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2000 Indy 500 Starting Grid

Row One
Greg Ray	Juan Montoya	Eliseo Salazar
Starting position: 1 Car No. 2 Age: 33 Home: Plano, Texas Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Defending IRL champion is on front row for third straight year, but on pole for first time. Best Indy finish in three starts was 18th in 1998. Has struggled this year with only one top-10 finish in three starts. Was champion in Formula Ford 2000 series in 1992 and SCCA Formula Atlantic series in 1993. Won three races last year to tie IRL record for victories in season.	Starting position: 2 Car No. 9 Age: 24 Home: Bogota, Colombia. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Won CART title as rookie, becoming 23 youngest series champion ever with. Had seven victories, seven poles, 10 top-four finishes. Set series record for most laps led by rookie (942) and most consecutive victories (3). Won 1998 European Formula 3000 Championship while also serving as test driver for Williams Formula One team.	Starting position: 3 Car No. 11 Age: 44 Home: Santiago, Chile Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Argentine Formula Four champion in 1978. Drove British Formula Three in 1979, second in British Formula One series in 1980. First Chilean to compete in Formula One with 24 starts from 1981-83. Won Chilean rally hill climb titles in 1984-85 and drove Formula 3000 in 1986-87. Driving for four-time Indy winner A.J. Foyt. Qualified for fifth Indy 500.

Row - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
Row Two
Robby Gordon	Scott Sharp	Jeff Ward
Starting position: 4 Car No. 32 Age: 30 43 Home: Cerritos, Calif. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Won off-road series championship in 1988-89 and began racing IMSA GTO series in 1990. Won 24 Hours of Daytona three straight years, starting in 1990. Won 12 Hours of Sebring in 1990-91. Made NASCAR debut at Daytona 500 in 1991. Made Indy-car debut in 1992. Drove on CART circuit in 1998-99, but came to Indy and finished fourth last year. Driving entire NASCAR Winston Cup Series this year.	Starting position: 5 Car No. 8 Age: 32 Home: Indianapolis Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Son of six-time SCCA national champion Bob Sharp. Won first SCCA race entered in 1984 and won SCCA GT2 national championship for team headed by his father and actor Paul Newman in 1986. Won SCCA GT1 national titles in 1987 and 1988 and Trans Am series championships in 1991 and 1993. Won 24 Hours of Daytona in 1996. Best finish in five Indy races was 10th in 1996. Co-champion in inaugural IRL season in 1996. Posted fourth IRL victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway last year.	Starting position: 6 Car No. 14 Age: 38 Home: San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Finished third and was Indy 500 rookie of year in 1997. Born in Scotland. Started racing motocross at age five. Won five AMA national motocross or supercross titles from 1984-90. Has 20 supercross and 54 career motocross wins. Drove Indy Lights 1993-96, passed Indy 500 rookie test in 1995 but failed to qualify. Made IRL debut on Orlando, Fla., in 1997. Finished second in third Indy start last year.

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Row Three
Jimmy Vasser	Stan Wattles	Robbie Buhl
Starting position: 7 Car No. 10 Age: 34 Home: Las Vegas Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Finished 21st as rookie at Indy in 1992 and fourth in 1993. Back in race for first time since 1995. Made road racing debut in 1984 with five victories in 11 SCCA Formula Ford starts. Also has raced in Formula Atlantic, SCCA Corvette Challenge, American Racing, Canadian Formula 2000 and SCCA Pro Sports 2000 series. Won CART championship in 1996. Qualified for fifth Indy 500.	Starting position: 8 Car No. 92 Age: 38 Home: Sewall's Point, Fla. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Began racing sports cars in 1986, including three straight SCCA regional wins. Won at Watkins Glen, N.Y., in 1987 and 1988. Out of racing 1990-92, won two SCCA regional races in Formula 2000 series in 1993 and six national features in Formula Atlantic in 1994. Drove Toyota-Atlantic series in 1995 and made IRL debut with 13th at Orlando, Fla., in 1996. Finished 28th and 17th in previous Indy starts.	Starting position: 9 Car No. 24 Age: 36 Home: Indianapolis Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Passed Indy 500 rookie test in 1993 but crashed twice and did not qualify. Began racing Formula Fords in England in 1984. Won Barber Saab Pro Series title in 1989, setting records for wins (7) and poles (6). Won Indy Lights series championship in 1992. Began racing Indy cars in 1993. Finished third at Orlando in IRL debut in 1996. Best finish in four Indy races came last year when he started 32nd and finished sixth. Won IRL season-opener this year. Leads IRL point standings.

