33 Starters for Indy?

[rush1]

Here is a list of potential Indy participants. This is by no means a factual list. add, subtract any possibilities.
A.likely
1.Sam Hornish
2.Helio Castroneves
3.Darren Manning
4.Scott Dixon
5.Dario Franchitti
6.Bryan Herta
7.Tony Kaanan
8.Dan Wheldon
9.Alex Barron
10.Buddy Rice
11.Thomas Scheckter
12.Sara Fisher
13.Scott Sharp
14.AJ Foyt IV
15.Karsoke Matsuura
16.Greg Ray
17.Mark Taylor
18.Marty Roth
19.Tora Takagi
20.Roger Yakusawa
21.Al Unser jr.
22.Robby Gordon
23.Adrian Fernandez
24.Vitor Meira
25.Ed Carpenter
26.Robbie Buhl
27.Bruno Junqueira

B. Possibilities
28.Sebastian Bordais
29.PDM entry
30.Beck Entry
31.3rd Cheever entry
32.2nd Gordon entry
33.2nd Nunn entry
34.2nd Fernandez entry
35.2nd Foyt entry
36.3rd panther entry
37.3rd Ganassi entry

[mandretti39]

Does anyone know if Michael Andretti will come out of retirement to try his hands at winning the Indy 500?

[GP Racer]

Well, 33 cars certainly looks like it could be a reality now. That will get TG off the hook for his ill-timed statements about the importance of "the number". Could we even have a Bump Day that matters this year?

As for Michael, I'm quite sure he has a few 500's left in him, but would he actually put a 5th car out there? I havn't heard any rumors that he will, but it would be great if he did!

A couple of worries are Fisher, Roth and the PDM entry. They were all supposed to be up and running already, but I havn't heard anything for awhile now.

[Tenoch]

I seroiusly think its going to happen lots of people want to be at the Indy 500 it is the greatest spectatcle american motorsports. Even if your part of the IRL do you have to qualify to be there or are there some sort of incentives?

[BSchneiderFan]

Ganassi has run four cars at Indy in the past - Jimmy Vasser, perhaps? Tony Stewart (though I think he has already said he won't try to do the double this year)?

I think it's a real shame that Ferrari wouldn't release Barrichello to do Indy last year - it could have radically altered European teams' and drivers' view of the race.

[rush1]

Originally posted by BSchneiderFan
Ganassi has run four cars at Indy in the past - Jimmy Vasser, perhaps? Tony Stewart (though I think he has already said he won't try to do the double this year)?

I think it's a real shame that Ferrari wouldn't release Barrichello to do Indy last year - it could have radically altered European teams' and drivers' view of the race.

Did Barrichello want to race in the 500?

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by GP Racer
A couple of worries are Fisher, Roth and the PDM entry.

From what I remember, Sarah Fisher only has a solid deal for Indianapolis, with a few other races included if they were able to gather up sponsorship.

Marty Roth hasn't mentioned anything about joining in on the fun before Indianapolis, so I'm quite sure he's right on track at the moment, considering he did the IPS races at both Homestead and Phoenix as scheduled.

The last I heard/read about PDM and Ben Collins was that they delayed their entry into the championship from Phoenix to Indianapolis. Motegi would have been skipped regardless of whether they raced at Phoenix or not.



I personally think that Collins is the only really unsure card - there's been far too little information coming from that camp for my liking.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by mandretti39
Does anyone know if Michael Andretti will come out of retirement to try his hands at winning the Indy 500?

Unlikely, but not impossible.

[GTV27]

You'd reckon Michael Andretti would have a pretty good chance in that field.

[climb]

3rd car for Panther is for sure, they placed it yesterday.

About "2nd Fernandez entry" you apparently mean "3rd" don't you, rush1?

[rustyfan]

You can add a second AJ Foyt car to the list of confirmed, as they have entered two cars now (one for AJ Foyt IV and a second one for a yet-to-be announced driver).

I would add a third Penske car as a possibility as well.

[climb]

Rustyfan, are you sure a second entry means a second driver?
Ain't that just a Tcar entry?
For instance, Panther placed six entries for 3 drivers..

[climb]

Correction: Foyt did place 4 entries, corresponding to two drivers, My fault

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by climb
Rustyfan, are you sure a second entry means a second driver?
Ain't that just a Tcar entry?
For instance, Panther placed six entries for 3 drivers..

Yeah I'm sure - I guess I should have written "entered four cars", but since I think it's a bit silly to count the spare cars as entered cars, I didn't


From the official entry list;

A.J. Foyt IV A.J. Foyt Enterprises 14, 14T Conseco/A.J. Foyt Racing D/T/F March 30
TBA A.J. Foyt Enterprises 41, 41T A.J. Foyt Racing D/T/F March 30

[rustyfan]

Nice timing there

[Down F0rce]

Good good, another car on the gird

[racer69]

Hasn't Jimmy Kite been mentioned as a possible driver of the 2nd PDM car (probably presuming Collins make the grid safely)

Gordon will apparently run his other car if/when he makes the grid safely.

I can see Gannassi running a third car (maybe for Casey Mears), but i wouldn't count on a third Penske car.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by racer69
but i wouldn't count on a third Penske car.

Didn't Penske and Sam Schmidt put together a 'satellite' team for last years Indy 500? I seem to recall reading that somewhere. Perhaps something similar might be in the works for this year.

[climb]

Last year Penske had a car to dismiss (2nd GForce), thus Schmidt's turned out to be a good business for him, cosnidering that Sam's driver destroyed the car.

This year I don't think Roger has a disposable car to get rid of

[Down F0rce]

Some new enteries have been filed. Penske will enter a third car, D&R will enter a second car, PDM will enter a car, Hemelgarn will enter a car, Mo Nunn will enter a second car. The teams mentioned will enter cars for thier usual drivers as well. AGR and Cheever have also enters four and two cars respectivly.

That makes 29 so far

[rustyfan]

So I was right about the third Penske after all

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Down F0rce
That makes 29 so far

I just realized the deadline was yesterday - I wonder how many additional entries that are currently enroute via the postal system. Here's hoping there are at least four...

[climb]

Originally posted by rustyfan
So I was right about the third Penske after all

Once again ..

[Down F0rce]

Sam Schmidt and a couple of others were late last year with entires, 33 won't be a problem

[OVERSTEER]

Could Conquest racing release Justin Wilson for the race?