Thirty-five entries, 67 cars set for 88th Indianapolis 500
Helio Castroneves and Al Unser Jr. will attempt to become members of an elite club during the 88th Indianapolis 500 - three-time winners of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Castroneves and Unser are the former winners among the 25 drivers named to the 35 entries filed for the Indianapolis 500 on May 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Those entries include 67 cars. The 10 entries without drivers are expected to be filled as May approaches.
The 88th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. (EST, local time) Sunday, May 30 and will be broadcast live on ABC Sports and the IMS Radio Network. Opening Day is Sunday, May 9, with Pole Day Saturday, May 15.
Gil de Ferran won the race last year for Marlboro Team Penske in his final Indianapolis 500 start, as he retired after the Indy Racing League(R) IndyCar(R) Series season.
Castroneves or Unser can become just the ninth driver in the history of the race, which started in 1911, to win at least three times. Castroneves won in 2001 and 2002, while Unser captured the Borg-Warner Trophy as winner in 1992 and 1994.
2003 MBNA Pole winner Castroneves will drive the No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone for Marlboro Team Penske. He has finished first, first and second in his three career Indy starts since 2001, all with Penske.
Unser will attempt to make his 17th start at Indianapolis in the No. 20 Patrick Racing Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone. It will be his first start of the season and first in the IndyCar Series for Patrick Racing and team owner U.E. "Pat" Patrick.
Patrick-owned cars won the Indianapolis 500 in 1973 and 1982 with driver Gordon Johncock and in 1989 with driver Emerson Fittipaldi after a stirring duel with Unser.
While Patrick Racing will aim for its fourth victory at Indianapolis, Penske Racing looks to continue its recent dominance of the event and extend its all-time mastery of the historic 2.5-mile oval.
Penske Racing has won a record 13 Indianapolis 500's, including the last three in a row. In fact, Marlboro Team Penske has won the last five Indianapolis 500-Mile Races in which it has competed - 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Roger Penske also is attempting to become the first team owner to win the race four consecutive years.
Marlboro Team Penske entered six cars this year, with two Dallara/Toyota/Firestone entries for Castroneves, two Dallara/Toyota/Firestone entries for teammate and two-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. and two Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone entries for a driver to be named later.
Two-time IndyCar Series champion Panther Racing and Team Rahal also each entered six cars spread over three entries. This is the largest Indy entry ever for Team Rahal, co-owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and late-night television icon David Letterman.
2002 Indianapolis 500 Bank One co-Rookie of the Year Tomas Scheckter will drive the No. 4 Pennzoil Panther Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone for Panther, with rookie Mark Taylor as his teammate in the No. 2 Menards/Johns Manville Racing Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone. A driver will be named for the No. 44 Pedigo Chevrolet Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone entered by Panther.
Buddy Rice leads Team Rahal's charge into Indy, driving the No. 15 Rahal-Letterman Argent/Pioneer Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone. Roger Yasukawa will drive the No. 16 Rahal-Letterman Racing Sammy Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone, while a driver will be named for the No. 17 Rahal-Letterman Racing Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone.
Andretti Green Racing entered eight cars over four entries, more than any team this year. Current IndyCar Series points leader Tony Kanaan will drive the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Andretti Green Racing, co-owned by former Indianapolis 500 standout Michael Andretti.
Also driving for Andretti Green are Bryan Herta in the No. 7 XM Satellite Radio Dallara/Honda/Firestone, 2003 IndyCar Series Bombardier Rookie of the Year Dan Wheldon in the No. 26 Klein Tools/Jim Beam Dallara/Honda/Firestone and Dario Franchitti in the No. 27 Arca/Ex Dallara/Honda/Firestone.
Defending IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon leads defending series entrant champion Target Chip Ganassi Racing into Indianapolis. Ganassi won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with current Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya behind the wheel.
Dixon will drive the No. 1 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone, with rookie Darren Manning as his teammate in the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone.
Dixon is one of four IndyCar Series champions named to drive entries this year at Indianapolis. Others are Hornish (2001-2002), Kelley Racing's Scott Sharp (1996) and Access Motorsports' Greg Ray (1999).
Other interesting storylines this year include the return of another team with a rich history at Indianapolis, a wide-ranging rookie class and introduction of new engine and aerodynamic rules.
