Indy 500 Schedule: When to Watch Premier Racing Event of Season
May 23, 2013
If there is one racing event you do not want to miss a second of, it's the Indianapolis 500.
This year's race features a few rookies making their first appearance in the field attempting to compete with experienced veterans. Among those veterans is Dario Franchitti, who is looking to defend his title after winning this event last year.
Still, any of the 33 competitors in this race are capable of getting the checkered flag and earning their spot in history.
It is certain to be a fantastic event, so check out this guide to make sure you are completely prepared for the action.
Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
When: Sunday, May 26
Watch: ABC
TV Coverage Start Time: 11 a.m. ET
Race Start Time: 12:12 p.m. ET
Total Laps: 200
Lineup (via Indycar.com)
| Pos. | Driver | Car No. |
| 1 | Ed Carpenter | 20 |
| 2 | Carlos Munoz | 26 |
| 3 | Marco Andretti | 25 |
| 4 | E.J. Viso | 5 |
| 5 | A.J. Allmendinger | 2 |
| 6 | Will Power | 12 |
| 7 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 1 |
| 8 | Helio Castroneves | 3 |
| 9 | James Hinchcliffe | 27 |
| 10 | J.R. Hildebrand | 4 |
| 11 | Alex Tagliani | 98 |
| 12 | Tony Kanaan | 11 |
| 13 | Oriol Servia | 22 |
| 14 | Justin Wilson | 19 |
| 15 | Sebastien Bourdais | 7 |
| 16 | Scott Dixon | 9 |
| 17 | Dario Franchitti | 10 |
| 18 | Takuma Sato | 14 |
| 19 | Charlie Kimball | 83 |
| 20 | James Jakes | 16 |
| 21 | Simon Pagenaud | 77 |
| 22 | Townsend Bell | 60 |
| 23 | Ryan Briscoe | 8 |
| 24 | Simona de Silvestro | 78 |
| 25 | Josef Newgarden | 21 |
| 26 | Graham Rahal | 15 |
| 27 | Sebastian Saavedra | 6 |
| 28 | Tristian Vautier | 55 |
| 29 | Ana Beatriz | 18 |
| 30 | Pippa Mann | 63 |
| 31 | Conor Daly | 41 |
| 32 | Buddy Lazier | 91 |
| 33 | Katherine Legge | 81 |
Top Storylines
Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti Go for Four
Only three drivers in history have ever won the Indy 500 four times in their careers. This exclusive club includes only Rick Mears, Al Unser and A.J. Foyt.
Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti each have a chance to join this group with three wins already on their resumes. Franchitti has won the event in two of the past three years.
However, neither has a good starting position, which could end up being a problem in this race. Still, these men have proved the ability to overcome an average start to win the long race.
Ed Carpenter Tries to Make a Name for Himself
Very rarely has Ed Carpenter made headlines as a driver. He has only two wins in his entire career and only a handful of top-five finishes.
However, he has a great opportunity ahead of him after winning pole position in the race. The qualifying winner has gone on to win the Indy 500 an impressive 20 times in 96 years, which is almost twice as often as any other spot.
Good things happen from that starting position, so Carpenter needs to make sure he takes advantage of this and stays ahead of the pack for as long as possible.
Marco Andretti Carries on the Family Name
Virtually every racing fan knows about Mario Andretti and Michael Andretti, but it is now Marco's time to shine on the race track.
So far this season, he is second in points behind Takuma Sato. A win at the Indianapolis 500 will go a long way toward putting him to the top of the standings.
Andretti starts in the first row as the No. 3 qualifier and he has an excellent chance to turn that into a win. With his skill on the track, he is clearly one of the favorites entering this race.
