The entry list for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 has been released.
The list includes thirty-three drivers named to thirty-four cars. Six former winners will attempt to qualify on Pole Day May 17th: 2014 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, three-time winner Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Juan Pablo Montoya and Buddy Lazier.
Chevrolet and Honda will each field 17 entries powered by their engines. The race will also mark the debut of the superspeedway aero packages for each engine manufacturer.
Seven of the entrants are former IndyCar champions, and 20 drivers have won at least one IndyCar race, including Will Power who won the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Past champions include Power (2014), four-time Champ Car Champion Sebastien Bourdais (2004-2007), three time champion Scott Dixon (2003, 2008, 2013), Tony Kanaan (2004), Hunter-Reay (2012, Lazier (2000) and Montoya (2000).
Two rookies will also attempt to make the field for the 99th Running: Gabby Chaves with Bryan Herta Autosport and Stefano Coletti with KV Racing. Chaves is the reigning Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires champion while Coletti is a multple race winner in GP2.
Helio Castroneves, after making his 300th start at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and celebrating his 40th birthday the following day, will attempt to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears as four-time winners of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race is set to go green on Sunday, May 24. Coverage of practice and all sessions and news leading up to the event will be found on the Racing section of VAVEL USA. Follow the VAVEL Racing Twitter account, @RacingOnVAVEL, for more throughout the month of May.