IndyCar® Series: 91st Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, fifth race in 17-race 2007 season
Indy Pro Series™: Freedom 100, fourth race in 16-race 2007 season
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2.5-mile asphalt oval
WHEN:
IndyCar Series: 1 p.m. (ET), Sunday, May 27
Indy Pro Series: 12:30 p.m. (ET), Friday, May 25
DISTANCE:
IndyCar Series: 200 laps/500 miles
Indy Pro Series: 40 laps/100 miles
POSTED AWARDS:
IndyCar Series: More than $10 million
Indy Pro Series: More than $300,000
CARS:
IndyCar Series: Dallara and Panoz chassis; Honda Indy V-8 engines; Firestone tires; 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol
Indy Pro Series: Dallara chassis; Firestone tires
PREVIOUS RACE WINNERS:
IndyCar Series era: Sam Hornish Jr. (2006), Dan Wheldon (2005), Buddy Rice (2004), Gil de Ferran (2003), Helio Castroneves (2002, 2001), Juan Montoya (2000), Kenny Brack (1999), Eddie Cheever (1998), Arie Luyendyk (1997), Buddy Lazier (1996).
Indy Pro Series: Wade Cunningham, (2006), Jaime Camara (2005), Thiago Medeiros (2004), Ed Carpenter (2003).
2006 SERIES CHAMPIONS:
IndyCar Series: Sam Hornish Jr.
Indy Pro Series: Jay Howard
TV:
IndyCar Series: Race: ABC (live), Noon (EDT), May 27
Talent: Brent Musberger (host); Marty Reid, Scott Goodyear, Rusty Wallace (announcers); Jack Arute, Jamie Little, Brienne Pedigo, Vince Welch (pit reporters)
Indy Pro Series: Race: ESPN2 (same day tape), 4 p.m. (EDT), May 25
Talent: Marty Reid, Scott Goodyear, Rusty Wallace (announcers); Jack Arute, Jamie Little, Brienne Pedigo, Vince Welch (pit reporters)
RADIO:
IndyCar Series: Qualifying: IMS Radio Network, Noon – 2 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., May 12-13 and May 19-20; Pre-race: IMS Radio Network (live), Noon (EDT), May 27
Race: IMS Radio Network (live), 1 p.m., May 27
Live coverage of Qualifying and the race also will be available at www.indycar.com and XM Satellite Radio channel 144 (XM Sports Nation and XM 145 “IndyCar Racing”
Indy Pro Series: Pre-race: IMS Radio Network (live), 12:15 p.m. (EDT), May 25
Race: IMS Radio Network (live), 12:30 p.m., May 25
Live coverage of Qualifying and the race also will be available at www.indycar.com.
SCHEDULE (all times local; subject to change):
May 6: A.J. FOYT OPENING DAY PRESENTED BY THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR
ROOKIE ORIENTATION PROGRAM
Noon-5 p.m.
May 7: ROOKIE ORIENTATION PROGRAM
Noon-5 p.m.
May 8-10: PRACTICE (All drivers)
Noon-6 p.m.
May 11: FAST FRIDAY PRACTICE (All drivers)
Noon-6 p.m.
May 12: POLE DAY QUALIFYING
9-11 a.m., Practice
Noon-6 p.m., AAMCO Transmissions Pole Qualifications
6 p.m., AAMCO Transmissions Pole Award Ceremony (Victory Podium)
May 13: SECOND DAY QUALIFYING/RILEY FAMILY DAY
10:15-11:15 a.m., Practice
Noon-6 p.m. Qualifications
May 16-18: PRACTICE (All drivers)
Noon-6 p.m.
May 19: COCA-COLA THROWBACK DAY QUALIFYING
10:15-11:15 a.m., Practice
Noon-6 p.m., Qualifications
May 20: ARMED FORCES DAY/BUMP DAY (Final day of qualifications)
10:15-11:15 a.m., Practice
Noon-6 p.m., Qualifications
May 24: FREEDOM 100 PRACTICE, QUALIFYING
9-9:45 a.m. and 11-11:45 a.m., Freedom 100 Practice
1:15 p.m. – Freedom 100 SWE Race Car Parts Pole Qualifying
3:40 -4 p.m. – Freedom 100 Final Practice
May 25: MILLER LITE CARB DAY
11 a.m.-noon, IndyCar Series Practice
Noon,, Freedom 100 Pre-Race
12:30 p.m., Freedom 100
1:30-3 p.m., Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Competition
3:30 p.m., Miller Lite Carb Day Concert
May 27: RACE DAY
1 p.m., 90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race
THE TRACK:
Total track length: 2.5 miles
Front straight: 5/8-mile
Back straight: 5/8-mile
Turns: 1/4-mile
Short chutes: 1/8-mile
Turn banking: 9 degrees, 12 minutes
Straightaway banking: 0 degrees
Straightaway width: 50 feet
Turn width: 60 feet
• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909 with a 2.5-mile oval circuit. The Indianapolis 500 has taken place annually on the oval track since 1911, except during world wars in 1917-18 and 1942-45. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest spectator sporting facility in the world. The Speedway plays host to three of the largest-attended sporting events in the world: The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the United States Grand Prix.
