Chevrolet and Ilmor are ready for the 97th Indianapolis 500!
This Sunday, May 26, is the 97th Indianapolis 500, featuring 17 driver entries powered by the Chevrolet V6 2.2L direct injected twin turbocharged engine. Spectacularly, the top 10 starting positions are held by Team Chevy drivers, a huge accomplishment for Chevrolet and Ilmor.
Months of preparation, coupled with hours of testing and practice on the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway will culminate when the most famous words in auto racing, "Drivers, Start Your Engines", are uttered to signal the start of the 200 lap/500 mile race in pursuit of one of the most coveted awards in motorsports, the Borg-Warner Trophy.
"The keystone event of the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Indianapolis 500, is nearly upon us and Team Chevy has positioned itself well for the start of the race," said Chris Berube, Chevrolet Racing Program Manager for the IZOD IndyCar Series. "Our engineers, teams and technical partners have been preparing for the event since the day after the 2012 race was over."
Team Chevy driver Ed Carpenter put up a blistering four-lap average speed of 228.762 mph to earn the right to lead the 33-car field to the green flag of the 97th running of the Great American Race. An Indiana native and a local hero at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Carpenter is the first owner/driver to win the pole since 1975.
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LAT USA Photography for Chevrolet Racing
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Andretti Autosport will field five cars and drivers in the race, all starting in the first three rows. Rookie Carlos Mu�oz and Marco Andretti (currently second in the Series' point standings), will start second and third respectively. E.J. Viso will start fourth, defending IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay will roll off seventh, and James Hinchcliffe will start ninth.
Team Penske's rookie driver, A.J. Allmendinger, will make his career first Indy 500 start from fifth position on the grid. Joining Allmendinger in row two will be his teammate Will Power starting sixth. Three-time Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves, will start eighth.
Panther Racing's JR Hildebrand had a strong qualifying effort, securing the 10th starting spot.
Live broadcast overage of the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 begins at 11 a.m. ET Sunday, May 26 on ABC. The green flag is set to wave at 12:30 p.m. The race will also be broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including Sirius and XM Channels 211 and www.indycar.com.