Row - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
Row Four
Eddie Cheever	Mark Dismore	Robby McGehee
Starting position: 10 Car No. 51 Age: 42 Home: Orlando, Fla. Car: Dallara-Infiniti   Notes: Won Indy 500 in 1998. Indy 500 and CART rookie of the year in 1990, now a car owner and driver. Won Italian and European karting championships at age 15, moved up to Formula Fords and was teammate of Danny Sullivan on Formula Three circuit. In 1987 and 1988 won seven world sports car prototype races. Only American driver to compete in Formula One in 1989. Won third IRL race in Orlando, Fla., last year.	Starting position: 11 Car No. 28 Age: 43 Home: Greenfield, Ind. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Making fifth Indy 500 start. Broke neck, both feet, right wrist and right knee in a crash during practice in 1991. Began racing karts in 1968 and won 40 grand national kart races through 1989. Made Indy car debut at Mid-Ohio in 1989, won Formula Atlantic Pacific Division championship in 1990. Came to Indy but did not qualify in 1992-93. Won 24 Hours of Daytona in 1993 and at Nazareth in 1994 in only Atlantic start. Recorded only IRL victory last year in 30th start.	Starting position: 12 Car No. 5 Age: 26 Home: St. Louis Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Seventh in U.S. Formula 2000 Series in 1997 and third in 1998, when he won twice and finished second five times. Turned fastest lap in Formula 2000 history at 137.064 mph in 1997. Made 38 career F2000 starts, fourth on the all-time list, with 17 top-10 finishes. Finished fifth at Indy when he won rookie of year honors in first IRL race last year.

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Row Five
Scott Goodyear	Sam Hornish	Donnie Beechler
Starting position: 13 Car No. 4 Age: 40 Home: Toronto Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Began racing in Formula Ford in 1980. Won 1986 North American Formula Atlantic championship with five victories in nine races. Drove first Indy car race in 1987. Started 33rd and finished second to Al Unser Jr. by .043 seconds in closest Indy 500 ever in 1992. Was second in 1997 in third-closest Indy race. Recorded CART wins in Michigan in 1992 and 1995, and won his first IRL race last year in Phoenix.	Starting position: 14 Car No. 18 Age: 20 Home: Defiance, Ohio Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Finished third in third IRL race in Las Vegas last month. Finished seventh as rookie in Toyota Atlantic series last year and was top rookie in points. Won World Karting Association U.S. Grand National championship in 1995 with nine victories and 38 top-five finishes in 54 races. Had seven WKA victories in 1993 and 19 in 1994 while winning U.S. and Canadian Grand National championships.	Starting position: 15 Car No. 98 Age: 39 Home: Springfield, Ill. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Began racing sprint cars in 1982, made U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown debut in 1988. Finished fourth in Silver Crown point standings in 1995, winning at Sacramento, Calif., and Terre Haute. Best IRL finish was third at Phoenix this year. Eliminated early by engine trouble in previous Indy starts, finishing 32nd and 29th.

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Row Six
Buddy Lazier	Jason Leffler	Al Unser Jr.
Starting position: 16 Car No. 91 Age: 31 Home: Vail, Colo. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Has finished first, fourth, second and seventh in last four Indy 500s. Won in 1996 despite suffering multiple back fractures in crash in Phoenix two months earlier. Father, Bob Lazier, was 19th at Indy in 1981. Brother Jacques is making rookie start in race. Started racing Formula Fords in 1985, and won title of 125cc Motocross series same year. Had two IRL victories, six top-10 finishes in 1998. Charged from last to first in Phoenix this year and finished second at Disney World. Qualified for eighth Indianapolis start.	Starting position: 17 Car No. 50 Age: 24 Home: Charlotte, N.C. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Competing with Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR's Busch Series. Became one of three drivers to win three consecutive USAC midget series last year. Won USAC Silver Bullet Series in 1998, has won 27 midget races. Is driving car sponsored by Penske Racing. Qualified for second IRL start.	Starting position: 18 Car No. 3 Age: 38 Home: Albuquerque, N.M. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Back in race for first time since recording second Indy victory in 1994. Failed to qualify in 1995, then was unable to compete due to CART-IRL split. Starting 13th Indianapolis 500, an event his father won four times and uncle, Bobby, three times. Posted first IRL victory at Las Vegas last month, first win in open-wheel race car since 1995. Was half of first father-son combination to drive in same Indy 500.

