Indy 500 preview: Can Helio Castroneves win No. 4?
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As an estimated 200,000-plus filed into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway under sunny skies Sunday, the overriding question was whether Helio Castroneves could win his fourth Indianapolis 500.
If so, Castroneves would join only three other drivers -- A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser -- who have won the historic race a record four times. And Castroneves is on the pole for this year’s race, which will start when actor Jack Nicholson waves the green flag as the honorary starter.
Other favorites in the race include former Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti and his teammate Scott Dixon, starting third and sixth, respectively.
Other drivers to watch included Danica Patrick, who will be under pressure to move up early in the 200-lap race because she’s starting a distant 23rd. There are three other women in the race as well: Ana Beatriz, Simona De Silvestro and Sarah Fisher.
Also keep an eye on Tony Kanaan, a teammate of Patrick’s who is starting next to last, in 32nd place. He too is expected to try to pass a lot of cars in the early going.
Stay tuned to latimes.com/sports for updates during the race.
-- Jim Peltz in Indianapolis