INDIANAPOLIS 500 NOTES:
•Six Indianapolis 500 champions are entered in the Indianapolis 500: Al Unser Jr. (1992, 1994), Buddy Lazier (1996), Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Sam Hornish Jr. (2006).
•As of May 2, drivers entered in the Indianapolis 500 have combined for 88 IndyCar Series victories, 76 pole positions and 1,386 starts.
•The 91st Indianapolis 500-Mile Race will be the 12th IndyCar Series event conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is the only track to host an event in each of the previous 11 IndyCar Series seasons.
•Six IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Indianapolis 500: Scott Sharp (1996 co-champion), Buddy Lazier (2000), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002, 2006), Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).
INDIANAPOLIS 500 STORY IDEAS:
• Can anyone stop Wheldon?: Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Dan Wheldon has been the dominant driver on ovals this season. The Englishman has posted victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Kansas Speedway and finished second at Twin Ring Motegi. Wheldon, who returns to Indianapolis in search of his second 500 victory, leads the IndyCar Series point standings entering the Indianapolis 500.
• Marco Hopes To Move Up One Spot: Third-generation open-wheel driver Marco Andretti returns to Indianapolis with his family-owned Andretti Green Racing after finishing second last season. The son of Michael Andretti and grandson of 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti became the third son to race against his father in the Indianapolis 500, joining his father and grandfather and Al Unser Sr. and Al Unser Jr., and will attempt to race against his father again in 2007.
• Three drivers attempt to make 500: For the first time, three female drivers have entered the 91st Indianapolis 500. Danica Patrick returns to the site where Danica-mania began, the Indianapolis 500. The 2005 Chase Rookie of the Year returns to the Speedway aiming to improve on her eighth-place finish in 2006, but with a new team. Patrick is part of Andretti Green Racing’s five-car effort for Indianapolis. Joining Patrick are 500 veteran Sarah Fisher and Venezuelan newcomer Milka Duno.
• Hornish, Castroneves chasing history: Reigning IndyCar Series and Indy 500 Champion Sam Hornish Jr., returns to Indianapolis in search of another 500 win. Hornish, who became the second straight driver to win at Indianapolis and the IndyCar Series title in the same season, and his teammate, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, hope to bring team owner Roger Penske his 15th win as a team owner.
• Return to Indy: Several veteran racers return to race at Indianapolis this year. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., 1996 winner Buddy Lazier and Michael Andretti, who has led more laps than any non-winner at Indianapolis, will attempt to qualify for the 500..
• Ethanol Power: The 91st Running of the Indianapolis 500 will be the first Indianapolis 500 where the full field will be fueled by ethanol. All IndyCar Series competitors will employ the 3.5-liter Honda Indy V-8 engine fueled by 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. The IndyCar Series is the first in motorsports to embrace a renewable fuel source. Ethanol is an environmentally-friendly fuel, distilled from high-starch crops (primarily corn) grown in the United States. This, however, is not the first time that ethanol has been used at the Speedway. At the 1927 race, a car driven by Leon Duray experimented with ethyl (grain) alcohols, but it is not known if he used the fuel in the race. Art Sparks claimed in his book that his team used ethanol in cars in 1937-1939.
INDYCAR SERIES MILESTONES:
• Dan Wheldon won his 13th IndyCar Series race at Kansas Speedway, giving himself sole possession of second place on the IndyCar Series all-time victory list.
• Dan Wheldon has led 484 of 700 laps this season or 69.1 percent of all laps. Tony Kanaan holds the IndyCar Series record for most-laps led with 889 during the 2004 season.
• Sam Hornish Jr. can tie the record that Helio Castroneves and Scott Sharp share for most consecutive seasons with at least one win should he win the Kansas Lottery Indy 300. Sharp claimed at least one win from 1997-2003 while Castroneves has won in every season since 2001.
• Scott Sharp needs one win to earn his 10th IndyCar Series victory and Sharp will attempt to extend his series record for consecutive starts to 126 straight races at Indianapolis
• Vitor Meira has gone 62 starts without a victory in the IndyCar Series, the longest drought of any IndyCar Series driver.
• Three women, Milka Duno, Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick, started the Kansas Lottery Indy 300, the first time that more than two women have started an IndyCar Series event.
