2010 Indianapolis 500 Preview

Indy 500 Preview

The 99^th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 is set to take place this Sunday. Here is a look at the contenders for the race along with their odds to win.

Bet Racing Futures

2010 Indianapolis 500 Contenders (Odds):

Helio Castroneves (5/2)

Castroneves is quite at home at Indy, having won three Indy 500 titles, including the 2009 race. Add to that that he will be starting up front and it is easy to see why Castroneves is the pre-race favorite. Aside from his wins he has placed in the top five of this race six times in nine years. At 5/2, Castroneves still will get you a nice payday for a win.

Scott Dixon (7/2)

Dixon won this 2008 Indy 500 and finished in sixth place a year ago and has two other top six finishes since 2006. Dixon will start sixth in Sunday’s race and he has 22 wins in his IRL career along with 36 top 10’s. Dixon is always among the favorites in an IRL race and he should be near the front as the race draws to an end.

Ryan Briscoe (4/1)

Briscoe’s best finish in the Indy 500 was fifth in 2007. Briscoe ran in the race five times and has finished 10^th or worse in the other four races. Briscoe has six wins in his career in six seasons with the IRL along with 35 top-10 finishes. Briscoe will start fourth in Sunday’s race.

Dario Franchitti (4/1)

Franchitti won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Aside from that win, Franchitti has finished in the top 10 three other times. His best starting spot has been third, which is where he will again start this year. In his seven-year career, Franchitti has won 13 events and 29 top 10’s.

Will Power (6/1)

Power has drive in two Indianapolis 500 events, finishing fifth a year ago and 13^th in 2008. Power currently leads the IRL standings, as he has two wins on the season and four top 5’s in five total races. For his IRL career, Power has four wins and 16 top 10’s. Power will start second in this year’s race.

Alex Tagliani (20/1)

Tagliani has had a limited IRL career and appeared in just one Indianapolis 500, as he finished 11^th last year after starting 33^rd. Tagliani has never won an IRL race in his short career and only has one top-5 finish in 15 career events. Tagliani will start fifth in Sunday’s race.

Marco Andretti (20/1)

Andretti has competed in four Indy 500’s with his best finish coming in 2006, when he placed second. Andretti also finished third in 2008. In 66 career races for the IRL, Andretti has just one win, which game in 2006. Andretti does have 24 top-10’s in his career, but his best finish in 2010 was fifth. Andretti will start 16^th in Sunday’s race.

Dan Wheldon 25/1

Wheldon has driven in seven Indianapolis 500 events and he actually won the race in 2005. He also finished second a year ago and third in 2004. In 113 career races in the IRL, Wheldon has 15 wins and 43 top 10’s. Wheldon is currently winless since 2008, but with 25/1 odds, Wheldon could be a good dark horse for Sunday. He will start 18^th on Sunday.

Tony Kanaan 25/1

Kanaan has driven in eight previous Indy 500 events and his best finish was second in 2004. He has finished in the top five in four of his eight races, but never won. This year, he will start 32^nd. Kanaan has won 13 events in 113 career races with 42 top 10’s. Kanaan has a lot of ground to make up, but as a veteran with success at this track, 25/1 isn’t a bad bet for Kanaan.

Danica Patrick 30/1

Danica Patrick has raced in five different Indy 500s and her top finished came last year, when she took third. Patrick has finished in the top 8 in four of the five races she has competed in. In 86 career IRL races, Patrick has just one win with 41 top 10’s. Patrick will start 23^rd on Sunday.

2010 Indianapolis 500 Information

Race Date: Sunday, May 30

Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana

Pre-Race: 12:00PM ET

Green Flag: 1:11PM ET

TV Coverage: ABC

Radio Coverage: IMS

Track Type: Oval (200 laps)

Previous Winners and winning times:

2009: Helio Castroneves 3:19:34.6

2008: Scott Dixon 3:28:57.7

2007: Dario Franchitti 2:44:03.6