Yeah, simply cannot S-T-O-P Thyself! Since there
definitely shouldn't be ANY Dalmatians roaming Mother Speedway's famed
Ash-fault Race Day...
Hey, Y'all try poundin' out witty repartee
Day-in, Day-out! As I simply can't stop marvelin' over my clever connotation of
101 Dallarez' regarding this year's momentous 101st running of the Indy 500,
where hopefully 33 Dallara DW12's won't be seeing Thar Spots...
Did Yuhs figure
out my Hilarious connection to one of 'Ol Walt Disney's popular films yet? and
NO! It's NOT 'Ol Yeller'; Hya!
BONAFIED
CONTESTANTS...
The following 31 Indy 500 entries were known as of Friday, April
28th, prior to the Phoenix Oval-track race, albeit this list is not Official,
just my best reckoning from what I've been able to gleam from thou A-L-L
Knowing Internetz'.
The field is comprised of the full complement
of 2017 IndyCar Series regular competitors, numbering 21. With A.J. Foyt adding
one car; Mikey A' (Andretti) adding two cars; Dale Coyne adding one car;
Meesh's favourite team owner Bobby Rahal adding one car, Sam Schmidt's team
adding one car and El Capitano', nee Roger Penske adding one car to the mix
-bringing the tally to 28.
Then there's three single car Indy Only
team's entered, in alphabetical order: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Harding
Racing and Lazier Partners, bringing the total to 31. and lastly, Indy Only
Newby' Juncos Racing is hoping to run a two car contingent, although not
confirmed when originally poondin' out this story, which my ryth-Muh-tickin'
sez' at best equals 33-cars.
Hmm? Who'll be the Final Contestants for this year's 101st Indy 500...
(13) Chevrolet
Entrants
(Team Name & Number of Entries)
A.J. Foyt Enterprises, (3) Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, (1) Ed
Carpenter Racing, (2) Harding Racing, (1) Juncos Racing, (TBD) Lazier Partners,
(1) and Team Penske. (5)
When I began this Indy 500 Entrants Quest,
Wayback in early April, around Easter, could only come up with "The
General," aka General Motors doling out 13 Chevy Bowtie's.
as Juncos Racing appears to be the wildcard,
with team owner Ricardo Juncos saying back in February he could envision
running two cars, which he'll need to do in order to ensure Mother Speedway's
traditional elevens rows of three abreast occurs.
(18) Honda
Entrants
Andretti Autosport & Company, (6) chip Ganassi Racing, (4) Dale
Coyne Racing, (3) Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, (2) and Schmidt Peterson
Motorsports. (3)
The Hondre' camp was Done Filled Up with the
addition of Fernando Coming to Americre', when Honda having allocated it's
perceived maximum 18 engine leases for the Month of May was announced with
Stefan Wilson relinquishing his engine lease for Indy Cars benefit.
Pippa Mann returns at Dale Coyne as the sole
female in this year's race, presumably in her now trademark pink No. 63 - with
little fanfare over it being the 40th anniversary of the first ever woman to
contest the race - when Janet Guthrie competed in the 61st running.
Oriol "suitcase" Servia finds his
way back aboard Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's second entry, the #16, where the
Spaniard's raced before; last running that toothy grinning Letterman Retirement
car. And hopefully won't be too busy trading Texts with somebody named Alonso!
Jay Howard, the 2006 Indy Lights champion, who's
been out of IndyCar competition since the stillborn Michael Shank Racing
IndyCar team's failure to obtain an engine in 2012, makes his return to the
Speedway after contesting the 2011 event. Now driving the third Schmidt
Peterson Racing entry, the #77 sponsored
by Tony Stewart's Foundation.
NEW TEAMS
For the 101st running of the Indianapolis
500, two new entrants will make their respective IndyCar debuts at Mother
Speedway, with the additions of Harding Racing and Juncos Racing.
Harding Racing is a one car entity owned by Mike
Harding in conjunction with Dennis Reinbold with the team's manager being Larry
Curry. As they'll run the #88 piloted by Gabby Chaves in technical cooperation
with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's No. 24 entry out of the DRR Indianapolis
shop, with Chaves team-mate being Sage Karam.
Juncos Racing has purchased many assets of
the defunct KV Racing Technology IndyCar team, including three Dallara DW12
chassis. As the Mazda Road To Indy (MRTI) title winners are rumoured to run
current Lights driver Kyle Kiser and a veteran, perhaps Ryan Briscoe? While
past Juncos Racing standout Spencer Pigot could figure in the mix.
INDY 500 WINNERS
Reportedly, a total of seven past Indy 500
winners, including the reigning rookie winner Alexander Rossi defending his
victory will contest this year's Indianapolis 500 May 28th. As Rossi will be
joined by three-time winner Helio Castroneves, (2001-02, 2009) and two-time
winner Juan Pablo Montoya. (2000, 2015)
Four single event winners: Ryan Hunter-Reay,
(2014) Tony Kanaan, (2013) Scott Dixon (2008) and Buddy Lazier (1996) are
slated to join Alexander Rossi (2016) in the W Colum.
ROOKIES
Y'all know this year's biggest name rookie is
that Spanish Formula 1 Double World Champion Fernando Alonso, who McLaren's let
playing Hooky from this year's Monaco GP! Having just completed his first day
of Oval testing May 3rd aboard the Andretti Autosport McLaren Honda No. 29.
Yet the calibre of Mother Speedway's other rookie
class competitors should account for themselves quite admirably. Led by the
lone Fulltime IndyCar contestant, the reigning Indy Lights champion Ed Jones
driving for Dale Coyne Racing aboard the #19. As Jones will become the first
ever Middle East driver I believe, as he hails
from the United Arab Emirates.
Past Indy Lights multiple race winners Zach
Veach and Jack Harvey both know their way round an Oval. As Harvey won the 2015
Freedom 100, along with finishing series runner-up twice consecutively, circa
2014-15.
The 24yr old Bloody Brit hailing from
Bassingham will be making his B-I-G CARZ' debut for Mikey A's (Andretti) sixth
entry; the #50 campaigned by Michael Shank Racing in cooperation with Andretti
Autosport.
Zach Veach, who finished third overall upon
his return to Indy Lights competition last year, made his IndyCar debut at
Barber Motorsports Park when deputizing for the injured J.R. Hildebrand at Ed Carpenter
Racing. (ECR)
As the 22yr old Stockdale, Ohio native will
contest his maiden Indy 500 for the storied A.J. Foyt Enterprises team aboard
the No. 40, honouring 'Ol SuperTex's 40th anniversary of his fourth and final
Indy 500 victory.
Hurrah-Hurrah-Hurrah
Ladies 'N Germs', who'll be the final contestant to take the green flag in this
year's 101st running of the Indy 500? And which Dallarer' will be seein'
Spots...