Newman Haas Racing will compete in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time since 1995, fielding a single entry of two cars. The driver will be named soon.
The team, co-owned by Carl Haas and Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman, has competed in 13 previous Indianapolis 500-Mile Races with such drivers as Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell and Paul Tracy.
Five rookies were named to entries.
2003 Menards Infiniti Pro Series champion Taylor and Red Bull Cheever Racing's Ed Carpenter both have experience racing at Indianapolis, as they competed in the inaugural Futaba Freedom 100 last May. Carpenter won the race, while Taylor finished third.
Marty Roth will climb from the Menards Infiniti Pro Series to make both his Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series debut in the No. 25 Roth Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone. Roth, 45, is the oldest rookie in the field and will attempt to become the second-oldest rookie to start the race.
Roth also plans to race in the Futaba Freedom 100 on Saturday, May 22, becoming the first driver to compete in two races in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Other rookies named to entries are Manning with Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Kosuke Matsuura with Super Aguri Fernandez Racing.
The rookies will participate in the Rookie Orientation Program on Monday, April 26 at the Speedway.
New engine and aerodynamic rules for the IndyCar Series will be introduced at the Indianapolis 500. The new aero package, featuring a quarter-inch center-line vertical wicker bill, a reverse quarter-inch wicker on the bottom side of the rear wing and curved skid plate on the cars, and smaller, 3.0-liter engines will reduce speeds and enhance safety.
There is excellent balance among the three IndyCar Series manufacturers among the entries, as 22 cars have Toyota power, 21 will use Chevrolet engines, and 20 will have Honda engines. The engine selection for the remaining four cars will be named later.
Indianapolis Star Opening Day for the 88th Indianapolis 500 is Sunday, May 9. IndyCar Series practice continues daily through May 14, with MBNA Pole Qualifying on Pole Day, Saturday, May 15. Second-day qualifications take place on Marsh Second Day Qualifying/Armed Forces Day, Sunday, May 16.
There will be no track activity May 17-18, but practice will resume Wednesday, May 19 and continue through Saturday, May 22. Bump Day, the dramatic final day of qualifications, is scheduled for Sunday, May 23.
No track activity is scheduled
May 24-26, but 500 Festival Community Day and the popular public track laps, garage tours and drivers autograph session are scheduled for Wednesday, May 26.
Miller Lite Carb Day, the final day of track activity before Race Day, is scheduled for Thursday, May 27. The crucial two-hour final practice for the starting field will kick off the day, followed by the Checkers/Rally's Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge. The Miller Lite Carb Day Concert - free with Carb Day admission to the track - will take place that afternoon with Blues Traveler as the headline act.
The public drivers' meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 24, followed by the 500 Festival Parade in downtown Indianapolis.
The 40-lap Futaba Freedom 100 is scheduled for Saturday, May 22 for the Menards Infiniti Pro Series. Practice for the Freedom 100 takes place Thursday, May 20, followed by practice and qualifying Friday, May 21 and the race at 1 p.m. (EST, local time) May 22.
ENTRY SUMMARY
DRIVERS (25)
Former race winners: Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Al Unser Jr. (1992, 1994).
Former pole winners: Helio Castroneves (2003), Greg Ray (2000), Scott Sharp (2001), Al Unser Jr. (1994).
Rookies (5): Ed Carpenter, Darren Manning, Kosuke Matsuura, Marty Roth, Mark Taylor.
U.S. born (13): Alex Barron, Robbie Buhl, Ed Carpenter, Sarah Fisher, A.J. Foyt IV, Robby Gordon, Bryan Herta, Sam Hornish Jr., Greg Ray, Buddy Rice, Scott Sharp, Al Unser Jr., Roger Yasukawa.
Foreign born (12): Helio Castroneves, Brazil; Scott Dixon, New Zealand; Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Dario Franchitti, Great Britain; Tony Kanaan, Brazil; Darren Manning, Great Britain; Kosuke Matsuura, Japan; Marty Roth, Canada; Tomas Scheckter, South Africa; Tora Takagi, Japan; Mark Taylor, Great Britain; Dan Wheldon, Great Britain.
Youngest: A.J. Foyt IV, 19.
Oldest: Marty Roth, 45.
Most previous starts: Al Unser Jr., 16.
