It’s almost that time. A year of anticipation is culminating into motorsport’s pinnacle event. The Indianapolis 500 is nigh upon the racing scene, as 33 drivers await the magical words to start engines and battle for the Borg-Warner Trophy.
No more waiting. This is it. Drivers, crews and machines will be on the edge of control for 500 miles of competition on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s asphalt surface.
Who will be first to cross the Yard of Bricks on Sunday (May 26) and join racing’s elite on the Borg-Warner Trophy?
Let’s take a look at the 11 rows of three to see how each driver and team stacks up in the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Row 11
If Graham Rahal’s car takes the green flag in his 33rd starting spot, then his race will already be an improvement over 2023 when his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car didn’t start, leaving him two laps down before the car finally got rolling. His best finish was in the 2020 race when he finished third. Time is ticking on a possible win to match his old man, and I’m not sure it will be this year.
Can Marcus Ericsson get a third straight top-two finish, this time from the last row? He’s been exceptional, and a bit surprising, in his last two Indy 500 attempts. If he takes a patient approach, works traffic methodically and dials in the car, he’ll be up there by race’s end.
The Brit Katherine Legge put her car the field comfortably during the Last Chance Qualifier. Hopefully that bodes well for her confidence as she tackles Sunday.
Row 10
It’s really cool to have a Fittipaldi in the Indy 500 again. While he doesn’t carry the acclaim of his grandfather, Pietro Fittipaldi is only embarking on his second attempt in the Greatest Spectacle, so give him time.
The American and IMS fanboy Conor Daly is a local hero. His passion for this track is unmatched and his desire to win is equal to that of the front runners. This is his first race with Indy-only DRR, and they put his teammate in the top 12. Expect a good run.
If the Indy 500 was run on the road course, then Christian Lundgaard would be a top choice for a win. But the Dane who jumped over from Europe doesn’t quite have ovals figured out, with a 10th at Iowa Speedway Race 1 in 2022 serving as his only top-10. A top-15 will be his best finish at Indianapolis.
Row 9
Rookie Linus Lundqvist is racing his first Indy 500 this weekend as well as just his second oval in…
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