To prepare for Sunday’s 99th running of the Indianapolis 500, SB Nation presents 33 factoids, stats, observations and things to know. And the number 33 wasn’t selected by happenstance; it’s the historical number of starters for what is nicknamed “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Indianapolis 500 viewer’s guide: What you need to know
Here are 33 facts to get you up to speed on the history of the Indianapolis 500, as well as what to look for in this year’s edition on Sunday.
- The No. 1 starting position has been good to pole-sitter Scott Dixon, whose only Indianapolis 500 victory came from this spot in 2008.
- Simona de Silvestro and Pippa Mann are the only two women drivers in Sunday's race. They will be looking to eclipse Danica Patrick's record third-place finish by a female set in 2009.
- The No. 3 is the most successful car numeral in Indianapolis history with 11 victories overall. That total includes two by Helio Castroneves, who again will have the number on his Chevrolet Sunday.
- Speaking of Castroneves, another Indianapolis victory would be his fourth and move him into rarified company. He would join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears as the only four-time winners. No other active driver even has two wins.
- Five former winners qualified for Sunday's race -- Dixon (2008), Tony Kanaan (2013), Castroneves (2001, '02, '09), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014).
- The introduction of new aerodynamic body panels this year has produced mixed results thus far. In the season-opener on the street course in St. Petersburg, Fla., a piece of debris flew into the stands and fractured a woman's skull. And things haven't improved since the kits were used on the Indianapolis oval for the first time. Leading to ...
- After accidents that saw three drivers get airborne and a fourth wreck that seriously injured James Hinchcliffe, a feeling of apprehension hangs over the garage. IndyCar decreased boost and made the cars easier to handle, but there's been minimal track time to see if those changes will make Sunday's race any safer.
- A Graham Rahal win would make him and father Bobby just the second father-son to achieve victory at Indianapolis. Al Unser Sr. won four times, while son Al Jr. won twice.
- When it comes to Indianapolis car owners, Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi are unquestionably the measuring sticks. The two IndyCar titans have fielded cars that have combined to win nine of the past 15 races.
- Not surprisingly, Penske and Ganassi are considered favorites to win Sunday. Throughout the month their drivers have consistently been among the fastest. In qualifying the two teams swept the first five positions, while in final practice Will Power (Penske) and Dixon (Ganassi) finished 1-2.
- Outside of the Penske and Ganassi camps, Ed Carpenter is someone to watch for Sunday. The owner-driver is a native Hoosier, growing up in the shadow of the speedway. He would love nothing more than to win in front of his home fans and has come close the past couple of years only to stumble late.
- Drivers representing 12 nations comprise the grid. The United States leads all countries with 11 participants, followed by Colombia and England with four apiece.
- Considered the unluckiest number in racing, No. 13 has only competed four times in 98 Indianapolis races -- George Mason (1914), Greg Ray (2003, '04) and E.J. Viso (2009).
- The number associated with the iconic Foyt, who since retiring has fielded cars using No. 14. Takuma Sato will wheel the 14 Sunday. Foyt won this race as a car owner in 1999 with Kenny Brack driving.
- Penske is synonymous with The Brickyard. His 15 victories as a car owner are most all-time, 10 more than the next-highest.
- Defending race-winner Hunter-Reay's starting position. He won from the 19th position last year.
- If Hunter-Reay repeats Sunday, he'll join Wilbur Shaw (1939-40), Mauri Rose (1947-48), Bill Vukovich (1953-54), Unser Sr. (1970-71), and Castroneves (2001-02) as drivers who've won in consecutive years.
- A total of 18 different engine manufacturers have powered drivers to Indianapolis's victory lane.
- Of the 33 starters, 19 have led at least once at Indianapolis, totaling 1,540 laps.
- The age of Sage Karam, the youngest starter Sunday. Alex Tagliani, 41, is the oldest.
- In recent years Indianapolis has unfolded much like a NASCAR restrictor-plate event, featuring almost continuous pack racing and numerous lead changes. The expectation is that a similar-style 500-miler will unfold Sunday. Many drivers have said their goal is to avoid trouble and just stay near the front until their final pit stop -- around 25 laps to go. From there, the plan calls for a dramatic increase in aggressiveness.
- The age of Troy Ruttman, the youngest winner in Indianapolis history, back in 1952.
- Being in the lead isn't the preferred position. Because of the draft and how easy it is for one car to maneuver around another, virtually every driver says if they have a choice they want to be running second on the white flag lap.
- Whoever wins Sunday receives the Borg-Warner Trophy and will have their likeness engraved. Overall, 69 different drivers have won at Indianapolis.
- Power is the series' best driver and its defending champion, but it's taken some time for him to become comfortable on oval racing and he's never won the Indianapolis 500. Throughout the month, though, the Australian has spoken openly about his increased confidence level and how he is ready to win at Indianapolis. Starting second and in a Penske-fielded car, Power is well-positioned to do just that.
- Most number of cars running at the finish, which happened both in 1911 and 2013.
- Marco Andretti is the star-crossed son of Michael and the grandson of Mario. But although Marco's performance hasn't always matched the hype, Indianapolis usually brings out his best, with five finishes of fourth or better in nine starts. The most painful near-miss occurred in 2006 when he was leading coming to the checkered flag only for Sam Hornish Jr. to pass him in the final few feet.
- The lowest starting position of an eventual winner -- Roy Harroun in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911, and Louis Meyer in 1936.
- Why does the Indianapolis 500 winner drink milk? The practice dates to Meyer, who regularly drank buttermilk on hot days to cool himself down, just as he did in victory lane following his 1936 victory. The tradition stuck and has been a ritual since.
- Out-of-nowhere winners aren't commonplace at Indianapolis, though there is recent precedent with Dan Wheldon's surprise 2011 victory. So if you're looking for a deep sleeper, JR Hildebrand would be a good selection. As a rookie in '11, he was leading on the final lap when he crashed in Turn 4, handing the Borg-Warner Trophy to Wheldon. Hildebrand finished 10th last year, the same spot he starts Sunday.
- Starting 31st is Ryan Briscoe, who's substituting for the injured Hinchcliffe.
- Carlos Huertas was supposed to drive the No. 18 car, but an inner ear infection has him on the sidelines. Tristan Vautier will fill in, rolling off the grid 32nd.
- The closest Indianapolis 500 finish saw Scott Goodyear, who started 33rd, lose to Unser Jr. by .043 of a second in 1992.
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