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Indianapolis 500
Drivers - Preview - History - Analysis
5/25/08
By Ryan Patterson
It’s going down in Indianapolis, Indiana this Sunday! The annual
running of the Indianapolis 500 is this memorial day weekend. The female
fireball of the sport, Danica Patrick, is slated at 7-1 to win the race. Patrick
became the first woman to win an IndyCar race on April 20, 2008 when she
captured the Indy Japan 300. She isn’t going to rest on her laurels though, so
be on the lookout for her. Scott Dixon, the phenomenal New Zealand driver, is
the lukewarm favorite at 3-1. In 2003 he captured the IRL championship as a
rookie. Dixon already has a win this year which came in Homestead race, and will
be on the pole for this one. Keep your eyes open for him when it gets down to
the wire.
The race will take place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Speedway, Indiana.
The city of Speedway is completely surrounded by Indianapolis, and has a
population of about 12,000. The town derives its name from the racetrack. The
track itself is the second oldest in the world. The track has 4 turns and is 2.5
miles in length. The track is also home to the Nascar Sprint Series Allstate 400
at the Brickyard. The total capacity of the track is 400,000 people.
The first Indy 500 was held on May 30, 1911 and was won by Ray Harroun. The
first race attracted 80,200 fans, who paid $1 each to see the spectacle. An
annual tradition had then been established. European car makers soon entered the
fray. European auto makers such as Fiat and Peugot won the race from 1913-1919.
This would be a great start for them, before they began a long hiatus. The
Europeans would not return to the race in full force until the 1960s.
The Indianapolis 500 has some of the best traditions in all of sports. The final
practice session before the race has been dubbed “Fast Friday”. Typically the
fastest times before the race will be seen on this day as teams are getting
ready for the big event. The final qualifying event has come to be known as
“bump” day. This is because only 33 drivers may start in the race, and some
drivers are “bumped” from the field. The morning of the race, at 6 AM, an
explosion is set off to signal the opening of the gates. Another pre race
tradition is held for charity. The “Last Row Party” is held every year for the
final three qualifiers in the field. They are traditionally the slowest in the
race, but several winners have partaken in the event at some point in their
careers.
Back to the gambling side of things, Marco Andretti (7-1) is one of the most
capable drivers on the circuit and is looking for that breakthrough win this
race. He has said he will only go to Formula 1 after winning the Indy 500.
Marco’s father, Michael Andretti, won the 1991 IndyCar World Series, and his
grandfather Mario Andretti is a racing legend. There will no shortage of good
advice for this guy. This could be his year, and at 7-1 why not give him a shot?
Another interesting contender is the Englishman Dan Wheldon (9-2). He is the
2005 IndyCar champion and he also won the Indianapolis 500 that year. He is well
known for his fiery temperament. His 6 wins in 2005 broke the record for most
wins in an IRL season. The record was previously held by Sam Hornisch, Jr.
Wheldon tied with Hornisch, Jr. for the championship in 2006, but lost the
tiebreaker, ultimately landing in second place. Make sure to keep an eye on Dan
Wheldon in the Indy 500.
That’s sums up the Indy 500 for this year. Bettorsworld.com would like to wish
you and yours a safe and happy memorial day weekend. Make sure to get your bets
in early and check the
Indy 500 odds and the
Coca-Cola 600. They should both be very
exciting races. Good luck and thanks for reading!