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J.R. Hildebrand’s Pit Crew standing on wall cheering as JR takes
the white flag leading the 2011 Indy 500! (The Tomaso Collection)
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Never fear Ladies 'N Germs, Hurray-Hurray-Hurray,
the Show's about to begin, as Mark Miles guarantees 33 entries for this year's
vaunted 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 motor race, honest...
As typical, we've been waiting, wondering and
ponderin' just whether or not we'd have a full field 'O 33 Dallara's in this
year's Mega 100th running of Thy International Sweepstakes race, or even better
yet, that long ago forgotten tradition called Bumping! Not to be Cornfuzed with
Boomp Day...
As the momentum continued with the
announcement of a past name's return to the Brickyard, when John Menard joined
forces with past rival team owner Roger Penske.
And as of March 22nd, when ECR made the
announcement that J.R. Hildebrand would indeed return for a third engagement at
Mother Speedway with the team, we had 30 confirmed entries for this year's Indy
500.
INDY 500 ENTRANTS
So just how did we get to 33? Or are we there
yet Mom; Hya! As obviously we began with this year's St Pete's entry list of 22
who were A-L-L confirmed for Thy Month 'O May, ironically leaving us with eleven
"Mystery" entries, or to be more concise, one-third of the field!
With the next eight names alphabetically being announced were: Brabham,
Carpenter, Clauson,
Hildebrand, Karam, Lazier, Mann and Tagliani.
As I'll reintroduce two of the competitors since
they're on a Part-time basis this year, i.e.; rookie Spencer Pigot who made his
IndyCar debut at St Pete, bringing the entry list to 22, and Ed Carpenter who's
doing his Oval's only gig once again this year.
With the mad
scramble being for the coveted third seat at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports,
while presumably Mikey A' would run a fifth entry? Which just left us wonderin'
who'd be No. 33, possibly a collaboration between Carlin and Grace Autosports?
As drivers with
the names Bell, Chaves, de Silvestro and Legge seemed the most likely
candidates for these remaining seats...
A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Engine: Honda
#35) Alex Tagliani; Canada
The affable and well liked Kuhnaidium 'TAG's
most memorable accomplishment to date at the Brickyard is winning the 2011
Pole, where fellow "Team-mate" Dannyboy SPIKE' Wheldon went onto
capture an improbable last lap victory en route to his second and final Borg
Warner trophy!
Tagliani, like several others, will run the
Indy Double this May, i.e.; the road course and Oval races respectively, with
the No. 35 in honour of team owner SuperTex's 35-starts at the Speedway...
Dale Coyne Racing
Engine: Honda
#63) Pippa Mann; UK
#88) Brian Clauson;
USA
Pippa Mann will once again be racing in Pink
for the Susan
G. Komen Cancer Foundation while USAC Sprint Car star
Brian Clauson returns with a storied Indianapolis name, running the Jonathan
Byrd's entry - for which full season rookie driver Conor Daly carries
elsewhere...
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
#24) Sage Karam; USA
Sadly Sage "Dangerboy" Karam found
himself unemployed at the end of the 2015 IndyCar season, after the 2013 Lights
champion was subsequently replaced by ex-Marussia F1 driver Max Chilton, who'll
make his Indy 500 debut this May.
Karam has landed a "One-off" ride
again with Dreyer & Reinbold,
ironically where he began his star-crossed IndyCar career during the
2014 Indy 500 before graduating to Chip Ganassi Racing for the majority of last
year's season.
Sage will be driving probably one of the brightest
cars on the grid, with Reality TV Starz' Gas Monkey Garage promoting their
brand new energy drink, albeit not sure who's greenery will be brighter; DRR's
or the No. 22 Menard Penske? Y'all make the call!
Ed Carpenter Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
#6) J.R. Hildebrand; USA
#20) Ed Carpenter; USA (Ovals Only)
Team Owner Ed Carpenter, the 2013-14 Indy 500
Pole winner and three-times IndyCar race victor really doesn't need any
introduction, as he's simply continuing his unique Oval's Only racing programme
- which Y'all can do when Yuhs own the team!
While it's hard to believe it was five years
ago already - that "Captain America," nee J.R. Hildebrand made his
rookie debut at Mother Speedway and came Oh, So tantalizingly Close to Immortality!
Just one corner shy of winning the 95th
Indianapolis 500, for which I swear I saw sparks flittering by on the front
stretch that day!
As Hildebrand will be making his third consecutive
outing for Ed Carpenter Racing who'll once again be sporting an All Americano
driver line-up with team boss FAST EDDIE' (Carpenter) and Josef Newgarden
rounding out Thy Triumberant - whilst J.R. makes his sixth Indy 500 race
outing...
And now that we've
apparently put Thy Dome Skid controversy behind us, we can continue on with Thy
rapture of the remaining Mystery I500 Interlopers...
For
the final remaining contestants, P27-30, see; R100: Getting Down toBrass Tacks for this year's Race (P27-30)
(Photo Courtesy of No Fenders ‘Offical Photographer
‘CARPETS)