2009 Indy 500 at a Glance:
WHAT: 2009 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. 4th of 17 Races on 2009 IndyCar Series Schedule
WHEN: 1 p. m. (ET), Sunday, May 24, 2009
WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Facility was constructed in 1909, with a 2.5 mile oval circuit. A 13 turn 2.605-mile road course was added in 1999-2000 and redesigned to a 16 turn, 2.621-mile configuration in 2008. The Indy 500 has taken place annually on the oval track since 1911, except during world wars in 1917-18 and 1942-45.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest spectator sporting facility in the world. In 2009, the Speedway will play host to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race (May 24), the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (july 26) and the Red Bull Indianapolis GP (Aug 30).
Distance: 200 laps, 500 Miles TV: ABC (live) Noon (ET) Radio: IMS Radio Network Noon (ET)
TRACK:
Total track length - 2.5 miles
Front Stretch - 5/8 mile
Back Stretch - 5/8 mie
Turns - 1/4 mile
Short chutes - 1/8 mile
Total turns - 4
Turn Banking - 9 degrees, 12 minutes
Straightaway width - 50 feet
Turn width - 60 feet2008 Winner: Scott Dixon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Indy 500 Fast Facts: The Borg Warner Trophy
The Borg-Warner Trophy, one of the most recognizable trophies in all of sports, has been awarded to the winner of every Indianapolis 500 Mile Race since 1936.
Crafted out of sterling silver by Spaulding-Gorham of Chicago, it was unveiled at a dinner in New York in February 1936, featuring bas-relief sculptures of every "500" winner up until that time.
The new winner has been added every year since, and in 1986 (the trophy's 50th anniversary), the final space became filled. The solution for 1987 was to add a base, but this too became filled, and in 2004, an even larger version replaced it, this one with enough spaces to last through 2034.
The only sculptured face not of a winning driver is that of the late Speedway owner Tony Hulman, whose likeness, in gold, was placed on the base in 1987.
Did You Know?
(Indy 500 Qualification Notes)
Scott Dixon set the Indianapolis 500 record in 2008 for the most consistent qualifying run. The difference between his fastest and slowest laps was .0049 of a second. The previous mark was held by Bobby Rahal at .0060 of a second set in 1992.
Marco Andretti has qualified in the top 10 in all three Indianapolis 500s that he has started.
Helio Castroneves has six consecutive top-10 starts in the Indianapolis 500. The only two times when he did not qualify in the top 10 he went on to win the race (2001, 2002).
Scott Dixon has three consecutive top-four starts in the Indianapolis 500.
Tony Kanaan has qualified in the top six in all seven of his Indianapolis 500 starts.
Buddy Lazier is the only driver to start all 13 Indianapolis 500s under IndyCar Series sanctioning. His average starting position is 17.8.
Danica Patrick has qualified in the top 10 in all four Indianapolis 500s that she has started.
Dan Wheldon has five top-six starts in six Indianapolis 500s. The only time he did not qualify in the front two rows was in 2005 when he started 16th and went on to win.
The average starting position for the driver who has gone on to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors is 13.5. The best start was by Tony Stewart who won the pole in 1996. The worst start was by Phil Giebler who started 33rd in 2007.
Arie Luyendyk set the record for the fastest four-lap qualifying average in 1996, the first season the race was sanctioned by the IndyCar Series, with an average speed of 236.986 mph.