Football has the Super Bowl, hockey has the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and auto racing (of any kind) has the Indianapolis 500.
Dubbed as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” this is the race every driver wants to win as it is the ultimate test of physical and mental fortitude.
Whipping around the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in a tightly-bunched-together pack, where drivers frequently eclipse speeds of 220 miles per hour, means one mistake could prove very costly. Tack on the strategy of when to pit stop and when to pass and the idea of winning the race seems almost too herculean.
Small wonder why this race means so much.
This Sunday, 33 drivers will take part in the 99th edition of the race. Here’s a quick primer to get you up to speed on everything you need to know for the big race.
Watch the 99th Indianapolis 500 Sunday live on Sportsnet One with coverage starting at 10:30 a.m. EST/7:30 a.m. PST
The Contenders
A quick look at the first two rows of the starting lineup should give you a good indication of who to watch for. It’s a pretty basic concept that those able to start at the front have an advantage, but in an oval endurance race where cars are going to be bunched together, the front-runners have the advantage of setting the pace early on and possibly controlling it for all 200 laps.
As such, keep your eyes on pole winner Scott Dixon, Will Power, Simon Pagenaud, Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves and Justin Wilson.
The first two rows also boast three drivers who have won it all before in Dixon, Kanaan and Castroneves, who has won it three times before. Experience cannot be underestimated in this kind of marathon, which is why you can’t dismiss Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Hunter-Reay. It’s been a while since Montoya last won the Indy 500 (2000), but seeing as he is the current points leader, he is a definite threat this Sunday. The same can be said of Hunter-Reay, who isn’t having the greatest of seasons but won last year’s race and is always dangerous on ovals.
If you’re looking for contender without championship experience and who sits outside the top six to start the race, then look no further than Ed Carpenter. With his Indianapolis ties (Carpenter is a graduate of Butler University and his step-father is IMS founder Tony George), he’s sure to be a crowd favourite. Carpenter is also an excellent oval driver who could’ve won last year if not for getting spun out due to contact from James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell.
The Lead-up
The biggest news leading up to Sunday’s race has been the amount of scary-looking crashes that have occurred this month, in particular the one that hospitalized Hinchcliffe and knocked him out of this race, and likely the season. As Todd Lewis writes, these incidents have cast a shadow over the race.
Auto racing is an extremely dangerous sport and IMS is known for its remarkable speeds. It’s unfortunate that these things happen, but the peril is also part of the appeal of racing for both drivers and fans, alike.
It’s also important to understand what the Indianapolis 500 means in the grander scheme of the IndyCar series. In addition to its history, this race (along with the finale) is worth double the points and could really shake up the standings.
The History
Starting in 1911, the Indianapolis 500 almost began as a 24-hour race like Le Mans, but instead was cut down to just 500 miles. The prestige of the event started with its incredibly high purse of 37.6 kilograms of pure gold (roughly $25,000).
Over the years, the Indy 500 saw it switch hands from multiple different racing series (including Formula One at one point) and different names. And, in 1933, a strange tradition was born when race winner Louis Meyer requested a glass of buttermilk to celebrate his victory.
Regardless of all the changes since that first race, the prestige of the event has remained to this day.
The Track
With four corners banked at nine degrees, 12 minutes, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway drives more like a road course than an oval. But each of the corners is different, with weather influencing the car’s characteristics. The straightaways are 5/8ths of a mile long — time to catch your breath and dive into the next corner.
Qualification for the 99th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
(*) – Substitute driver for James Hinchcliffe
(**) – Replacement driver for Carlos Huertas
(***) – Replacement driver for Tristan Vautier
