Profiles of the Indy 500 Drivers : Meet Men Behind Wheel in Fastest Field Ever

Profiles of the 33 drivers in Sunday’s 69th Indianapolis 500:

First Row 1. Pancho Carter, 34, Brownsburg, Ind., son of Duane Carter Sr., who drove at the Speedway from 1948-1963. Best finish in 11 Indy 500s was third in 1982. Only Indy car victory in 115 starts was the 1981 Michigan 500. Set Indianapolis Motor Speedway record for the 10-mile qualification run with average speed of 212.583 in a March-Buick V-6.

2. Scott Brayton, 26, Coldwater, Mich. Finished 16th as a rookie at Indianapolis in 1981. Starting fourth Indy 500, finishing ninth in 1983. best Indy car finish was fourth at Pocono last year. Began racing Formula Karts in 1975 and was the series champion in 1979. Set official Speedway one-lap records on the first three laps of his 10-mile qualifying run, establishing a standard of 214.017 on his third trip around the 2 1/2-mile oval. Qualified at 212.354, briefly holding the track record, in a March-Buick V-6.

3. Bobby Rahal, 32, Dublin, Ohio. Seventh last May in his third Indy 500. Won two Championship Auto Racing Teams races to earn its rookie of the year award in 1982 and has three victories since then. Won the 1981 Daytona 24-hour race. Driving a March-Cosworth, qualified at 211.818.

Second Row 4. Mario Andretti, 45, a native of Trieste, Italy, who has settled in Nazareth, Pa., starting his 20th Indy 500. Won at Indy in 1969 but has had frustrating years while seeking a second victory. Finished second in 1981, was awarded the victory when Bobby Unser was penalized but then dropped to second when Unser was reinstated as the winner. Crashed at the start of the 1982 race without completing a lap. The defending CART-PPG Indy-car series champion finished first in the opening event this year at Long Beach, Calif. Has 43 Indy-car victories in 252 starts. Andretti was the 1978 Formula One world driving champion. Driving a Lola-Cosworth for actor Paul Newman and co-owner Carl Haas. Qualified at 211.576 after earlier practicing in excess of 214.

5. Emerson Fittipaldi, 38, the Brazalian began racing motorcycles at age 15 and raced go-karts two years later. Won world Formula One driving championships in 1972 and 1974. Retired from racing for three years before returning last year to compete on the Indy car circuit. Placed 32nd in first Indy 500 last year. Qualified at 211.322 in a March-Cosworth.

6. Don Whittington, 39, Fort Lauerdale, Fla. Qualified for his fifth Indy 500 after taking over the ride two-time winner Gordon Johncock abandoned when he decided to retire the day before time trials began. Quickly adjusted to the March-Cosworth owned by Pat Patrick and qualified at 210.991. Finished sixth at Indianapolis and did not drive Indy cars last year. Won the World Challenge for Endurance Drivers in 1979, joining his brother Bill for five victories--including the LeMans 24-hour event.

Third Row

7. Al Unser, 45, Albuquerque, N.M. Three-time winner starting his 20th Indy. Finished second to Tom Sneva at Indy in 1983 and third last year. Indy winner in 1970, 1971 and 1979. Won national driving championship in 1983, finishing outside the top five in only three races all year. Qualified in a March-Cosworth at 210.523, his top time at Indianapolis. Younger brother of Bobby Unser, retired three-time winner. Began racing modifieds when he was 18 and has been in 284 Indy-car races.

8. Danny Sullivan, 35, Louisville, Ky., starting his third Indy 500. Drove his first race in a Formula Ford in 1972. Veteran of only 20-Indy car races, recorded three victories last year and joined the highly successful Roger Penske racing team this year. Qualified a March-Cosworth at 210.298.

9. Geoff Brabham, 33, San Clemente, Calif., Australian native, son of former two-time world champion Jack Brabham. Finished fifth as a rookie at Indy in 1981 and fourth in 1983. Fuel line problem knocked him out last year after only one lap and he placed 33rd. Veteran of Super Vee, Can-Am and Formula Atlantic competition. Qualified at 210.074 in a March-Cosworth.

