Two F1 race winners who won the Indianapolis 500 before will return to the Brickyard on Sunday with the goal of repeating their previous successes.
But Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve are up against the fastest and most closely-matched field in the 103-year history of the race.
Speeds have risen around the Brickyard since the introduction of the new Dallara DW12 chassis and V6 turbo engines two years ago. Last year Tony Kanaan post the fastest average speed for a winner in the Speedway’s history: 187.433mph (301.644kph).
In qualifying this year the 2.1 second gap between the fastest and slowest qualifying runners (over four-lap runs) was the closest ever seen at Indianapolis. The average speed of the field, 229.382mph (369.155kph), is also a new record.
And while Ed Carpenter’s pole position speed of 231.067mph (371.866kph) may be 6mph off Arie Luyendyk’s 1996 record, it’s another step towards IndyCar’s stated aim of reviving the pursuit of ultimate speed at the Speedway.
It’s also a lot quicker than Kurt Busch is used to. The 2004 NASCAR champion will compete in Sunday evening’s race at Charlotte after taking the green flag at Indianapolis. NASCAR race once per year at the Brickyard, and last year’s pole time was over 40mph slower than Carpenter’s.
The one-off appearances from Villeneuve and Buch, and Montoya’s return to a full-time seat, are sure to bring new attention to a series which is striving to regain its lost glory.
But picking a winner from such a close field is a tough ask. Carpenter shares the front row with James Hinchcliffe and championship leader Will Power – none of which have ever won at Indianapolis before.
But Power’s Penske team mate Helio Castroneves is seeking a fourth victory from row two. And he’s doing so in a car which bears one of the iconic Indianapolis liveries – the distinctive yellow of Pennzoil.
With Montoya also in the top ten, the three Penske cars line up in front of the Ganassi continent, which includes last year’s winner Tony Kanaan. But the grid ultimately counts for little in a race which will last well over two-and-a-half hours, and the silver Ganassi cars were quick in practice.
2014 Indianapolis 500 grid
Here’s how the 33 cars will line up:
# | Driver | Team | Engine | Speed (mph) | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 | Ed Carpenter | Carpenter | Chevrolet | 231.067 | Owner-driver on pole for second year in a row, finished tenth last year. |
2 | 27 | James Hinchcliffe | Andretti | Honda | 230.839 | Recovered from concussion sustained in race on Indy road course two weeks ago |
3 | 12 | Will Power | Penske | Chevrolet | 230.697 | Has won 19 IndyCar races but just once on an oval – at Fontana last year. |
4 | 3 | Helio Castroneves | Penske | Chevrolet | 230.649 | Another Indy 500 win would tie him with record-holding four-time winners. |
5 | 77 | Simon Pagenaud | Schmidt | Honda | 230.614 | Won the road course race and has finished in the top five at every round so far. |
6 | 25 | Marco Andretti | Andretti | Honda | 230.544 | Grandson of F1 champion and IndyCar great is yet to win in a race in the DW12. |
7 | 34 | Carlos Munoz | Andretti | Honda | 230.146 | Stunned last year with second on the grid and at the flag. First full season. |
8 | 67 | Josef Newgarden | SFHR | Honda | 229.893 | On an upward trajectory: second at Baltimore last year and raced well at Long Beach. |
9 | 21 | J.R. Hildebrand | Carpenter | Chevrolet | 228.726 | No full-time seat this year. Crashed while leading his first 500 at final turn in 2011. |
10 | 2 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Penske | Chevrolet | 231.007 | One Indy 500 start; one win. Back in single-seaters after seven years away. |
11 | 9 | Scott Dixon | Ganassi | Chevrolet | 230.928 | Three-times IndyCar champion had a single Indy 500 win in 2008. |
12 | 26 | Kurt Busch | Andretti | Honda | 230.782 | Will also race in NASCAR’s 600-mile race on same day. Quick but crashed in practice. |
13 | 98 | Jack Hawksworth | Herta | Honda | 230.506 | Led 31 laps around road course and deserved better than seventh on his fourth start. |
14 | 19 | Justin Wilson | Dale Coyne | Honda | 230.256 | Periodic winner with Dale Coyne but tends to lose out in the pits. |
15 | 7 | Mikhail Aleshin | Schmidt | Honda | 203.049 | IndyCar’s first Russian driver, won the Formula Renault 3.5 title in 2010. |
16 | 10 | Tony Kanaan | Ganassi | Chevrolet | 229.922 | Took an overdue and popular first Indianapolis 500 win last year. |
17 | 11 | Sebastien Bourdais | KV | Chevrolet | 229.847 | Dominant in Champ Car, unsuccessful in F1, yet to win a race in IndyCar. |
18 | 16 | Oriol Servia | RLL | Honda | 229.752 | Spanish veteran of US racing had a career-best fourth at Indianapolis two years ago. |
19 | 28 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Andretti | Honda | 229.719 | Redeemed himself with wet weather win in Barber after Long Beach shunt. |
20 | 15 | Graham Rahal | RLL | Honda | 229.628 | Second-generation driver still looking for follow up to maiden 2008 win. |
21 | 18 | Carlos Huertas | Dale Coyne | Honda | 229.251 | Switched from European racing after two years in Formula Renault 3.5. |
22 | 63 | Pippa Mann | Dale Coyne | Honda | 229.223 | The only woman in the field, making her first start of the year. |
23 | 14 | Takuma Sato | Foyt | Honda | 229.201 | As he was in F1: fast, fearless but ragged. Won at Long Beach last year. |
24 | 68 | Alex Tagliani | SFHR | Honda | 229.148 | Led a lap last year but last win at any level was now six years ago. |
25 | 6 | Townsend Bell | KV | Chevrolet | 229.009 | More commonly found in the commentary team these days, took best of fourth in 2009. |
26 | 83 | Charlie Kimball | Ganassi | Chevrolet | 228.953 | Took surprise win at Mid-Ohio last season but hasn’t repeated that form yet this year. |
27 | 5 | Jacques Villeneuve | Schmidt | Honda | 228.949 | Returning to the race he won in 1995 before the split happened. |
28 | 33 | James Davison | KV | Chevrolet | 228.865 | Dabbled in IndyCar two years ago, Indy Lights runner-up in 2009. |
29 | 41 | Martin Plowman | Foyt | Honda | 228.814 | Shared the WEC LMP2 title with his Oak team mates last year. |
30 | 8 | Ryan Briscoe | Ganassi | Chevrolet | 228.713 | Back at Ganassi for this season after a five-year stint at Penske which ended in 2012. |
31 | 22 | Sage Karam | Ganassi | Chevrolet | 228.436 | Reigning Indy Lights champion is making his IndyCar debut. |
32 | 17 | Sebastian Saavedra | KV | Chevrolet | 228.088 | Fortunate pole for road course race led to carnage when he failed to get away. |
33 | 91 | Buddy Lazier | Lazier | Chevrolet | 227.920 | Won the first post-split 500 in 1996, the 46-year-old is making up the numbers now. |
Indianapolis 500 gallery
Watching the Indianapolis 500
I will feature on BT Sport’s live coverage of Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The build-up starts at 3:30pm with a special edition of Motorsport Tonight, then the main broadcast begins at 4:30pm with a race start time of 5pm.
For those of you not in the UK you can find and share IndyCar coverage details here:
And as always F1 Fanatic Live will be running throughout the race – look out for the live page on the site shortly after the Monaco Grand Prix.
Over to you
Who’s your tip for success in the Indianapolis 500? How do you think Montoya and Villeneuve will fare? Have your say in the comments.
IndyCar
- Ghiotto gets 11th hour call-up for IndyCar debut at Barber
- McLaughlin and Power accept penalties over misuse of push-to-pass system
- Pourchaire sure he’ll get more chances to join F1 after strong IndyCar debut
- Two Penskes disqualified from season-opener, O’Ward handed victory
- Pourchaire to make second IndyCar start for McLaren as Malukas’ absence continues
Images © IndyCar/Chris Jones
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
23rd May 2014, 15:48
I’m all for drivers running in different series, but Kurt Busch doing a 500-mile race and a 600-mile race on the same day feels like pushing the boundaries of wisdom.
Atticus (@atticus-2)
23rd May 2014, 16:35
Tony Stewart succesfully completed all laps of both races in 1999 and 2001. John Andretti was credited as finished both in 1994 (I believe he was laps down in the 600), so was Robby Gordon in 2002.
http://msn.foxsports.com/south/story/the-highs-and-lows-of-the-indy-500-coca-cola-600-double-052214
So yes, pushing the boundaries, but not mission impossible. :)
Himmat
23rd May 2014, 15:52
Former F1 Stars you mean?
bull mello (@bullmello)
23rd May 2014, 16:05
Monaco + Indy = A Classic Racing Weekend
Hoping for JPM at Indy. Or, maybe Newgarden or Pagenaud.
Atticus (@atticus-2)
23rd May 2014, 16:29
I applaud the idea of ‘pursuing ultimate speed’, but then I very strongly recommend spending the fortune that is required for SAFER barrierring the whole track, not just the turns. Kurt Busch’s crash in practice was fearsome and looked extremely high-speed.
I hope every one will be alright be the end this time around as well.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
23rd May 2014, 16:47
I’ll try to watch it. I always do. I try to watch it and like it, but probably will spent another year thinking what is all this fuss about Indycar racing…
kpcart
24th May 2014, 2:11
Watch the road course races, the fuss is that the series is a great high level open wheel racing series, with great action
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
24th May 2014, 2:22
I saw those aswell, hated it to death… It’s like a spec F1 race with worse drivers…
skylab (@skylab)
24th May 2014, 3:04
And more exciting racing :-p
DaveFLO
24th May 2014, 12:25
I don’t get why people constantly bash Indycar for having ‘Worse’ drivers?
There are some exceptionally good drivers in Indycar who have the talent to be front runners in F1 but don’t get the chance because they don’t have the budgets to buy an F1 ride.
