The 92nd Indianapolis 500 will be held on Sunday, May 25 starting at 1:00 pm (ET) and will be televised live on ABC TV and broadcast on the IMS Radio Network.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909 as a 2.5 mile oval circuit and has remained at it’s present site as a historical place and thought to be one of the oldest race tracks in the nation. The Speedway is presently owned by the Hulman-George Family and is located in Speedway, Indiana. The Hulman family purchased the Speedway in 1945 and the track is considered the largest spectator sporting facility in the world.

American open wheel racing was united on Feb. 22, 2008. A historic agreement between Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League has set the stage for the unification of the sport of open wheel racing for the first time since 1979. Under the terms of the agreement, the Indy Car Series will provide a one year Honda engine lease, two Dallara chassis from a pool of new and used cars for up to two seasons and $1.3 million from the Indy Car Series TEAM program to Champ Car teams who wish to join the Indy Car Series and have the intent and the means to run a full season.

A total of 61 cars have entered this year’s race which due to the merger has brought the likes of Oriol Servia, Will Power, Bruno Junqueria, Enrique Bernoldi, Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal to the Speedway. Only the fastest 33 cars will start the event who’s total purse should exceed $10.7 million. The race winner should take home approximately $1.6 million.

A quote from Paul Newman, co-owner of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing: “ It ( reunification ) was absolutely necessary for both groups. It’s tragic that it didn’t happen sooner but it’s a good that it at least happened when it did. I think it’s going to be a great boost for both groups. It’s good to be back at Indianapolis. It brings back a lot of fond memories. We won eight championships and in second twice at Indianapolis but never won the 500. It’s wonderful to be running against Roger ( Penske ) and (Bobby ) Rahal and Michael ( Andretti ) and all those guys. It’s comfortable.
My favorite tradition was that it ( the race) took a whole month. Indy started on the first of May and you had your reservation at the (speedway) motel. If you wanted it ( your room) for two days, you took it for the whole month or you wouldn’t get it and we’re going to work hard to get it back to that.”

Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal are the Newman/Haas/Lanigan team drivers and both rookies have qualified during the second weekend of time trials. In addition Ryan Hunter-Ray, Hideki Mutoh, Alex Lloyd, Servia and Power and teammates Jamie Camara and Enrique Bernoldi join the rookie crop for the 92nd 500.

Four previous 500 winners, Helio Castroneves, Dan Weldon, Buddy Rice and Buddy Lazier have made the race. For the second straight year, all three female drivers entered, Danica Patrick, Sarah Fisher and Milka Duno have qualified fast enough to make the 33 car starting field.

Pole sitter Scott Dixon recorded the most consistent four-lap qualifying effort in Indy 500 history. Dixon’s four laps were separated by .0049 of a second. His quickest lap was 39.9656 seconds, while his slowest was 39.9705 seconds. The previous record was .006 of a second by Bobby Rahal in 1992.

The official track record at Indy for 4 qualifying laps is 2:31.908, 236.986 mph, set on May 12th, 1996 by Arie Luyendyk. Dixon won this year’s pole at 3:39 pm with a time of 2:39.0348 or 226.366 average as the 19th car to attempt to qualify on the first day of time trials to lock in the top 11 starting positions. In 2007 Helio Castroneves won the pole with a speed of 225.817 mph.

The 2006 race winner Sam Hornish Jr and 2007 victor Dario Franchitti have not entered this year’s race as both drivers have left the IRL open wheel racks to join the stock cars of the NASCAR circuit. The Indianapolis 500 was sansctioned by the American Automobile Association ( AAA ) from 1911 to 1955, and the United States Auto Club ( USAC ) from 1956 thru 1997. Being in 1998 until the present day, the Indy Racing League ( IRL ) governs the races held on Memorial Day weekend.

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