WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

At first glance, the public’s perception of the Indy Racing League--and much of the lineup for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500--seems to be, “Who are these guys?”

Historically, it’s nothing new to have “unknowns” jump into the spotlight here, often drivers who later become famous. The difference today is that the almost four-year split with CART’s champ car series has deleted such familiar favorites as Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr., who had instant recognition when they arrived, thanks to their famous fathers.

But when Rick Mears burst on the scene in 1978 as a rookie and sat in the front row for the 500, few other than West Coast writers and his off-road racing buddies knew who he was. From little known, he became one of racing’s biggest stars with four Indy 500 victories.

And when Arie Luyendyk stunned the establishment by beating Bobby Rahal in 1990, he was better known for his long, flowing hair than his driving record, since he had been winless in six years of Indy car racing. He went on to win it again in 1997 and will be on the pole for Sunday’s 83rd running.

In an effort to answer the question, “Who are these guys?” the IRL has hired an advertising agency, Wieden & Kennedy, to personalize its drivers.

“The Pep Boys Indy Racing League was the best-kept secret in sports, but with our new ad campaign, the secret is out,” said John Newcomb, vice president of sales and marketing for Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “We have put a tremendous amount of work into building [the IRL] into the premier American open-wheel racing series. Now we are ready to introduce sports fans across the country to the action and excitement of Indy racing.”

Eddie Cheever, last year’s 500 winner, says the perception that IRL drivers somehow aren’t as good as those in other series is “ridiculous.”

“Racing drivers are not ordained like the pope, they’re created,” he said. “The way you create them is to have racing drivers competing against each other. I think every young driver in the world dreams of racing in, and winning, the Indianapolis 500. Look around here and you’ll see young men chasing that dream. This is where it happens.”

So one day, such drivers as Greg Ray, Stan Wattles, Billy Boat and Steve Knapp may be household names. All are already colorful characters--all they need are a few wins. Or, perhaps more important, an opportunity to race with the boys of CART in a unified open-wheel series.

Ray, a brash Texan in the mold of A.J. Foyt, exudes confidence, even though he finished only one of nine races last year.

“I have every intention of being in Victory Lane,” he said after qualifying in the middle of the front row for the second consecutive year. “We have all the elements to win the 500 and the [IRL] championship.”

He has always talked like that. Owner of a marine business in Plano, Texas, Ray was 25 before he decided to take up racing. He enrolled in an SCCA driving school and said by way of introduction, “Hello, my name is Greg Ray and I want to get my license and win the Indianapolis 500.”

Eight years and 16 IRL races later, he has lost none of his enthusiasm, even though he has only one top-10 finish. Like most Texans, he dreams big.

“Life is short and you can’t be afraid to live for today,” he said. “Everyone dreams of the perfect life. Some dream of throwing a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. Others want to pitch at the World Series. [Driving at Indy] is all I’ve ever wanted to do. To get to live your dream is special.”

Wattles is a man of many interests and many handicaps.

He overcame dyslexia, a reading impairment; dysgraphia, a writing impairment, and a perception problem to get a degree in mechanical drafting--and become a race driver. While racing occasionally in SCCA amateur races, he further tested himself in downhill skiing, rock climbing and fixed-wing gliding and earned a black belt in taekwondo.

Tuesday, he assisted the National Center for Learning Disabilities by visiting two groups of young people and sharing his experiences with learning disabilities and how he overcame them.

“My story to them [was], if they work hard enough, their dreams can also come true,” Wattles said.

But Wattles is 37 and may never reach the heights he has reached in overcoming childhood handicaps. He will start 20th Sunday after qualifying at 220.833 mph Saturday.

Boat, a veteran midget car racer from Phoenix, made his presence known here by winning the pole for last year’s 500, then took five consecutive IRL poles, but his success was overshadowed by his car owner, Foyt.

He is starting in the front row again Sunday, outside of Luyendyk and Ray, but the position was hard-earned. Boat crashed three times, the last time Saturday morning as he was warming up for a qualifying attempt.

“I think I’ve aged 10 years this week,” he said. “This is a tough place. Once you get behind, it’s tough to get caught up. You can’t appreciate what qualifying for this race means until you have a day like we had.”

His name alone should make Boat a candidate for fame and fortune, but as long as he rides in the shadow of his boss, the first four-time winner here and a longtime fan favorite, it’s not likely to happen. Headlines that should read, “Boat Wins,” are almost as likely to read, “Foyt’s Car Wins.”

Knapp is like a little kid in a candy shop, or maybe more like a little kid with autograph pad in hand.

On the first day of practice last week, he approached Luyendyk and asked the two-time winner to sign his driving suit.

“At first I thought he was kidding, but he was serious,” said a shocked Luyendyk. “It was a first for me.”

Knapp, last year’s rookie of the year, proudly showed the autographed uniform to anyone interested.

“That’s more than my Arie Luyendyk autograph, it’s my good-luck charm,” said the 35-year-old driver from Salem, Wis. “It must have helped me because I’ve never run through Turn 1 flat out. I just put my left foot over my right foot and did four [qualifying] laps.”

Knapp’s 221.723 mph put him inside in the fifth row.

INDY 500

WHEN: Sunday

TIME: 8 a.m.

TV: Channel 7