Who is going to drive the other 13 cars?

To be honest, I'm a Champ Car fan, and I don't know much about Indy and the IRL. I'm not here to raise hell or stir the pot in any way, I just don't have the information that most of you guys do regarding Indy.

I do enjoy the Indy 500 and have been following it everyday this year. I've noticed that only 26 cars have taken the practice sessions. With qualifying starting tomorrow, do the other 13 cars (39 cars entered?) just accept the fact that they are racing to be in the mid pack and aren't qualifying on pole day? Are they throwing away these practice days because they don't have the funds to run the practices until before bump day? Or do they just not have drivers ready to run the cars so they aren't running practice?

Again, I hope this doesn't sound like a "CC fan bashing Indy/IRL", just an uninformed Indy 500 fan unaware of the situation.

If anyone could help me out, that would be great.

As of today, (Fast Friday), 28 cars have practiced. These are all the "full-month" cars. The balance of cars are 2nd week programs and have only leased motors for the second week of practice, and the race if they qualify.

Here is today's timing and scoring report for a list of those 28 cars.

http://scoring.indycar.com/2007/

I was under the impression that there were 37 "real" entries(not 39), as some like Penske for example will enter extra cars in order to have more garage space.

I am only a fan, so I only know what I read in articles and in forums like these, but these should be the other entries:

#13 Cabbie Motorsports-some former Access guys(Greg Ray's team, but no not Greg Ray) Not much is known, but they have already paid their engine lease, so something's happening.

#16 Panther Racing-John Andretti strongly rumored to be in this car. He has been in Indy and been very coy, but very chipper. He does have backing and has been shopping for a ride, so he'spretty much a sure go.

#18 PDM racing-Jimmy Kite in the car 100% done deal.

#31 Playa del Racing-Phil Giebler in car 100% done deal

#40 Team Leader- PJ Jones 100% done deal in a car painted to look like his father's 1967 STP Turbine car.

#41 AJ Foyt Racing-strong rumors that this car will be leased to Eddie Cheever

#43 Curb/Agajanian/Beck-their second car not known if it will run or not.

#91 Hemelgarn entry-C.R. Crews? Townsand Bell? no one knows yet

#98 Curb/Agajanian/Beck-Alex Barron ran it in Kansas and Homestead, but Max Papis is supposedly the guy now. Who knows?

It's a debatable strategy, but the very nature of pole day makes it not worth the time/money for many teams. 1-11 will fill up tomorrow, I will be shocked if any of those spots don't go to one of the twenty full season drivers, with the very unique exception of Michael Andretti. I don't think an extra two weeks would help that situation for any of those other drivers.

Ryan Briscoe (who has the 8th fastest time this month) should also have a strong chance of qualifing today.

Briscoe and Michael Andretti are two. Spots 8-11 could be up for grabs and could be pretty interesting.

Alexamateo, that's pretty much what I've heard about those cars, too.

Does it really matter? Outside of maybe John Andretti in a Panther Car won't most of these guys just be out there making laps in the hopes of getting a decent payday through attritition? At this point no only five drivers have been competitive this season, what makes Indy any different?

Hard to tell....there have been surprise winners before, but the big teams certainly have a big edge.....but if one of those smaller teams has a good run, well, good for them. 500 miles is a long way and both good and bad things can happen to anyone in that long of a race. Remember Parnelli losing because of a 50-cent part?

Roger Yasukawa for Dreyer & Reinbold

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcoCheever

konichiwa !

Roger Yasukawa for Dreyer & Reinbold

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The article on the track web site didn't say where his #24 Dallara came from, I figure Sarah lost her 5T backup. He's one of four drivers still without a ride that finish running mid pack last year. Others drivers are Papis, Dare & Bell.

oops sorry he's from L.A.