Today’s Indy 500 Facts and Figures

Facts and figures of the 78th Indianapolis 500-mile race today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

EVENT--The 78th annual Indianapolis 500.

DISTANCE--500 miles; 200 laps around the 2 1/2-mile, asphalt-on-brick Indianapolis Motor Speedway track.

SANCTIONING BODY--The U.S. Auto Club; also open to IndyCar, NASCAR, SCCA, Formula One and other drivers through international FIA listing.

RACE CARS--Open-cockpit, open-wheel and single-seat, with engine specifications set by the U.S. Auto Club. Minimum wheelbase of 96 inches; maximum length of 16.25 feet; maximum width of 78.5 inches; minimum weight of 1,550 pounds.

START--11 a.m. EDT from a flying start, following warmup, parade and pace laps. The pace car, a 1994 Ford Mustang Cobra, powered by a 240-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 engine, will be driven by Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indy winner.

FINISH--Standings are unofficial until posted by USAC, expected six hours after the end of the race.

POLE POSITION--Al Unser Jr., 31, Albuquerque, N.M., who qualified a 1994 Penske-Mercedes at a four-lap average of 228.011 mph.

DEFENDING CHAMPION--Emerson Fittipaldi, who averaged 157.207 mph for his second victory in 10 Indy 500 starts.

FORMER WINNERS IN RACE (5)--Mario Andretti (1969), Bobby Rahal (1986), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989, 1993), Arie Luyendyk (1990), Al Unser Jr. (1992).

ROOKIES IN RACE (9)--Jacques Villeneuve, Hideshi Matsuda, Dennis Vitolo, Scott Sharp, Brian Till, Bryan Herta, Adrian Fernandez, Mauricio Gugelmin, Marco Greco.

OLDEST IN RACE--Mario Andretti, 54.

YOUNGEST IN RACE--Jacques Villeneuve, 23.

FIELD AVERAGE IN QUALIFICATIONS--223.270 m.p.h. (Last year 219.692; Record 223.479, 1992).

RACE RECORD--185.981, Arie Luyendyk, 1990.

PURSE--Depends on attendance and accessory awards; 1993 payoff was a record $7,681,300, of which Emerson Fittipaldi and Team Penske received a winner’s share of $1,155,304 (Former record purse was $7,527,450, of which Al Unser Jr. and the Galles Racing team received a still-record $1,244,184 in 1992).

CROWD--Estimated at about 450,000. Speedway never discloses attendance but admits to at least 275,000 reserved seats in permanent stands and room for 100,000 or more in the infield.

TELEVISION--Televised live by the American Broadcasting Co., with Paul Page as anchor and Sam Posey and Bobby Unser as analysts (Indianapolis area blacked out).

RADIO--Speedway network live to 1,200 stations in the United States and Canada, plus worldwide coverage on American Forces Radio and special Spanish language broadcast, anchored by Bob Jenkins.

MORTALITY--There have been 65 deaths at the Speedway, including pre-500 races of 1909-10. Last death was on May 15, 1992, when rookie driver Jovy Marcelo of the Philippines was killed in a crash during practice.

THE TROPHY--Sterling silver with bas-relief bust of each winner; 92 pounds; 4 feet, 4 inches tall; insured for $1 million.