Indy 500 Starting Grid: Alex Tagliani, Scott Dixon Will Lead Field

We’re a little more than 12 hours away from the start of the 2011 Indy 500 (noon Eastern, ABC), and the IndyCar Series’ finest racers are no doubt dealing with a mix of anxiety and excitement as they try to sleep.

33 drivers will hit the Brickyard on Sunday in the 96th Indy 500, and all of them will be looking to write their names in the history books. Pole-sitter Alex Tagliani has had the fastest car in practice, and looks to become just the second Canadian to win at Indy. Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti have combined to win three of the last four Indy 500s; each man is looking to extend his prime in the sport with a return trip to Victory Lane. And three-time winner Helio Castroneves could tie the record for Indy 500 wins shared by A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Means.

Four women are in the 2011 Indy 500 field, tying the 2010 field’s record for most female drivers. If either Simona de Silvestro, Danica Patrick, Pippa Mann, or Ana Beatriz wins, though, it will be a tremendous upset: de Silvestro has the best starting position of any woman at 24th, and only three Indy 500 winners have come from 24th or worse to win, none since 1974. And de Silvestro is recovering from a practice crash, while Patrick needed to come through on Bump Day to make the starting grid.

The full 2011 Indy 500 starting grid is as follows.

For more on the race, stay with our 2011 Indy 500 StoryStream. Be sure to head over to Pop Off Valve for all things IndyCar, including the three excellent Indy 500 resources: The Indy 500 experience, Indy 500 traditions and the history of the Indy 500 and the Brickyard.