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Row Seven
Sarah Fisher	Stephan Gregoire	Airton Dare
Starting position: 19 Car No. 15 Age: 19 Home: Columbus, Ohio Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Finished 13th in IRL debut with Walker Racing this year. Became youngest driver in an IRL race when she finished 25th at Texas Motor Speedway in October. Started racing career at age 5 in quarter-midgets. Three-time Western Karting Association national champion. Has raced in winged sprint cars and World of Outlaws series. Plans to enroll in college to study mechanical engineering in fall.	Starting position: 20 Car No. 7 Age: 31 Home: Neufchateau, France Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Fastest rookie qualifier in 1993. Best finish in four Indy starts was 17th last year. French go-kart champion in 1987. Won 10 races in Porsche 944 French Cup series and was French Citroen AX Berline champion in 1988. Drove French Formula Renault series in 1989 and won French Formula Three B title in 1990. Drove in Formula Three A series in 1991-92. Best IRL finish was second at Pikes Peak, Colo., in 1997.	Starting position: 21 Car No. 88 Age: 22 Home: Bauru, Brazil Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Best finish in three IRL starts was 11th at Walt Disney World this year. Raced Indy Lights in 1997-99 with two wins. Began racing career in jet-ski competition in Brazil and still rides as a hobby on non-race weekends.

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Row Eight
Buzz Calkins	Richie Hearn	Raul Boesel
Starting position: 22 Car No. 12 Age: 39 Home: Denver, Colo. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Co-champion in first IRL season. Led 130 laps and won inaugural IRL race, Indy 200 in 1996 in Orlando, Fla. Was second at New Hampshire to open the 1996-97 season. Began racing motorcycles and go-karts as teen-ager. SCCA Formula Ford Rocky Mountain Division runner-up in 1989 and champion in 1990. Won Formula Atlantic class in Tasman Series in New Zealand in 1994. Starting fifth Indy 500 with best finish 10th in 1998.	Starting position: 23 Car No. 75 Age: 29 Home: Henderson, Nev. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Back in race for first time since finishing third as a rookie in 1996. Both parents were racers. Started racing go-karts at 8, winning more than 200 international events and seven national titles. In 1991, won Pilote-Elf1 International competition in Formula Renault. Came back to U.S. to win rookie of the year in Dodge/Shelby Pro Series. Won Toyota-Atlantic championship in '95. Won IRL event in Las Vegas in 1996, then moved to CART.	Starting position: 24 Car No. 55 Age: 42 Home: Curitiba, Brazil Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Still seeking first open-wheel victory after more than 185 starts. Has finished second four times. Began racing in 1979, with nine Formula Ford victories next season. Returned to Brazil in 1981 to drive in Formula Three. Drove Formula One in 1982. Started on front row at Indianapolis in 1993 and 1994. Best Indy finish in 11 starts was third in 1989 and has four top-10 finishes.

Row - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
Row Nine
Jimmy Kite	Jaques Lazier	Steve Knapp
Starting position: 25 Car No. 27 Age: 24 Home: Stockbridge, Ga. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Started racing quarter-midgets and dirt national champion in 1984, and won regional quarter-midget titles in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990. Rookie of the year in mini-sprints in 1991, made USAC Silver Crown debut with 20th-place finish at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1995. Raced USAC midgets and made IRL debut in 1997 and best finish in four starts was sixth at Las Vegas. Drove USAC Silver Crown and midgets in 1997, Finished 11th as Indy rookie in 1998 and 24th last year.	Starting position: 26 Car No. 33 Age: 29 Home: Vail, Colo. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Brother of former Indy 500 winner Buddy Lazier, who also is in race. Graduated in 1995 from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., with bachelor of arts degree in business and a minor in communication. Started racing BMX bikes at age 5. Won 1996 SCCA National Championship and Mark Donohue award in Formula Vee. Qualified for Indy 500 in 1998, but was bumped from the field on Bubble Day. Drove Indy Lights in 1997 and American IndyCar series in 1996.	Starting position: 27 Car No. 23 Age: 36 Home: Salem, Wis. Car: GForce-Infiniti   Notes: Began driving sports cars in 1985 and won SCCA National Pro Sports 2000 championships in 1986 and 1987. Coordinated Newman-Haas test team for Mario and Michael Andretti in 1988-90 and out of racing next five years. Won US F2000 championship with four wins in 1996. Had top-five finishes in Toyota Atlantic Series, with best finish of second in 1997. Qualified for first IRL start in 1998 and was Indy 500 rookie of year after finishing third. Finished 26th last year and season ended after six races when he fractured vertebrae in neck during crash.

