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ABC Supply/AJ Foyt Indy 225 Preview

Jun 1, 2008 - 10:19 AM

June 1, 2008
The Milwaukee Mile 
West Allis, Wisconsin 
Race 6 of 17 in the IRL season

TV: ABC, 4 p.m. EDT

Length: 225 laps 
Track length: 1 mile 
Race length: 225 miles

Qualifying record: Helio Castroneves, 172.477 mph, 2006 
Race record: Tony Kanaan, 133.513 mph, 2006


DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Marco Andretti
Team: Andretti Green Racing
2008 Points: 130 (5th)

Finished third in the 92nd Indianapolis 500; was involved in
an accident in last year's Indy race and finished 24th; finished 
11th in last year's IndyCar Series standings; recorded career-best 
six top-five finishes, with best finish of second at Iowa and 
Michigan; currently sits fifth in the standings; opened the 
season by running second at Homestead; was 25th at St. 
Petersburg and 18th at Japan before bouncing back with a fifth 
at Kansas; finished 15th here last year.


Helio Castroneves
Team: Team Penske
2008 Points: 176 (2nd)

Opened the year by finishing fourth at Homestead and second in 
St. Petersburg and Japan; took fourth at Kansas; finished fourth
in the Indy 500, dropping to second in the standings, 15 points 
behind Scott Dixon; finished sixth in the standings last year, 
191 points behind champion Dario Franchitti; captured a 
series-record seven poles last season, but managed to win just 
once - at St. Petersburg; recorded six top-fives and 11 top-10 
finishes last season; in 98 career IRL starts, has 12 wins, 75 
top-10s and 24 poles; became the first driver to win the 
Indianapolis 500 two years in a row (2001-02) since Al Unser won 
in 1970 and 1971; is only the fifth driver in Indianapolis 500 
history to win in consecutive appearances; finished 16th in this 
race last year.


Scott Dixon
Team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
2008 Points: 191 (1st)

Became the first driver from New Zealand to win the Indy 500; 
opened the season with with a solid win at Homestead, but had 
mechanical issues at St. Petersburg and finished 22nd; bounced 
back with thirds in Japan and Kansas; finished as an unlucky 
runner-up in the 2007 season, 13 points behind Dario Franchitti, 
after running out of fuel on the final lap of the final race; 
failed to win an unprecedented fourth straight race at Michigan 
when he was involved in a spectacular six-car accident that sent 
Franchitti's car airborne; had four wins last season and was a 
runner-up five times; bounced back from the DNF at Michigan by 
finishing second to Tony Kanaan at Kentucky; enjoyed a stretch 
of three straight wins early in the season; took the checkered 
flag at Mid-Ohio; also won at at Nashville after starting on the 
pole to became the first repeat winner there; started his 
winning streak on July 8 at Watkins Glen; finished fourth at 
this race last year.


Tony Kanaan
Team: Andretti Green Racing
2008 Points: 139 (4th)

Wrecked during the Indy 500 and finished 29th; ran eighth at 
Homestead to open the season, but bounced back to claim third 
place at St. Petersburg, fifth at Japan and second at Kansas; 
finished 2007 season strong and wound up third in the standings, 
61 points behind Franchitti; had a series-best five wins last 
year - at Motegi, Milwaukee, Michigan, Kentucky and Belle Isle; 
started second at the Indianapolis 500, but finished a 
disappointing 12th; finished fourth three times - at Watkins 
Glen, Richmond and Mid-Ohio; captured pole at Kansas, yet 
finished 15th last season; won the 2004 IndyCar Series 
championship; finished second in the 2004 Indy 500 to Buddy Rice.


Vitor Meira
Team: Panther Racing
2008 Points: 98 (14th)

Ran second to Dixon at the Indy 500; finished 12th in 2007 
IndyCar standings for Delphi Panther Racing, with best finish of 
fourth at Homestead; recorded three top-five and 10 top-10 
finishes last season; led 71 laps at Iowa before retiring from 
the race because of mechanical failure while leading; still 
seeking first IndyCar win; had his best season in 2005, when he 
finished fifth in final standings for Panther with a best finish 
of second at Watkins Glen and Richmond; opened the season with a 
10th at Homestead but has struggled since with an average finish 
of 19th over last three races; ran fifth here last year.


Danica Patrick
Team: Andretti Green Racing
2008 Points: 122 (6th)

Has become one of the most recognizable female athletes in the 
United States - especially after winning her first race at 
Japan in her 50th start; became the first woman to win a race in 
a major auto racing series; followed by finishing 19th at Kansas 
with mechanical problems; started the season by running sixth 
at Homestead and 10th at St. Petersburg; finished 22nd in the 
Indy 500 after a pit road incident with Ryan Briscoe; posted a 
second-place finish at Detroit last year; finished seventh in 
the final standings with four top-fives and 11 top-10s; started 
second at Sonoma but finished sixth; was involved in an accident 
and finished 16th at Kentucky; struggled to a disappointing 
seventh-place finish at Michigan; posted her second consecutive 
top-five finish with a fifth place showing at Mid-Ohio; took 
third at Nashville prior to that; ran eighth here last year.


Dan Wheldon
Team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
2008 Points: 153 (3rd)

Finished 12th last week in the Indianapolis 500; kicked off the 
season by running third at Homestead, 12th at St. Petersburg and 
fourth in Japan; entered the Indy 500 having won at Kansas; 
finished fourth in the final standings last year with two wins 
and a pole at Homestead-Miami; recorded six top-fives and 11 
top-10 finishes; won the 2005 championship with a series-record 
six victories; last year finished out of the top five for a 
six-race stretch prior to Detroit; in 83 career starts has 14 
wins, 63 top-10s and five poles; finished second in the final 
standings in 2004 and 2006; won the 89th Running of the 
Indianapolis 500 in 2005 from 16th starting position; ran third 
in this race last season.


2007 Top 10
-----------
 1. Tony Kanaan (11)
 2. Dario Franchitti (27) 
 3. Dan Wheldon (10)
 4. Scott Dixon (9) 
 5. Vitor Meira (4) 
 6. Scott Sharp (8)
 7. Ed Carpenter (20)
 8. Danica Patrick (7) 
 9. Sam Hornish Jr. (6)  
10. Jeff Simmons (17) 

Past Champions
--------------
2007  Tony Kanaan, 127.220 mph
2006  Tony Kanaan, 133.513 mph 
2005  Sam Hornish Jr., 122.733 mph
2004  Dario Franchitti, 128.272 mph