Fourth Row

10. Rick Mears, 33, Bakersfield, Calif., the defending champion also won in 1979, finished second in 1982 to Gordon Johncock by .16 of a second in the closest finish in the race’s history and was third in 1983. Starting his eighth Indy 500 after a racing career that began in sprint buggies in 1970. Seeking to become the first successive Speedway winner since Al Unser repeated in 1971. Starting his first race since being seriously injured in a practice crash last Seeptember. A veteran of 95 Indy-car races, Mears has been national driving champion three times in the past six years. Set one-and four-lap records in qualifying in 1982. Qualified in a March-Cosworth with an average speed of 209.796

11. Al Unser Jr., 23, Albuquerque, N.M., finished 10th as a rookie at the Speedway in 1983 and 21st last year. Recorded his first Indy car last year. Winner of the 1981 Super Vee and 1982 Can-Am national championships. Son of three-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser and a nephew of Bobby Unser, another three-time Indy winner. Qualified a Lola-Cosworth at 209.215.

12. Bill Whittington, 35, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., starting fifth Indy 500 after skipping the Indy car circuit last year. Began racing at Sebring in 1978 and won five endurance races with his brother, Don, in 1979 -- including LeMans 24-hour race. Has driven in only eight Indy car races since 1979, concentrating mainly on NASCAR and IMSA competition. Best Speedway finish was 16th in 1982. Qualified in a Lola-Cosworth at 209.006.

Fifth Row

13. Tom Sneva, 36, Paradise Valley, Ariz., a former junior high principal, starting his 12th Indy 500. Had three seconds and a fourth in six starts prior 1983 victory. The first driver to run an official lap at over 200 mph, set one-and four-lap records at Indianapolis last year that were topped this year. Started on the Indy 500 pole for the third time last year with a quick lap of 210.689 and an average speed of 210.029 for his 10-mile qualifying run. Has 13 Indy-car victories in 154 starts. A the two-time U.S. Auto Club national driving champion. Qualified an Eagle-Cosworth at 208.927.

14. Dick Simon, 51, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., starting 14th Indy 500, best first was 13th in 1972. The oldest driver in the race for the second year. A former national parachuting champion who holds a multiengine pilot’s rating. Started racing super modifieds in 1962 and a veteran of 156 Indy car-races. Qualified at 208.536 in a March-Cosworth.

15. Michael Andretti, 22, Nazareth, Pa. The son of 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti finished fifth last year in earning recognition as Indianapolis “Co-rookie of the year.” The 1982 Sports Car Club of America Super Vee champion started racing go-karts in the early 1970s. Recorded five third place finishes last year. Driving a March-Cosworth, qualified at 208.185 with a quick lap at 208.025.

Sixth Row

16. Roberto Guerrero, 26, Medellin, Colombia. Finished second to Rick Mears in his first Indy 500 last year. Selected CART Rookie of the Year and shared Indy rookie honors. Began racing karts at age 12 in Colombia and won two national kart championships in five years. Won eight Formula Ford races in England in 1978. Won three races and finished second in points on the British Formula 3 series in 1980. Drove Formula One for two years before moving to the Indy car circuit. Driving a March-Cosworth, qualified at 208.062.

17. Danny Ongais, 43, Santa Ana, Calif. Started racing motorcycles in 1957. Known as a hard-charger, making ninth Indy 500 start. Finished fourth in 1979. Won five Indy-car races in 1978 and has gone winless since. The veteran of 78 Indy-car races was Seriously injured during the 1981 Indy 500 race and wears a leg brace while racing as a result. Qualified in a March-Cosworth at 207.220.

18. Josele Garza, 23, Mexico City, Starting his fifth Indy 500. Best finish was in 1981 when he was selected Indy rookie of the year, finishing 23rd and leading the race 13 laps. The youngest known Indy rookie ever was only 19 at the time, but told officials he was 22. Was first driver from his country to race at Indianapolis. Qualified at 206.677 in a March-Cosworth.

Seventh Row

19. Howdy Holmes, 35, Ann Arbor, Mich. Starting fifth Indy 500, best finish was sixth in 1983. Finished 13th last year after starting in the middle of the front row. Began driving Formula Fords in 1971, veteran of Super Vee, Mini-Indy and Formula Atlantic competition. Qualified at 206.372 in a Lola-Cosworth.

20. Arie Luyendyk, 34, First Dutch native in the Indy 500. Now living in Pewaukee, Wis. Began racing European Series Formula Vee in 1972. Later drove Formula Fords and Formula Three. Won Super Vee championship in 1984, placed eighth at Elkhart Lake in his only CART race last year. One of four rookie qualifiers, had 206.004 average for his 10-mile qualifying run in a Lotus-Cosworth.

21. A.J. Foyt, 50, Houston, Texas. Holder of nearly every longevity record for the Indy 500, the only four-time winner. Has qualified 28 straight years and has started from the pole four times. Starting his 300th Indy-car race, has 67 triumphs. Scored victories in this year’s Daytona and Sebring endurance races. Has also recorded victories in 41 stock, 28 sprint and 20 midget car races. Qualified at 205.782 in a March-Cosworth.

