Compared to the Rest of the Field, They’re Indy 500 Oldtimers
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski, Penske Entertainment
Between the three of them, they have 62 Indianapolis 500 mile races to their credit, ten pole positions and five wins in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
With numbers like that, you’d think this trio of drivers would be leading the 33-car field to the green flag for the 108th running of the Indy 500 on Sunday. Instead, Marco Andretti, No. 98 MAPEI / Curb Andretti Herta w/ Marco & Curb-Agajanian Honda, Helio Castroneves, No. 06 Cliffs Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda, and Scott Dixon, No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, make up the seventh row of the starting lineup.
It’s relatively unfamiliar territory for the most experienced row in the race.
“Look, the competition every year it's becoming crazier,” said Castroneves. “We thought we did a good job over the winter. I guess the other ones did a better job over the winter. That's why they end up a little ahead of us.
“But that doesn't intimidate me at all. The good news, we have good experienced guys in the row. Interesting situation in front of us, we have an inexperienced guys. But that's what it is in the Indy 500. Always have ups and downs. It's a long race.
“I feel very, very good. I understand what I need to do. Yeah, hopefully all three of us will go to the front.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski, Penske Entertainment
Given all their experience, there should be a certain level of trust between them, right?
“Hopefully the row doesn't take each other out,” Dixon joked. “That would be interesting.
“No, yeah, the starting position is one thing. I think the we way we look at it, even after last year the first stint, our tire issue, we were 28th or something. Ended up to getting back to the top five towards the last stint. Anything is possible in this race.
“I think people always have issues. I think for us with where we're starting as a group, you definitely need to have no more issues from the outside part of what happened in qualifying.
“Yeah, hopefully we all move forward. Maybe this row will be fighting it out for the win.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski, Penske Entertainment
Whereas the 43-year-old Dixon is still a full-time driver in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Andretti and Castroneves are making their first, and likely only, INDYCAR starts of the season in Sunday’s 500. Going head-to-head with drivers who are out there every other weekend isn’t a big concern for Andretti.
“I think you see a lot of rookies fast at Indy because you have a ton of practice here. I don't feel behind the eight ball. In fact, Day 1, him (Dixon) and I were 1-2. I didn't feel like it took me much time to get going.
“But just like them, the competition from the drivers to the teams is completely wrung out. You have to drive these things so on the edge to be fast. That's something I'm working really hard on.
“But yeah, I mean, I don't know, I feel so at home at this place that it just doesn't take me much time to get going.”
Unlike other races on the schedule, there’s a week’s worth of practice leading up to qualifying and four hours of practice between qualifying and the race. That’s given Castroneves plenty of laps to get ready.
“Even with the rain we had that took a lot of laps from us, it felt right in the ballpark. For me even better with the team that I'm running. I remember in 2021, I was about six months without -- actually about a year without being in an INDYCAR. I jump in, new time, new people, that was actually even harder, and we still ended up being able to execute.
“Yeah, this place, it brings the best out of everyone, including us with experience. We're always learning, as well. In these conditions, I feel as well very, very comfortable.”
Photo Credit: Joe Cote, Penske Entertainment
Sunday’s 500 also represents Castroneves’ first as a shareholder of the Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian team. But the shareholder role will have to take a backseat on race day.
“I've been obviously in connection with (teammates) Tom (Blomqvist) and Felix (Rosenqvist). We joke around if we got in a situation between three of us battling for the win, I'm coming on the radio and say, okay, you guys want to renew your contract or not? Joke around. I'm sure they're going to disconnect the radio at that point (smiling).
“This is a place that change people's life. Doesn't matter who it is, it definitely change their name after Sunday. But yeah, it will be fun. It would be great to be winning as an owner, as well. It would be something completely different and new.”
A fifth win at Indy for the 49-year-old Castroneves would set him apart from the race’s three other four-time winners; A.J. Foyt, AlUnser, Sr. and Rick Mears.
“How can you not smile about it, right? Wake up in the morning, have this amazing opportunity first of all to be already with this incredible gods of racing, Rick Mears, AJ and Al Unser Sr. I'm honored and blessed to be in this position.
“Now having this opportunity to do something nobody ever did. People are saying records are made to be broken in any sport. Why not?
“I'm sure a lot of fans want to see that,” added Castroneves. “I want to see that. I'm sure those guys here, they want to try to stop that. But that's life.
“If it's mean to be, it will be.”
Photo Credit: Chris Owens, Penske Entertainment
Starting that far back, you’d think each driver would be eager to charge to the front. But, if there’s one thing the three have learned over the years, it’s that the race is a long one and there’s no urgency to be aggressive from the drop of the green flag.
“Yeah, you got to read the vibe at the beginning,” said Castroneves. “You can't just do something. That's normally how I would approach at this point, not knowing the racing of those guys in front of me. I got to see what the situation's going to be and see the restart.
“I'm just going to read the race and go according to it.”
Photo Credit: Chris Owens, Penske Entertainment
Andretti, the youngest of the three at age 37, understands to finish first, you first must finish.
“Yeah, I mean, you have to be methodical. The first two-thirds, I drive it more like a marathon rather than a sprint. In order to be in that position in the end, you have to be smart in certain scenarios that present themselves. Do you take it, do you not? I'll read Helio's vibe at the beginning and follow him through.
“No, I don't know. I just have to be smart about it. If you have a good enough run, you take it.”
Photo Credit: Karl Zemlin, Penske Entertainment
As for Dixon?
“I'm trying to get all 20 in the first lap, man (smiling).
“Yeah, I think I agree totally with the others. Read the situation. It's a long race. Obviously to be in it, you got to be there at the end. We'll see.”