Indy 500 entry list, Hornish car included

[NickFalzone]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/SPORTS01/80411038/1052

[Alexamateo]

Another interesting note is that the second Panther entry is car #83.(Red Bull???)

[ChicagocrewIRL]

Another interesting note is that the second Panther entry is car #83.(Red Bull???)

and Robert Doornbos ? Scott Speed ? A.J. Allmendinger ?

[DazzlaF1]

and Robert Doornbos ? Scott Speed ? A.J. Allmendinger ?

I think it'll be the latter, If Doornbos was to enter, it would be i think if HVM entered a 2nd car

[NickFalzone]

A summary from IndyCar.com -

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=10976

[ChicagocrewIRL]

Breakdown by country

10 U.S. drivers
6 Brazilian drivers
5 British drivers
2 Australian drivers
2 Venezuelan drivers
1 South African driver
1 Italian driver
1 Spanish driver
1 Japanese driver
1 Canadian driver
1 French driver

[evo5_mat]

Lol always remember these words from mr TG
http://youtube.com/watch?v=erHQmiqD8BI

How times have changed with so many different nationality drivers now, chassis and japan motors running the series.

Should be a interesting field although is there quality in depth throughout the field or too inexperience, we have to wait and see until the month of may

[ChicagocrewIRL]

Breakdown by country

10 U.S. drivers
6 Brazilian drivers
5 British drivers
2 Australian drivers
2 Venezuelan drivers
1 South African driver
1 Italian driver
1 Spanish driver
1 Japanese driver
1 Canadian driver
1 French driver

oops and 1 New Zealander driver

[Madmonk]

While there are only 10 Americans on the first entry list, I speculate that a few more fill up these vacant seats:

(21) Playa Del Racing, Panoz (J. Lazier?)
(22) Vision Racing, Dallara (Tracy? / D. Hamilton? / Jo. Andretti? / Sharp?)
(77) Team Penske, Dallara (Hornish Jr.)
(83) Panther Racing, Dallara (B. Lazier? / Sharp? / Allmendinger? / Matsuura? / Boat?)
(91) Hemelgarn Johnson, Dallara (Hearn? / Chesson? / B. Lazier)
(98) CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports, Dallara (Yasukawa? / Barron?)
(TBA) PDM Racing, Panoz (Kite?)

I know Tracy and Matsuura are not Americans. And I'm not speculating on any T-Car bump day miracles. But my guess is another 5 or 6 Americans will show up to qualify. With this in mind, I have two questions:

QUESTION 1: If the Playa Del Racing and PDM entrants don't qualify, will this be the first entirely spec Indy 500? (Everybody using the same chassis, engine and tire manufacturer).

QUESTION 2: What was the fewest ever number of American drivers to qualify for the Indianapolis 500?

[infoxicated]

I'm pretty sure that Penske always enter a third car as a contingency plan.

It doesn't necessarily mean it's for Sam Hornish.

Personally I hope Sam doesn't come back - the Series needs to move and promote the current drivers who have personality and marketability, not past drivers who don't have either.

[BenRoethig]

There's an interesting snippet on Jayski.com. Apparently Penske has signed David Stremme as a "test" driver. There's some rumors that with unification and Sam's tough time getting used to a stock car that the Captain is giving him the option to return to Indycars with Stremme taking over the 77 Cup car.

[Chamoo]

We can add Hamilton in the Kingdom Racing car to the field as well as a possible PCM entry for Dominguez. Dominguez seems pretty sure so I'd count him in. If all the cars on the entry list run, then we would be up to 41. Also, put down PT in a car, either the Penske car or in another entry, and that might bump it to 42.

[Mad_Hatter]

Maybe the other Penske car is for Gil de Ferran?

[BenRoethig]

Retired. Officially its the "if something goes wrong with the 3 or 6" car.

[underpowered]

Breakdown by country

10 U.S. drivers
6 Brazilian drivers
5 British drivers
1 Australian driver
1 New Zealand driver


2 Venezuelan drivers
1 South African driver
1 Italian driver
1 Spanish driver
1 Japanese driver
1 Canadian driver
1 French driver

[BrentJackson]

I'll bet that the #22 is Paul Tracy's ride.After Vision's awesome performance at Homestead and great runs since, PT should know that is by far his best shot if he wants to stay in Indycars. You're contract with GF is over, Paul, get your butt over to 16th and Georgetown NOW before somebody else bags the ride.

As for Hornish, I was against his run to NASCAR. If he wants to come back, don't just do it for Indy, get back here full time. Sam now has a bunch of new guys to race with, and more are coming. He ditched just as things were looking up, and he may now be having second thoughts. Stremme is experienced in NASCAR - it may be a good deal for the Captain.

The #83 was a Red Bull ride in the past, it may be again. That's a RBR number in NASCAR, too. Sharp is outta here and I think Lazier's done too, so that leaves one of the Red Bull guys. Best bet there is Allmendinger - he's really struggling in NASCAR, and Speed is gonna be his replacement for sure. Doornbos has probably already packed his bags for Europe again, if he isn't gone already.

Hamilton's Kingdom Racing car I'm still not convinced is for real, though God only knows I want to see Savey get back into this game. Dominguez can say what he likes but with no Mexican races on the schedule he's outta luck - he'd be better advised to hammer Mexico City back into AOW for 2009, and then go get somebody to back him and PCM.

[Chamoo]

The California-based team has scheduled an announcement in Mexico City Wednesday to confirm that Mario Dominguez will pilot their entry in a limited IndyCar program in 2008.

Seems as though it will be official very soon. Chalk up PCM for 1 entry at Indy.

[BobGarage]

announcement in mexico city? could that be the return of the tecate sponsorship that was rumoured to be heading to PCM/Domingues for champ car in 08?

[NickFalzone]

It seems to me that Vision is by far the best choice. They've proven this season that their oval package can compete with the top-3 teams, and Paul will be competitive on the road courses regardless. In fact, he would be a great mentor on the road courses for AJ and Ed, so I see it as a win all around.