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The Indy Car drivers
By JIM TOMLIN
Published March 31, 2006
2 Tomas Scheckter
TEAM: Vision Racing
AGE: 25
HOMETOWN: Cape Town, South Africa
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Won at Texas last season, his first victory since 2002. Is now with his fourth team in five IRL seasons. Hard charger has led 1,331 laps in the series but has only two wins to show for it. Earned three pole positions in 2005, eight for his career.
3 Helio Castroneves
TEAM: Team Penske
AGE: 31
HOMETOWN: Sao Paulo, Brazil
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Earned his seventh career IRL victory last year but finished sixth in points; four finishes outside the top 10 in the final eight races ruined his title chances. Won the Indianapolis 500 in his first two tries (2001-02).
4 Vitor Meira
TEAM: Panther Racing
AGE: 29
HOMETOWN: Brasilia, Brazil
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Moves over from Rahal Letterman Racing, where he had no victories but six top-three finishes, including second in the 2005 Indy 500, in two seasons. Was seventh in points last year and eighth in 2004.
5 Buddy Lazier
TEAM: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
AGE: 38
HOMETOWN: Vail, Colo.
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: The 2000 series champion had five top-10s in six races last season for Panther Racing after starting the year without a regular ride. Hasn't run a full season since 2002. Won the first Indy 500 under the IRL banner in 1996.
6 Sam Hornish
TEAM: Team Penske
AGE: 26
HOMETOWN: Defiance, Ohio
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Won twice last season to extend his series record for victories to 15. Was third in points last season and has finished in the top 10 in points each of his five full seasons, including titles in 2001-02.
7 Bryan Herta
TEAM: Andretti Green Racing
AGE: 35
HOMETOWN: Warren, Mich.
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Earned his first three poles in the IRL last season including St. Petersburg. Had nine top-10 finishes including a win at Michigan and was eighth in points. Finished third in the 2005 Indy 500 and fourth in 2004.
8 Scott Sharp
TEAM: Fernandez Racing
AGE: 38
HOMETOWN: Norwalk, Conn.
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: This is his 11th season in the series; he has been in the IRL since its inception in 1996 and has made 108 consecutive starts. Was fifth in the standings last season, his best points finish since coming in third in points in 2001.
9 Scott Dixon
TEAM: Chip Ganassi Racing
AGE: 25
HOMETOWN: Auckland, New Zealand
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Made a splash in 2003, his first season in the series, by winning his debut (at Homestead) and the championship. Was 13th in points last season as Ganassi's team struggled. Closed the season with consecutive top-10 finishes including a win at Watkins Glen.
10 Dan Wheldon
TEAM: Chip Ganassi Racing
AGE: 27
HOMETOWN: Emberton, England
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Had a dream season in 2005, winning six times including the Indianapolis 500 and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where he resides. Became the first driver to win Indy and the IndyCar series title in the same year. Switched from Andretti Green Racing.
11 Tony Kanaan
TEAM: Andretti Green Racing
AGE: 31
HOMETOWN: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: The 2004 series champion finished second in points to then-teammate Dan Wheldon last year. Won twice (Kansas and Infineon) and sat on the pole for the Indy 500. Three finishes outside the top 15 in the middle of the season likely cost him consecutive titles.
14 Felipe Giaffone
TEAM: A.J. Foyt Enterprises
AGE: 31
HOMETOWN: Sao Paulo, Brazil
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Has one victory in 54 starts, at Kentucky Speedway in 2002, which capped a streak of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes. Was 15th in his only start last season, the Indy 500. Landed the Foyt ride when Anthony Foyt, A.J.'s grandson, moved to NASCAR.
15 Buddy Rice
TEAM: Rahal Letterman Racing
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: Phoenix
CHASSIS: Panoz
NOTABLE: Missed Indy in 2005 because of an injury in practice, costing him a chance to defend his 500 title. Was seventh in St. Petersburg, one of four top-10 finishes last season. Got married during the offseason.
16 Danica Patrick
TEAM: Rahal Letterman Racing
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Roscoe, Ill.
CHASSIS: Panoz
NOTABLE: Created a media sensation last year, then backed it up by being named Indy 500 and series rookie of the year. Earned three pole positions, all at 1.5-mile ovals, and seven top-10 finishes. Like teammate Rice, was married during the offseason.
20 Ed Carpenter
TEAM: Vision Racing
AGE: 25
HOMETOWN: Indianapolis
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Best finish last season was 10th at Nashville for Vision Racing, which is owned by Carpenter's stepfather, IMS president Tony George. Was married in the fall and lives in a house once owned by late IMS president Tony Hulman (George's grandfather).
26 Marco Andretti
TEAM: Andretti Green Racing
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Nazareth, Pa.
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: His time last year in St. Petersburg was memorable - he earned the pole and the victory in his Pro Series debut. Won twice more in the feeder series and graduates with the team co-owned by his father, Michael Andretti. Is the youngest driver in the series.
27 Dario Franchitti
TEAM: Andretti Green Racing
AGE: 32
HOMETOWN: Edinburgh, Scotland
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Won at California (from the pole) and Nashville and finished fourth in points last season. Has four IRL wins in two full seasons to go with his 10 victories in Champ Car (then CART). Is a licensed helicopter pilot.
51 Eddie Cheever
TEAM: Cheever Racing
AGE: 48
HOMETOWN: Phoenix
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Returning after a three-year retirement to drive at least the first four races, including Indy, for his own team. Won five times in 70 IndyCar races, including the 1998 Indy 500, and started 132 times in Formula One. Last won July 2001 at Kansas.
55 Kosuke Matsuura
TEAM: Super Aguri Fernandez Racing
AGE: 26
HOMETOWN: Aichi, Japan
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: Had seven top-10 finishes last season including three in the final six races. Career best is fourth at Kentucky in 2004, when he was named series rookie of the year. Spent a few years in lower formulas in Europe after starting in his native Japan.
91 P.J. Chesson
TEAM: Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing
AGE: 27
HOMETOWN: Far Hills, N.J.
CHASSIS: Dallara
NOTABLE: The former World of Outlaws driver and Lafayette College graduate had three Pro Series starts last year including a seventh-place finish in St. Petersburg. NBA star Carmelo Anthony has bought a piece of the Hemelgarn team.
[Last modified March 28, 2006, 12:10:46]
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