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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 21, 2009

Auto racing: Indianapolis 500 Facts and Figures


Associated Press

Facts and figures of the 93rd Indianapolis 500-mile race Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

EVENT — The 93rd Indianapolis 500.

DISTANCE — 500 miles; 200 laps around the asphalt-on-brick Indianapolis Motor Speedway track, a 2 1/2-mile rectangular oval.

SANCTIONING BODY — Indy Racing League.

RACE CARS — Open-cockpit, open-wheel and single-seat, with 3.5-liter, 670-horsepower normally aspirated Honda Indy V-8 engines.

PACE CAR — 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by actor Josh Duhamel.

START — 1 p.m. EDT from a flying start, following warmup, parade and pace laps.

FINISH — Standings are unofficial until posted by the IRL.

NUMBER OF STARTERS — 33 cars, three abreast in each of 11 rows.

POLE POSITION — Helio Castroneves, a two-time race winner who averaged 224.864 mph in 4-lap qualifications. He will start first, the inside of the front row, for the third time in his nine races at Indianapolis.

SLOWEST QUALIFIER — Ryan Hunter-Reay, who averaged 220.597 mph. Will start 32nd, the middle of the 11th row.

FASTEST ROOKIE — Raphael Matos, 223.429 mph. Will start 12th, the outside of the fourth row.

2008 WINNER — Scott Dixon, who averaged 143.567 mph for his first win at Indianapolis last year.

FORMER WINNERS IN RACE (4) — Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Dan Wheldon (2005), Dario Franchitti (2007), Scott Dixon (2008).

ROOKIES IN RACE (5) — Raphael Matos, Robert Doornbos, Mike Conway, Nelson Philippe, Alex Tagliani.

YOUNGEST IN RACE — Graham Rahal, 20 (Born Jan. 4, 1989).

OLDEST IN RACE — Davey Hamilton, 46 (Born June 13, 1962)

MOST PREVIOUS RACES — Scott Sharp (13).

FOREIGN BORN (22) — Helio Castroneves, Brazil; Ryan Briscoe, Australia; Dario Franchitti, Scotland; Scott Dixon, Australia; Tony Kanaan, Brazil; Mario Moraes, Brazil; Will Power, Australia; Alex Lloyd, England; Raphael Matos, Brazil; Paul Tracy, Canada; Vitor Meira, Brazil; Justin Wilson, England; Hideki Mutoh, Japan; Dan Wheldon, England; Robert Doornbos, Netherlands; Oriol Servia, Spain; Tomas Scheckter, South Africa; Mike Conway, England; E.J. Viso, Venezuela; Milka Duno, Venezuela; Nelson Philippe, France; Alex Tagliani, Canada.

FIELD AVERAGE IN QUALIFICATIONS — 222.480 mph (Record 228.648 mph, 2002)

QUALIFICATION RECORD — 236.986 mph, Arie Luyendyk, 1996.

RACE RECORD — 185.981 mph, Arie Luyendyk, 1990.

CLOSEST FINISHES — 0.043 seconds, Al Unser Jr. over Scott Goodyear, 1992; 0.0635 seconds, Sam Hornish Jr. over Marco Andretti, 2006.

PURSE — Depends on attendance and accessory awards; 2008 payoff was a record $14.4 million, of which winner Scott Dixon received a record $2.99 million for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

CROWD — Estimated at up to 400,000. Speedway never discloses attendance but admits to more than 250,000 reserved seats in permanent stands and room for 100,000 or more in the infield.

TELEVISION — Televised live and in high definition by ESPN on ABC starting at noon EDT, one hour before the race, with host Brent Musburger, lead announcer Marty Reid, analysts Eddie Cheever and Scott Goodyear, and pit reporters Jack Arute, Jamie Little, Brienne Pedigo and Vince Welch.

RADIO —More than 350 affiliate IMS Radio Network stations throughout the United States and Canada, plus SiriusXM, American Forces Radio Network, shortwave radio worldwide and the Internet, with anchor Mike King; analysts Johnny Parsons and Paul Page; historian Donald Davidson; stats and garage/medical center reporter Dave Wilson; turn reporters Jerry Baker, Jake Query, Mark Jaynes and Chris Denari; and pit reporters Kevin Lee, Kevin Olson and Dave Argabright.

MORTALITY — There have been 67 deaths at the Speedway, including pre-500 races of 1909-10. Last death was on Oct. 22, 2003, when driver Tony Renna crashed during private tire tests.

THE TROPHY — Sterling silver Borg-Warner Trophy, 5-feet, 4 3/4-inches, 110-pounds, with bas-relief bust of each winner. Valued at more than $1 million, on permanent display at Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. Each winner receives an 18-inch sterling silver replica.