Yeah, let’s just push the Cliffs nothing-burger’ car back into the garage, and
knock off the Drive for 5 nonsense! (The Tomaso Collection)
Who’ll be adding their name to the record books
this year?
Arse-sumedly, most of Yuhs will already know
this? But thought I’d “Jot” it down quickly for those keeping tabs…
This year’s field only has 33 total entries
with no bumping, BOO! Comprised of the full season 25 Charter entries and 8 “At
large” entries, sound familiar? Can Y’all say 25/8 Rule, Eh?
Naturally it appears to fast becoming another
Alex Palou Gravy-train express to His fifth championship title overall, and
fourth consecutive, Aye Karumba!
Indy 500 Rookies
#4. Caio Collet, Brazil; A. J. Foyt Enterprises
#19. Dennis Hauger, Norway; Dale Coyne Racing
#47 Mick Schumacher, Germany; Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
#51. Jacob Abel, USA; Abel Motorsports
Caio collet is 24 years old and finished “Vice
champion” (Runner-up) in last year’s Indy NXT championship. claiming three
wins.
Prior to the Sonsio Grand Prix at Mother
Speedway, Collet was P21 overall with a best finish of 12th at Arlington.
Having qualified 12th at Indy’s road course,
Caio was collected in a first lap accident and never recovered, finishing P19,
ironically one place ahead of Mick Schumacher.
Dennis Hauger is 23 years old and is the
reigning Indy NXT champion, claiming seven wins enroute to the title.
Prior to the Indy Road Course race, He was 16th
overall with a best finish of 10th at St. Pete.
Although starting a disappointing P24, Hauger
worked His way thru the wild ‘n wooly Sonsio Grand Prix for a career best
finish of eighth!
Mick Schumacher is 27 years old. A former
Formula 1 driver and winner of the 2020 Formula 2 championship.
Prior t this May’s Indy’s permanent road course
race, where He made His IndyCar debut testing for RLLR last October, Mick’s
best finish was P17 at Long Beach; being 24th overall.
Mick looked set for a possible top ten finish
at IMS until a late race collision with Santino Ferrucci, who had worn out His
tyres. Netted Schumacher a Drive-thru penalty and a finish of P20 Saturday.
Jacob Abel is 25 years old and finished second
overall in the 2024 Indy NXT championship. Last year He drove for Dale Coyne
Racing in IndyCar, but failed to qualify of the Indianapolis 500.
This year Jacob make’s His Indy 500 debut in a
“One-off” drive for His family’s team at Mother Speedway, while competing in IMSA
Spors Car LMP2 category for Era Motorsports.
Hauger currently leads the Rookie Of the Year
(ROY) battle with 100 points. Followed by Collet, 30 markers adrift, and
Schumacher third, a further 16 markers
behind Collet, with 54 points.
Hauger finished 15th in His first IndyCar oval
race at Phoenix this March. Collet finished 19th , and Schumacher sandwiched
in-between at P18.
Arguably, Mick Schumacher has the least IndyCar
experience of these four rookies, with only one oval race to His credit, not to
mention being on His second race Engineer…
Indy 500 Only entries
#06. (W) Helio Castroneves, Brazil; Meyer Shank Racing
#11. Katherine Legge, UK; HMD Motorsports with Foyt enterprises
#23. Conor Daly, USA; Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24. Jack Harvey, UK; Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#31. (W) Ryan Hunter-Reay; Arrow McLaren
#33. Ed Carpenter, USA; ECR
#75. (W) Takuma Sato, Japan; Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
‘Ol Dancin’ fool Hulio’ is the most decorated
of these seven Indy 500 Only runners with four Borg Warners to date. As could
we please stop the Drive-for-5 nonsense!
Taku-san’ (Sato) is the only other multiple
winner, which very likely could have been three; Playin’ Thru Dario!
The Dude! Nee Ryan Hunter-Reay is the only
other former winner, while Fast Eddie’ has won three poles.
Indy 500 Pole Sitters
(6) Rick Mears: 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991
(5) Scott Dixon: 2008, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022
(4) Helio Castroneves: 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010
(3) Ed Carpenter: 2013, 2014, 2018
(1) Alex Palou: 2023
(1) Scott McLaughlin: 2024
The last pole sitter to win the Indianapolis
500 was Symone’, nee Pageantry’, aka Simon Pagenaud in 2019.
Indy 500 Consecutive Winners
Wilbur Shaw: 1939-1940
Mauri Rose: 1947-1948
Bill Vukovich: 1953-1954
Al Unser: 1970-1971
Helio Castroneves: 2001-2002
Josef Newgarden: 2023-2024