Indy 500’s intriguing Row 7 lineup: Andretti, Castroneves and Dixon

INDIANAPOLIS — Staff Penske’s entrance row sweep and Kyle Larson’s Memorial Day weekend double chase, naturally, stole the eye all week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Row 7 lineup could possibly be each bit as intriguing.

With Marco Andretti, the 2020 Indianapolis 500 pole winner and grandson of Corridor of Famer Mario Andretti, beginning nineteenth and simply inside four-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves and six-time collection champion Scott Dixon, open-wheel followers will get a uncommon glimpse of racing royalty competing side-by-side-by-side.

“Hopefully the row doesn’t take one another out, that will be attention-grabbing,” Dixon joked Thursday as he chases a record-tying seventh profession collection crown to match A.J. Foyt. “Something is feasible on this race. Hopefully all of us transfer ahead, possibly this row shall be preventing it out for the win.”

It is definitely attainable on condition that this trio has a mixed complete of 5 Indy wins together with seven runner-up finishes and 17 top-fives.

Castroneves begins twentieth in his third quest to grow to be the primary five-time race winner. The 49-year-old Brazilian, Foyt, the late Al Unser and Rick Mears have 4 wins every.

Dixon, 43, ranks second in collection historical past with 57 profession wins, trailing solely Foyt’s 67, and is attempting to grow to be the twenty first driver with a number of 500 wins. The New Zealander gained Indy in 2008.

The 37-year-old Andretti continues to be attempting to finish his household’s curse at Indy. 5 members of the family have made a complete of 76 begins on the two.5-mile Brickyard since his grandfather’s solely win and no one — not even Andretti’s father, Michael — has owned the coveted title of Indy champion. It is Marco Andretti’s first, and certain solely, collection begin this season.

“You need to be methodical,” he stated when requested about race technique. “The primary 2/3 of the race, I am going to drive it extra like a marathon somewhat than a dash. With the intention to be in that place in the long run, it’s a must to be sensible in sure eventualities that current themselves. Do you are taking it, do you not? I’ll learn Helio’s vibe originally and comply with him via.”

For Castroneves, one other one-off starter on the again finish of his profession, the stakes are even grander. He is now a part-owner of Meyer Shank Racing, and if Spiderman can climb the catch-fence yet one more time, he’ll create an entire new winner’s membership at Indianapolis.

Do not guess towards him — or anybody else in Row 7.

“I bear in mind in 2021, I used to be about six months with out — really a few yr with out being in an IndyCar,” Castroneves stated. “I bounce in, new time, new individuals, that was really even tougher, and we nonetheless ended up having the ability to execute. This place, it brings the most effective out of everybody, together with us with expertise.”

Rain, rain … and extreme thunderstorms

Because the 33 drivers on the beginning grid paraded via their media day appearances, one factor turned readily obvious — everybody is worried about rain on Sunday.

The newest forecast is looking for thunderstorms, probably extreme, and an 86% probability of rain Sunday. The final race to be postponed got here in 1997 when the five hundred was washed out Sunday and Monday earlier than concluding Tuesday. Since then there have been two rain-shortened races, in 2004 and 2007.

To be thought of official, no less than 101 of the scheduled 200 laps have to be accomplished. Nevertheless it’s not simply Sunday that has some drivers anxious.

“I’m hoping with the teachings we discovered Monday and the teachings we’re going to be taught (Friday), as a result of there’s no rain, regardless of what others assume, we will be good,” Sting Ray Robb stated. “I believe the automobile has a number of pure pace in it.”

Representing for ladies

Whereas apply and qualifying have been high of thoughts for race followers in Indianapolis all month, sports activities followers across the metropolis have additionally been carefully monitoring the Indiana Pacers’ NBA playoff run to the Japanese Convention finals and the affect of the WNBA’s latest star, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.

Girls have a protracted historical past within the 500, relationship to Janet Guthrie’s historic qualifying run in 1977. And

, the one feminine on this yr’s 33-car beginning grid, feels she has a sure accountability this weekend, too.

“I consider that I do the most effective job that I can to signify the ladies. I typically assume, I’m operating within the woods or no matter, I’m considering, constructive considering, what am I doing right here?” stated Legge, who’s beginning thirty first. “However I believe if I could make Roger Penske proud, my dad, and if I had a daughter by doing what I’m doing, if I may make these three individuals blissful, I’m doing the suitable issues. That’s the place my mentality is.”

Gil de Ferran, left, and Simon Pagenaud in 2009 (Getty Photographs)

Paying tribute

Simon Pagenaud, the 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2016 IndyCar Collection champ, is not racing Sunday. However he’ll make his thirteenth consecutive race day look at Indy, this time paying tribute to his mentor, the late Gil de Ferran.

Pagenaud will take de Ferran’s 2003 Indy 500-winning automobile across the Brickyard’s 2.5-mile oval on a parade lap earlier than the race begins. Penske Restoration has saved the automobile in operational order, and de Ferran’s household requested Pagenaud to assist with the tribute.

“I’m so blissful we are going to get to recollect Gil profitable Indianapolis on this iconic Staff Penske livery,” Pagenaud stated in an announcement by which he referred to as the French-Brazilian his function mannequin. “The colours, the helmet, the sound, the recollections, and the truth that he taught me all the things about this place. I bear in mind late nights and numerous hours with my Yoda speaking about all of the high quality particulars to get to victory lane on the Speedway.”

Pagenaud will put on a helmet he designed in reminiscence of de Ferran, who suffered a deadly coronary heart assault in December. De Ferran was 56 years previous.

E book it

Josef Newgarden is not busy simply defending his Indianapolis 500 title this weekend. He is additionally placing the ending touches on a kids’s e-book, “Josef’s BIG Dream.”

The 33-year-old Tennessean and his spouse, Ashley, collaborated with creator Andy Amendola on a challenge Newgarden describes as selling the values of exhausting work and dedication required to compete in “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing.”

“Creating this e-book with my spouse, Ashley, and Andy Amendola was a enjoyable journey and one we’re all pleased with,” Newgarden stated. “I hope households and children that learn this e-book are impressed to chase their desires, regardless of how large or small, and take pleasure of their efforts in pursuing them.”

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AP Auto Racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing