INDIANAPOLIS — Three past winners and a talented group of rookies are among the highlights of the 39 entries received for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The three winners on this year’s list are Helio Castroneves (2001-02), Buddy Rice (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).
Thirty-two drivers have been named to the 39 entries filed this year for the 33 starting spots, an increase of seven drivers over last year’s initial entry list.
Castroneves will attempt to join an elite club by earning his third Indianapolis 500 victory. Just eight drivers have won the race three times or more since the inaugural event in 1911.
This year’s rookie crop is one of the most impressive in years at Indianapolis. Leading the group is IndyCar Series sensation Graham Rahal, 19, who won April 6 in St. Petersburg, Fla., to become the youngest winner of a major North American open-wheel race. Rahal is the son of 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal.
Talented champions from Firestone Indy Lights, the premier ladder series for the IndyCar Series, continue to climb to the Indianapolis 500. 2007 series champion Alex Lloyd and 2006 series champion Jay Howard will make their Indianapolis debuts.
Lloyd and Howard join 2002 champion A.J. Foyt IV as past Firestone Indy Lights series champions competing for a starting spot at Indianapolis. Other former Firestone Indy Lights graduates competing at Indy include Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter, Hideki Mutoh, Rahal and Marty Roth.
Three women will attempt to race in the Indianapolis 500 for the second- consecutive year, as 2005 Chase Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick and popular veterans Sarah Fisher and Milka Duno were named to entries. Fisher will compete as the driver-owner for Sarah Fisher Racing.
Andretti Green Racing filed four entries, more than any other team. Teams filing three entries included 14-time Indy winners Team Penske, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Vision Racing.