CARS (67)
Chassis: Dallara 45, Panoz G Force 18, TBA 4.Engines: Toyota 22, Chevrolet 21, Honda 20, TBA 4.
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Tickets: Tickets are available for the 2004 Indianapolis 500 on May 30. For information, log on to indianapolismotorspeedway.com, or call the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY or (317) 492-6700.
IRL IndyCar(R) Series - 88th Indianapolis 500At Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Noon (EDT) Sunday, May 30, 2004ABC/IMS Radio Network (live)
Car - Driver - Hometown - Car Name - C/E/T - Entrant - Chief Mechanic1 Scott Dixon Auckland, New Zealand Target Chip Ganassi Racing G/T/F Target Chip Ganassi Racing Ricky Davis1T Scott Dixon Auckland, New Zealand Target Chip Ganassi Racing G/T/F Target Chip Ganassi Racing Ricky Davis2 Mark Taylor (R) London Menards/Johns Manville Racing D/C/F Panther Racing Eric Haverson2T Mark Taylor (R) London Menards/Johns Manville Racing D/C/F Panther Racing Eric Haverson3 Helio Castroneves (W) Sao Paulo, Brazil Marlboro Team Penske D/T/F Marlboro Team Penske Rick Rinaman3T Helio Castroneves (W) Sao Paulo, Brazil Marlboro Team Penske D/T/F Marlboro Team Penske Rick Rinaman4 Tomas Scheckter Cape Town, South Africa Pennzoil Panther D/C/F Panther Racing Simon Morley4T Tomas Scheckter Cape Town, South Africa Pennzoil Panther D/C/F Panther Racing Simon Morley5 Adrián Fernández Mexico City Quaker State Telmex Tecate G/H/F Fernandez Racing Mike Sales5T Adrián Fernández Mexico City Quaker State Telmex Tecate G/H/F Fernandez Racing Mike Sales6 Sam Hornish Jr. Defiance, Ohio Marlboro Team Penske D/T/F Marlboro Team Penske Matt Jonsson6T Sam Hornish Jr. Defiance, Ohio Marlboro Team Penske D/T/F Marlboro Team Penske Matt Jonsson7 Bryan Herta Valencia, Calif. XM Satellite Radio D/H/F Andretti Green Racing Jeff Grahn7T Bryan Herta Valencia, Calif. XM Satellite Radio D/H/F Andretti Green Racing Jeff Grahn8 Scott Sharp Norwalk, Conn. Delphi D/T/F Kelley Racing John Worth8T Scott Sharp Norwalk, Conn. Delphi D/T/F Kelley Racing John Worth10 Darren Manning (R) North Yorkshire, England Target Chip Ganassi Racing G/T/F Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dave Higuera10T Darren Manning (R) North Yorkshire, England Target Chip Ganassi Racing G/T/F Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dave Higuera11 Tony Kanaan Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Team 7-Eleven D/H/F Andretti Green Racing Jeff Simon11T Tony Kanaan Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Team 7-Eleven D/H/F Andretti Green Racing Jeff Simon12 Tora Takagi Shizuoka, Japan Pioneer Mo Nunn Racing D/T/F Pioneer Mo Nunn Racing Don Lambert12T Tora Takagi Shizuoka, Japan Pioneer Mo Nunn Racing D/T/F Pioneer Mo Nunn Racing Don Lambert13 Greg Ray Plano, Texas Access Motorsports G/H/F Access Motorsports Jamie Nanny13T Greg Ray Plano, Texas Access Motorsports G/H/F Access Motorsports Jamie Nanny14 A.J. Foyt IV Hockley, Texas Conseco/A.J. Foyt Racing D/T/F A.J. Foyt Enterprises Richie Simon14T A.J. Foyt IV Hockley, Texas Conseco/A.J. Foyt Racing D/T/F A.J. Foyt Enterprises Richie Simon15 Buddy Rice Phoenix Rahal-Letterman Argent/Pioneer G/H/F Team Rahal Ricardo Nault15T Buddy Rice Phoenix Rahal-Letterman Argent/Pioneer G/H/F Team Rahal Ricardo Nault16 Roger