It Pays to Be Up Front at Indy

Forget about Danica Patrick, Michael Andretti and all those other drivers back in the pack today.

After several years of what had to be considered a wide-open race, the real contenders in the 90th edition of the Indianapolis 500 will be easy to spot.

They’re all right up front.

With pole-winner Sam Hornish Jr., two-time winner Helio Castroneves and defending champion Dan Wheldon dominating the speed charts all month, it’ll be tough for anyone to break up their front-row party.

Hornish, in particular, has been unmatched since practice opened May 9, topping the speed chart in all but one session before easily winning the pole with a four-lap average of 228.985.

Under normal circumstances, that would make an overwhelming favorite of the two-time IRL IndyCar Series champion. But Hornish’s history of bad luck at the Brickyard means he has to at least share that honor with Marlboro Team Penske teammate Castroneves and Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Wheldon.

“After six years of not doing it right here, I’ve got to prove I can get it done,” said Hornish, who has crashed out of three races and failed to finish more than 196 of the 200 race laps in any of those six starts.