Takuma Sato had good speed in F1 & did get a podium on merit yet he hasn’t turned up in Indycar & blown these so called worse drivers away & there are other examples of very good drivers moving from F1 & having a tough time in Indycar, Montoya this year for example.
People often bring up the fact that there are a lot of errors made on the street circuits in Indycar & use that as a reason to point out the drivers are not so good but consider this, Indycar’s have far less downforce, Far less efficient brakes, No Power steering, Less grippy tyres, No tyre warmers & the circuits are a lot more bumpy, Have far less runoff & don’t have the high grip tarmac that many of the newer F1 circuits have.
In F1 15-20+ years ago when F1 had less downforce etc…. & the circuits were bumpier etc… You saw a lot more of the same sort of mistakes & a lot more DNF’s due to spins/accidents etc…, Especially on the street circuits.
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
23rd May 2014, 16:57
Power also won in Texas in 2011 Keith.
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
23rd May 2014, 17:02
Unsurprisingly I want Hinchcliffe to win.
The Penskes have looked quick all month, so I wouldn’t put it past Castroneves to achieve his fourth win here.
I just hope the race is as good as last year, or the year before, or the year before… Every 500 I’ve watched has been full of drama so hoping for the same again!
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
23rd May 2014, 18:12
Spec car racing sucks
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
23rd May 2014, 18:56
@melthom Not all the cars are the same, they either have the Chevrolet or Honda engines. Also spec car racing can be fantastic, there was one this morning in the GP2.
Bruce
23rd May 2014, 19:07
I find contrived, DRS- and tire-dependent races where only two drivers have a legitimate shot at winning while lapping competition that has no hope of scoring meaningful (or any) points to “suck” as well.
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
24th May 2014, 18:31
Agree. I wanna see something like Brabhams, Coopers, Surtees, Tyrrells, BRM and all the rest making their own solutions with characteristic form factors so you can say “that’s clearly a Brabham, that’s a typical BRM etc. Now they have sterilized the whole thing.
Robbie (@robbie)
23rd May 2014, 19:32
Go JV Go!
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd May 2014, 20:24
If its going to be anything like the races in the last 2 years, it could be won by at least a third of the field!
SoLiDG (@solidg)
23rd May 2014, 20:28
I have a feeling Power will get it or get close to it. Would be wonderful.
But what a great story it would be if JPM would make it 2 out of 2.
OR a shock win by Kurt Busch, but that seems almost impossible, is it not? :)
Robbie (@robbie)
24th May 2014, 0:12
Would be great if JV won it too having won it in 95 when it was CART. That would be quite the story too. Odds are against him since he hasn’t been driving these cars, but one never knows. He has said they concentrated on making the car work good in traffic which is why they didn’t qualify so high.
Michael C
23rd May 2014, 20:46
When you no longer cut it in Europe, go to America to pick up as much money as you can with whats left of your career.
kpcart
24th May 2014, 2:15
What? A lot of these guys just dont happen to be pay drivers so choose a great racing series where they can show their true skill.
Robbie (@robbie)
24th May 2014, 2:19
Yeah like those low-lifes Clark, Mansell, Andretti, Fittipaldi, Villeneuve, Montoya, Bourdais, Raikkonen, Francitti, Barricello, Prost, Sato, and probably many more that I am missing that were utter failures who couldn’t possibly just love racing wherever they can and because already having millions just isn’t enough.
Arnold Triyudho Wardono (@ernietheracefan)
23rd May 2014, 21:58
I’m only hoping for no yellow flag finish..(last time was 2011)
Joey-Poey (@joey-poey)
23rd May 2014, 23:12
I’ll be at the race and possibly for the last time for a while. I’m moving soon and I’ll be too far away to make a day trip of it after that. Helio’s paint scheme has some extra special significance. That’s a scheme from another Penske driver and in fact he was the last driver to get a 4th Indy 500 win: Rick Mears. Mears was an idol of mine growing up. It helps his longevity as a popular historical figure in the Indy pantheon that he’s long been considered a soft spoken gentleman and considerate racer. We need more guys like him. If Helio finally does it, I might shed a tear knowing a touch of Rick was back up top..
schooner (@schooner)
24th May 2014, 1:25
A longshot for sure, but I’d love to see Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher Racing in victory lane. As per usual, I will tune into the ‘500’ for the final 50 laps or so. Like most oval races, it’s only towards the end of the event that I can really get into it.
roland
24th May 2014, 18:56
I swear more Brits follow Indycar than ‘Muricans… only in England would lame oval racing be considered “exotic”. Frankly it’s an oudated mode of racing and I’m not sure who can go from the glitz and glamour of Monaco to the gangsta and impoverished Indianapolis, but I can tell ya it isn’t me!
Bruce
25th May 2014, 3:22
Oh, I don’t know. Emerson Fittipaldi, who won two F1 championships, would beg to differ. I don’t normally defend Indycar, but I think the 500 compared to Monaco is no competition. The former offers excitement and the risk of death. The latter is a parade, led by a Mercedes, and usually one guy crashing into a barrier. That’s it.