2008 Indianapolis 500 ... the number is 39 !!! minimum

[ChicagocrewIRL]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1052/SPORTS01

Andretti Green -
4 cars FIRM, 1 for Matos potentially = 5

Penske Racing -
2 cars FIRM - 1 for Hornish Jr. potentially = 3

Target Chip Ganassi Racing -
2 cars FIRM - 1 for Lloyd potentially in partnership with RLR = 3

Rahal Letterman Racing -
1 car FIRM - 1 car potentially for Lloyd with TCGR = 1

Vision Racing -
2 cars FIRM - 1 car potentially for Tracy = 3

Dreyer and Reinbold -
2 cars FIRM = 2

Panther Racing
1 car FIRM - 1 for TBA potentially = 2

A.J. Foyt Racing -
1 car FIRM - 1 car for TBA potentially = 2

Newman Haas Lanigan -
2 cars FIRM = 2

Dale Coyne -
2 cars FIRM = 2

Conquest Racing -
2 cars FIRM = 2

HVM Racing -
1 car FIRM - 1 for TBA potentially = 2

KV Racing Technology -
2 cars FIRM = 2

Sarah Fisher Racing -
1 car FIRM - 1 for TBA potentially - 2

Luczo Dragon Racing -
1 car FIRM = 1

Rubicon Racing -
1 car FIRM = 1

Beck Motorsports -
1 car FIRM = 1

Playa del Racing -
1 car FIRM = 1

Roth Racing -
2 cars FIRM - 1 for TBA potentially = 3

That's 40 by my count and that doesn't include wild cards from Forsythe, Red Bull, PCM, Rocketsports etc etc. all rumored to be in the mix.

[libra65]

I'm glad that bump day will actually have legitimate bumps from the field. Praise the racing gods above.

[NickFalzone]

They announced today that Alex Lloyd will be running at Indy for RLR.

[nigelred5]

I've read Honda was told to prepare for 39 cars Maximum, not minimum. Either way, good field.

[xtlm]

"Forsythe, Red Bull, PCM, Rocketsports"

just wondering...
why have these teams not converted over yet?

[T-D]

pcm doesn't have the budget.

forsythe hates the irl.

red bull? which red bull? if it's doornbos's team, they couldn't afford it.

anyway, removing speculative entries, the total doesn't add up to 39 minimum.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

pcm doesn't have the budget.

forsythe hates the irl.

red bull? which red bull? if it's doornbos's team, they couldn't afford it.

anyway, removing speculative entries, the total doesn't add up to 39 minimum.

Doornbos's team, Minardi Team USA did convert under the HVM Racing banner.

Paul Stoddart said he didn't want to be an underdog just like he was in F1 so Keith Wiggins came to Indycar alone. They will be fielding 3 cars (Viso, Philippe and a TBA, maybe Doornbos) to the Long Beach G.P. as Minardi Team USA though.

[BobGarage]

Dreyer and Reinbold -
2 cars FIRM = 2

thought DRR had already announce 3 cars for Indy.

In their duno/bell split season announcement they said they would run both at Indy.

[Madmonk]

CONFIRMED - 30 Entrants

Andretti Green - Kanaan, Andretti, Patrick, Mutoh
Conquest - Bernoldi, Perera
Dale Coyne - Junqueira, Moraes?
Dreyer & Reinbold - Rice, Bell, Duno
Fisher - Fisher
Foyt - Manning
Ganasi - Dixon, Wheldon
HVM - E.J. Viso
KV - Servia, Power
Luczo Dragon - Scheckter
Newman Haas Lanigan - Wilson, Rahal
Panther - Meira
Penske - Castroneves, Briscoe
Rahal Letterman - Hunter-Reay, Lloyd*
Roth - Roth, Howard
Vision - Carpenter, Foyt IV

*In Conjunction w/ Ganassi

FIRM - 2 Entrants
Beck - Yasukawa? / Barron?
Rubicon / Sam Schmidt - Papis

SPECULATIVE - 8 Entrants
Andretti Green - Matos? / Tracy? / Mi. Andretti?
Foyt - Sharp? / L. Foyt? / Dare? / Simmons? / Chesson?
Hemelgarn - Hearn? / Chesson?
HVM - Tracy? / Dominguez? / Ranger? / Clarke?
Panther - B. Lazier? / Sharp? / Matsuura? / Boat? / Kite?
Playa del Racing - J. Lazier?
Vision - Tracy? / Hamilton? / Jo. Andretti?

That's 39 cars, although not all will materialize. PDM and Chastain are unlikely to make the trip, since there is no gaurentee they would make the show. Fisher isn't running a second car unless she puts her primary car solidly in the field on Day 1, which probably won't happen. Roth doesn't have the resources to run a third car, and could get bumped himself. Penske is still providing assistant to Luczo Dragon and son Jay Penske, so they probably won't run a third car either. I would like to see Hornish Jr. at the 500, but I haven't heard any indications that he will be. Tracy's manager contacted Vision about a ride, but it's also not beyond the realm of possibility to see him in a fifth Andretti Green car or at Dale Coyne in place of Moraes. Foyt could run three cars, at least he has in the past. Scott Sharp will also be around to sub for anybody that asks him to. I really hope Walker Racing fields a car, but he might focus on Atlantics. And has anybody seen or heard from Felipe Giaffone lately?

Bump Day will be awesome.

[MAX_THRUST]

I bet the ticket sales are going well this year and will surpass previous few years. This is great for the sport in the US and the rest of the world may sit up and take more note.

I may get SKY sports for the 1 month of May. It'll be worth it, lets start praying that it doesn't rain on race day.