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Row Ten
Davey Hamilton	Jeret Schroeder	Johnny Unser
Starting position: 28 Car No. 16 Age: 37 Home: Las Vegas Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Father, Ken, drove in 1982 Michigan 500. Davey started racing in 1979 and was CAMRA supermodified rookie of year in 1981. Northwest supermodified champion from 1987-89. Won Western States Supermodified Tour and Supermodified Racing Association championships in 1993 and four series titles in 1994. Finished fourth in third Indy start in 1998. Holds nearly all IRL longevity records. Had a streak of 10 consecutive top-10 IRL finishes in 1998 when he finished second in point standings for second straight year. Only driver to start every IRL race. Best IRL finish in 37 races has been second.	Starting position: 29 Car No. 6 Age: 30 Home: Vineland, N.J. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Began racing Formula Fords in 1990 and was South Jersey SCCA rookie of year in 1991. Was Formula Ford 2000 national champion with four victories in 1995 and was fifth in Toyota Atlantic series in 1996. Passed IRL rookie test in 1997. A two-time starter in 24 Hours of Daytona. Also competed in U.S. Road Racing Championship and Professional Sports Car Racing events, including 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Qualified for first IRL start last year at Indy and finished 15th.	Starting position: 30 Car No. 22 Age: 40 Home: Hailey, Idaho Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Father Jerry Unser was killed at speedway in 1959. Nephew of Indy winners Bobby and Al Unser Sr. and cousin of Indy winner Al Unser Jr. and Robby Unser. Has done movie stunt driving. Raced in IMSA GTU series in 1987-88, won 12 Hours of Sebring in 1989. Was American IndyCar Series rookie of the year in 1990, finishing in the top three in every race. Made CART debut in 1993. Best finish in four Indy races was 18th in 1997.

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Row Eleven
Billy Boat	Lyn St. James	Andy Hillenburg
Starting position: 31 Car No. 41 Age: 34 Home: Glendale, Ariz. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Only driver bumped from the starting field in 1996 finished seventh as a rookie at Indianapolis in 1997, 23rd in 1998 when he started on pole, and was third last year. Set IRL record by earning six pole starts in 1998, including five in a row to close season. Only IRL victory came in Texas in 1998. From 1980-82 won 14 of 16 races in modified midgets. Drove American Racing Series in 1986, with three top-fives in 10 races. Set USAC record for consecutive victories in any series with 11 straight in the Western States midget series in 1995. Was bumped from starting field last Sunday and then qualified another car.	Starting position: 32 Car No. 90 Age: 53 Home: Daytona Beach, Fla. Car: GForce-Aurora   Notes: Second woman to race at Indianapolis, was 1992 Indy 500 rookie of year when she finished 11th, her best in six Indy starts. Began racing sports cars in 1976, ran IMSA Kelly American Challenge series 1979-81, rookie of the year in IMSA Camel GT series in 1984. First woman to run a closed-course lap above 200 mph. Set a women's closed-course record of 224.208 in 1993 at Michigan Speedway. GTO driver of the year in 1985 when she was the first woman to win IMSA race. Back in the race after a two-year absence.	Starting position: 33 Car No. 48 Age: 37 Home: Brownsburg, Ind. Car: Dallara-Aurora   Notes: Has competed in motorsports since age 12, Has driven USAC midgets, sprints and Silver Bullet cars, plus ARCA stock cars and NASCAR's Winston Cup and Busch Series. Won ARCA Supercar series title as rookie in 1995 with 17 top-10 finishes in 21 races, including a victory at Daytona. Has served as test driver for IROC series.

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