Yasukawa Los Angeles Rahal-Letterman Racing Sammy G/H/F Team Rahal Dennis Swan16T Roger Yasukawa Los Angeles Rahal-Letterman Racing Sammy G/H/F Team Rahal Dennis Swan17 TBA TBA Rahal-Letterman Racing G/H/F Team Rahal Greg Cates17T TBA TBA Rahal-Letterman Racing G/H/F Team Rahal Greg Cates18 TBA TBA PDM Racing D/C/F PDM Racing Clark Drake18T TBA TBA PDM Racing D/C/F PDM Racing Clark Drake20 Al Unser Jr. (W) Albuquerque, N.M. Patrick Racing D/C/F Patrick Racing Neil Brown20T Al Unser Jr. (W) Albuquerque, N.M. Patrick Racing D/C/F Patrick Racing Neil Brown21 TBA TBA Nunn Racing D/T/F Nunn Racing TBA23 TBA TBA Dreyer & Reinbold Racing D/C/F Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dan Miller24 Robbie Buhl Detroit Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold D/C/F Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Brian Franzosi24T Robbie Buhl Detroit Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold D/C/F Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Brian Franzosi25 Marty Roth (R) Toronto Roth Racing D/T/F Roth Racing Butch Winkle26 Dan Wheldon Emberton, England Klein Tools/Jim Beam D/H/F Andretti Green Racing Mike Horvath26T Dan Wheldon Emberton, England Klein Tools/Jim Beam D/H/F Andretti Green Racing Mike Horvath27 Dario Franchitti Edinburgh, Scotland Arca/Ex D/H/F Andretti Green Racing David Popielarz27T Dario Franchitti Edinburgh, Scotland Arca/Ex D/H/F Andretti Green Racing David Popielarz39 Sarah Fisher Commercial Point, Ohio Kelley Racing D/T/F Kelley Racing Jim Reid39T Sarah Fisher Commercial Point, Ohio Kelley Racing D/T/F Kelley Racing Jim Reid41 TBA TBA A.J. Foyt Racing D/T/F A.J. Foyt Enterprises Craig Baranouski41T TBA TBA A.J. Foyt Racing D/T/F A.J. Foyt Enterprises Craig Baranouski44 TBA TBA Pedigo Chevrolet D/C/F Panther Racing Ron Catt44T TBA TBA Pedigo Chevrolet D/C/F Panther Racing Ron Catt51 Alex Barron Menifee, Calif. Red Bull Cheever Racing D/C/F Red Bull Cheever Racing Craig McCain51T Alex Barron Menifee, Calif. Red Bull Cheever Racing D/C/F Red Bull Cheever Racing Craig McCain52 Ed Carpenter (R) Indianapolis Red Bull Cheever Racing D/C/F Red Bull Cheever Racing Tom Vasi52T Ed Carpenter (R) Indianapolis Red Bull Cheever Racing D/C/F Red Bull Cheever Racing Tom Vasi54 TBA TBA Beck Motorsports D/C/F Beck Motorsports TBA54T TBA TBA Beck Motorsports D/C/F Beck Motorsports TBA55 Kosuke Matsuura (R) Aichi, Japan Panasonic ARTA G/H/F Super Aguri Fernandez Racing Steve Ragan55T Kosuke Matsuura (R) Aichi, Japan Panasonic ARTA G/H/F Super Aguri Fernandez Racing Steve Ragan66 TBA TBA Marlboro Team Penske G/T/F Marlboro Team Penske TBA66T TBA TBA Marlboro Team Penske G/T/F Marlboro Team Penske TBA70 Robby Gordon Orange, Calif. Meijer/Coca-Cola Robby Gordon D/C/F Robby Gordon Motorsports Bharat Naran70T Robby Gordon Orange, Calif. Meijer/Coca-Cola Robby Gordon D/C/F Robby Gordon Motorsports Bharat Naran91 TBA TBA Hemelgarn Racing TBA Hemelgarn Racing Dennis LaCava91T TBA TBA Hemelgarn Racing TBA Hemelgarn Racing Dennis LaCavaTBA TBA TBA Newman Haas Racing TBA Newman Haas Racing Mark ShambargerTBA TBA TBA Newman Haas Racing TBA Newman Haas Racing Mark Shambarger
Legend: Chassis: D=Dallara, G=Panoz G Force. Engine: C=Chevrolet, H=Honda, T=Toyota. Tire: F=Firestone. (R)=Indianapolis 500 Rookie. (W)=Past Winner.