Eighth Row

22. Ed Pimm, 29, Dublin, Ohio. 1983 Super Vee champion is making his first Indianapolis start. Started racing Formula Fords in 1978. Cornell University graduate. Qualified an Eagle-Cosworth at 205.724.

23. Raul Boesel, 27, Brazil. The quickest rookie in this year’s field and the third quickest overall. Won karting championship at 17. A veteran of two years in Formula One, he raced Formula Two in South America last year. Won English Formula Ford championship in 1980. Qualified March-Cosworth at 206.498.

24. John Paul Jr., 25, West Palm Beach, Fla., born just down the road from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Muncie. Making his first Speedway start. Began his racing career in 1979 with a Formula Ford victory at Sebring. Recorded four Formula Ford triumphs the following year. Won the 1982 IMSA-GT series with nine victories, including the Daytona 24-hour race and the Sebring 12-hour event. Won 1983 Michigan 500. Qualified March-Cosworth at 206.340.

Ninth Row

25. Chip Ganassi, 27, Pittsburgh, fastest of nine rookie qualifiers in 1982. Duquesne University graduate. Finished eighth at Indianapolis in 1983 and was recognized as the most improved driver on the Indy car circuit. Began racing in Formula Fords in 1977. Qualified at 206.104 in a March-Cosworth.

26. Johnny Parsons, 40, Brownsburg, Ind. Best Indy finish was fifth in 1977. Back for his 10th Speedway race after failing to qualify last year and driving in only one CART race. Took over the ride intended for Jacques Villeneuve during the final week of practice and quickly got the March-Cosworth up to speed. Son of 1950 Indy winner Johnnie Woodrow Parsons, began racing quarter midgets when he was 12, drove sprint, midget and dirt cars. Qualified at 205.778.

27. Jim Crawford, 27. The native of Scotland now lives in Lees Summit, Mo. A former mechanic who went on to win the British Formula Atlantic championship in 1974. Drove Formula One, Formula Two and Formula Three. Finished second in Can-Am series the past two years. Qualified for his first Speedway start twice. The first run was disqualified after officials found the car underweight in technical inspection. Qualified Lola-Cosworth at 205.525.

Tenth Row

28. George Snider, 44, Bakersfield, Calif., veteran of 19 Indy 500s with pair of eighth-place finishes. The 1981-82 U.S. Auto Club Gold Crown champion and veteran of 136 Indy-car races. Qualified a March-Chevy V6 entered by four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt after only one lap in the car at 205.455.

29. Tony Bettenhausen, 33, Indianapolis, youngest son of 1958 USAC national driving champion Tony Bettenhausen, who was killed while practicing at Indianapolis. Finished seventh as a rooki in 1981. Has competed in midget, sprint and stock cars. Married to the daughter of Indy 500 veteran Jim McElreath. Qualified for his fifth Indy 500 in a March-Cosworth at 204.824.

30. Johnny Rutherford, 47, Fort Worth, Texas. Starting his 21th Indy 500. Missed 1982 race due to injuries suffered in a practice crash. A three-time Speedway winner. Made first Indy 500 start in 1963. National driving champion in 1980. Started only six races last year. Winless since 1981, Rutherford has 25 Indy-car victories. Qualified a March-Cosworth at 204.495, was bumped by a quicker car and then qualified another March-Cosworth at 208.254 -- 15th quickest overall.

Eleventh Row

31. Derek Daly, 32, Dublin, Ireland. Began racing stock cars in 1970 in Ireland. Won the British Formula III championship in 1977. Moved into Indy cars in 1982 after competing on the Grand Prix auto circuit since 1979. Qualified for his first Indy 500 in 1983 and placed 19th. Qualified twice this year after his first car was bumped. Earned third Indy start with 207.548 in a Lola-Cosworth.

32. Kevin Cogan, 29, Redondo Beach, Calif., qualified for the middle of the front row in his second Indy 500 in 1982 but never officially began the race after losing control of his car on the pace lap and triggering an accident that knocked four cars out of the race. Finished fourth as a rookie at Indianapolis in 1981 and fifth two years later. Qualified for his fifth Indy 500 at 206.398 in a March-Cosworth after his earlier qualification run was bumped by a quicker car.

33. Rich Vogler, 34, Indianapolis. The final qualifier for this year’s race first passed his rookie driver’s test at Indianapolis in 1980. Became the only driver to win the USAC midget and sprint titles in the same year in 1980. Did not drive an Indy car last year. Qualified a March-Cosworth at 205.653.