|
|
|
Posted: Thursday May 23, 2002 11:33 AM
| Indianapolis 500 Facts & Figures |
|---|
| |
EVENT -- The 86th annual Indianapolis 500.
DISTANCE -- 500 miles; 200 laps around the 2 1/2-mile, asphalt-on-brick track.
SANCTIONING BODY -- Indy Racing League; also open to USAC, CART, NASCAR, SCCA, Formula One and other drivers through international FIA listing.
RACE CARS -- Open-cockpit, open-wheel and single-seat, with 3.5-liter, 650-horsepower normally aspirated V8 engines.
PACE CAR -- Chevrolet Corvette, driven by actor Jim Caviezel.
START -- Noon EDT from a flying start, following warmup, parade and pace laps.
FINISH -- Standings are unofficial until posted by the IRL.
NUMBER OF STARTERS -- 33.
POLE POSITION -- Bruno Junqueira, who qualified a G Force-Chevrolet at a four-lap average of 231.342 mph.
FASTEST ROOKIE -- Tony Kanaan, who qualified a G Force-Chevrolet at 230.253 mph for a start from the fifth position, in the middle of the second row.
DEFENDING CHAMPION -- Helio Castroneves, who averaged 141.574 mph in his rookie race at Indy. Castroneves will start 13th Sunday.
FORMER WINNERS (6) -- Arie Luyendyk (1990, 1997), Al Unser Jr. (1992, 1994), Buddy Lazier (1996), Eddie Cheever (1998), Kenny Brack (1999), Helio Castroneves (2001).
ROOKIES (9) -- Alex Barron, Dario Franchitti, Shigeaki Hattori, Tony Kanaan, George Mack, Max Papis, Laurent Redon, Tomas Scheckter, Rick Treadway.
OLDEST -- Arie Luyendyk, 48 (Born Sept. 21, 1953).
YOUNGEST -- Sarah Fisher, 21 (Born Oct. 4, 1980).
FIELD AVERAGE IN QUALIFICATIONS -- 228.648 mph (Record; former record 227.807 mph, 1996)
QUALIFICATION RECORD -- 236.986 mph, Arie Luyendyk, 1996.
RACE RECORD -- 185.981 mph, Arie Luyendyk, 1990.
PURSE -- Depends on attendance and accessory awards; 2001 payoff was a record $9,610,325, of which winner Helio Castroneves received $1,270,475 for Team Penske. The record prize to the winner was $1,568,150 to Arie Luyendyk in 1997.
CROWD -- Estimated at about 400,000. Speedway never discloses attendance but admits to at least 275,000 reserved seats in permanent stands and room for 100,000 or more in the infield.
TV -- Televised live by ABC, with Bob Jenkins, host; Paul Page, anchor announcer and play-by-play; former driver Scott Goodyear, analyst; Jack Arute, Gary Gerould, Jerry Punch and Vince Welch, pit reporters.
RADIO -- Speedway network live to 1,200 stations in the United States and Canada, plus worldwide coverage on American Forces Radio and special Spanish language broadcast, with Mike King, anchor and play-by-play; Chris Economaki, analyst; former winner Johnny Rutherford, color commentator; Donald Davidson, historian; Jerry Baker, Kevin Lee, Mark Jaynes and Chris Denari, turns; Adam Alexander, Kim Morris, Jim Murphy, pits; Howdy Bell, medical center; Chuck Marlow, garages.
FATALITIES -- There have been 66 deaths at the speedway, including pre-500 races of 1909-10. Last death was May 17, 1996, when pole--winner Scott Brayton was killed in a crash during practice.
TROPHY -- Sterling silver Borg-Warner Trophy, which carries a bas-relief bust of each winner; 92 pounds; 4 feet, 4 inches tall; insured for $1 million. Winner gets a smaller replica.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
|
|
