Thursday 13

1. This is the largest rookie class since 1997. Thirteen rookies are entered in the Indianapolis 500, the most since 1997 when the 13-member rookie class included Kenny Brack, Greg Ray and Sam Schmidt. Eight rookies have won the Indianapolis 500, including Helio Castroneves in 2001. Can a rookie take the checkered flag this year?

2. Old rivalries will be renewed at Indianapolis this year. The 92nd Indianapolis 500 will be the first under the unified IndyCar Series banner, meaning teams like Team Penske, Dale Coyne Racing, Andretti Green Racing and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing will compete against each other in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for the first time since 1995.

3. This is the second consecutive season that three women (Milka Duno, Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick) are entered in the Indianapolis 500. (Entered does not mean they have qualified for the race.)

4. The next generation is here. Andrettis, Foyts and Rahals will share the track for the first time since 1992 when Jeff, John, Mario and Michael Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Bobby Rahal were on the track together. That year, Rahal, Foyt and John Andretti all finished in the top 10. This year, Marco Andretti, A.J. Foyt IV, Larry Foyt and Graham Rahal will compete. Marco is the 21-year-old grandson of Mario and son of Michael. A.J. IV, who will turn 24 on Race Day, is the grandson of A.J. Foyt, and Graham is the 19-year-old son of Bobby. The only question is, can these next-generation drivers continue their family’s legacies at Indianapolis? (Graham nearly made the top 11 in qualifying last weekend.)

5. One of my favorite drivers, Tony Kanaan, has qualified in the top five in all six of his Indianapolis 500 starts. Other notable streaks include: Helio Castroneves, four consecutive top-10 starts; Danica Patrick, three consecutive top-10 starts; Marco Andretti and Scott Dixon, two consecutive top-10 starts.

6. Helio Castroneves is the only driver to finish in the top five in all four races this season. Tony Kanaan is the only other driver to finish in the top 10 in all four races.

7. Helio Castroneves and Dan Wheldon are the only drivers to complete all 683 laps in 2008.

8. One of my other favorite drivers, Helio Castroneves will make his 102nd career IndyCar Series start after qualifying fourth. It will also be his 100th consecutive start.

9. Buddy Lazier is the only driver to start every Indianapolis 500 since 1995. Hopefully, he will continue that streak by qualifying this weekend.

10. The points leader is missing a victory. Helio Castroneves leads the IndyCar Series standings from his four top-five finishes. However, he has yet to record a victory in 2008. Can he find his way to Victory Lane at Indianapolis, where he won in 2001 and 2002, and become the ninth driver with three or more victories in the Indianapolis 500? Or, will he continue a streak of points leaders who struggle at Indianapolis (Wheldon 22nd in 2007, Castroneves 25th in 2006)? I must say that his season of “Dancing with the Stars” is the only one I’ve watched completely. I was so glad he won!

11. Four drivers have won the first four IndyCar Series races of 2008, making this year the first time since 2004 that a season has started with four different winners. The top four drivers are separated by only 15 points. The last time five different drivers won the first five races was in 2003 when Scott Dixon opened the season with a victory at Homestead-Miami and went on to win the championship. Team Penske’s Gil de Ferran won the Indianapolis 500 that season (the fourth race).

12. Graham Rahal will become the fifth-youngest starter in Indianapolis 500 history (19 year, 142 days) if he qualifies for the race. A.J. Foyt IV (19 years, 0 days) is the youngest ever starter in the 500 while Marco Andretti (19, 76) is third. Sarah Fisher (19, 237) is currently fifth.

13. Four IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Indianapolis 500: Buddy Lazier (2000), Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).