Four past winners and four IZOD IndyCar Series champions are among the drivers named to the 40 entries filed for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for May 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Seventy-eight cars comprise the 40 entries. It’s the second consecutive year with 40 entries on the list, the most entries since 2002. It’s also the seventh consecutive year in which the number of entries has climbed or held steady.
Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves (2001-02, 2009) leads the list of past winners, which also includes Scott Dixon (2008), Dario Franchitti (2007) and Dan Wheldon (2005). Castroneves will attempt to become just the fourth four-time winner in the illustrious history of the race, joining A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.
Series champions include Dixon (2003, 2008), Franchitti (2007, 2009), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Wheldon (2005).
Thirty-four drivers have been named to the 40 entries filed this year for the 33 starting spots in the world’s most prestigious auto race. This guarantees plenty of dramatic action on both qualifying days, "Pole Day" and "Armed Forces Day/Bump Day" which would feature an exciting new format.
There is outstanding depth and quality in this year’s field. Besides four past race winners and four series champions, 15 of the 34 drivers named to entries have won at least one race in either IZOD IndyCar Series or Champ Car World Series competition.
Four women could start in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, as 2005 Chase Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick, Milka Duno, Sarah Fisher and Simona De Silvestro were named to entries.
Plenty of young talent that recently advanced through the Road to Indy ladder system also will be on display, as the field includes three of the last four Firestone Indy Lights champions – Jay Howard (2006), Alex Lloyd (2007) and Raphael Matos (2008). Other recent Firestone Indy Lights graduates on the entry list include 2002 series champion A.J. Foyt IV, Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter, Hideki Mutoh, Mario Romancini and Sebastian Saavedra.
Six drivers comprise a strong rookie crop: Firestone Indy Lights champion Howard, Firestone Indy Lights race winners Romancini and Saavedra, former Formula One driver Takuma Sato, and IZOD IndyCar Series rookie regulars Bertrand Baguette and De Silvestro.
Specifically:
Former race winners (4): Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009), Dan Wheldon (2005), Dario Franchitti (2007), Scott Dixon (2008).
Former pole winners (4): Bruno Junqueira (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003, 2007, 2009), Tony Kanaan (2005), Scott Dixon (2008).
Rookies (6): Bertrand Baguette, Simona De Silvestro, Jay Howard, Mario Romancini, Sebastian Saavedra, Takuma Sato.
