with an identical backup entered. Matt Jonsson is the chief mechanic.
Hornish will attempt to make his seventh career Indianapolis 500 start and his third in a row with the race’s most successful team. His best finish was 14th in 2001 with Panther Racing, while he earned a career-best starting spot of second last year with Marlboro Team Penske.
No driver, number, car name or chassis were named for the third Marlboro Team Penske entry, which includes a backup car. Both the primary and backup will use Honda engines and Firestone tires.
Tim Cindric is the team president for Penske Racing, while Tom Wurtz is the team manager for the three Penske entries.
Meira, a native of Brasilia, Brazil, will drive the No. 4 Panther Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Panther Racing, with an identical backup entered. He will attempt to make his fourth Indianapolis 500 start. Meira’s best finish of second came last year with Rahal Letterman Racing, as he led three laps. His best start was seventh, in 2004 and 2005.
No driver or car number was named for the second Panther Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry, which includes a backup entry.
Steve Ragan is the chief mechanic and Ron Catt the general manager for both Panther entries.
Cheever, a Phoenix native, will drive the No. 51 Cheever Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with an identical backup entered. Craig McCain is the chief mechanic.
The entry marks a comeback at Indy for Cheever, who last competed in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2002. He will attempt to make his 14th Indianapolis 500 start.
1990 Indianapolis 500 JPMorgan Chase Rookie of the Year Cheever has recorded six top-10 finishes at Indy, including his 1998 victory, while his best starting spot was second in 2002.
The team also entered the No. 52 Cheever Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone. No driver or chief mechanic was named.
Buddy Lindblom is the team manager for both Cheever entries.
***
2006 INDIANAPOLIS 500 ENTRIES (as of April 4)
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
P.J. Chesson (R)
Hemelgarn Racing
91, 91T Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing
D/H/F
March 15
Buddy Rice (W)
Rahal Letterman Racing
15, 15T Rahal Letterman Racing Team
Argent
P/H/F
March 23
Danica Patrick
Rahal Letterman Racing
16, 16T Rahal Letterman Racing Team
Argent
P/H/F
March 23
Jeff Simmons
Rahal Letterman Racing
17, 17T Rahal Letterman Racing Team
Ethanol
P/H/F
March 23
Marty Roth
Roth Racing
25 Roth Racing
D/H/F
March 27
Buddy Lazier (W)
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
5, 5T Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
D/H/F
March 30
Al Unser Jr. (W)
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
31, 31T Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
D/H/F
March 30
Felipe Giaffone
A.J. Foyt Enterprises
14, 14T ABC Supply Co./A.J. Foyt
Racing
D/H/F
April 3
Larry Foyt
A.J. Foyt Enterprises
41, 41T A.J. Foyt Racing
P^/H/F
April 3
TBA
A.J. Foyt Enterprises
48 A.J. Foyt Racing
D/H/F
April 3
TBA
PDM Racing
18 TBA
TBA/H/F
April 3
Helio Castroneves (W)
Marlboro Team Penske
3, 3T Marlboro Team Penske
D/H/F
April 4
Sam Hornish Jr.
Marlboro Team Penske
6, 6T Marlboro Team Penske
D/H/F
April 4
TBA
Marlboro Team Penske
TBA, TBA T
TBA/H/F
April 4
Vitor Meira
Panther Racing
4, 4T Panther Racing
D/H/F
April 4
TBA
Panther Racing
TBA, TBA T Panther Racing
D/H/F
April 4
Eddie Cheever Jr. (W)
Cheever Racing
51, 51T Cheever Racing
D/H/F
April 4
TBA
Cheever Racing
52 Cheever Racing
D/H/F
April 4
Key: C/E/T-Chassis/engine/tire; D-Dallara; P-Panoz; H-Honda; F-Firestone; * -- backup chassis is Panoz; ^ -- backup chassis is Dallara; (W)-Indianapolis 500 winner; (R)-Indianapolis 500 rookie; TBA-to be announced.
ENTRY SUMMARY
DRIVERS (15)
Former race winners (5): Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Eddie Cheever Jr. (1998), Buddy Lazier (1996), Buddy Rice (2004), Al Unser Jr. (1992, 1994).
Former pole winners (4): Helio Castroneves (2003), Scott Sharp (2001), Buddy Rice (2004), Al Unser Jr. (1994).
Rookies (1): P.J. Chesson.
U.S. born (10): Eddie Cheever Jr., P.J. Chesson, Larry Foyt, Sam Hornish Jr., Buddy Lazier, Danica Patrick, Buddy Rice, Scott Sharp, Jeff Simmons, Al Unser Jr.
Foreign born (5): Helio Castroneves, Brazil; Felipe Giaffone, Brazil; Vitor Meira, Brazil; Marty Roth, Canada; Kosuke Matsuura, Japan.
Youngest: Danica Patrick, 24.
Oldest: Eddie Cheever Jr., 48.
Most previous starts: Al Unser Jr., 17.
CARS (36)
Chassis: Dallara 25, Panoz 8, TBA 3.
***
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.
