Helio Castroneves: The two-time champ has the perfect driving style for this race. Cool and collected, especially on a slick track.

Dan Wheldon: Won last year for Andretti Green team. Hopes of repeat probably rose with switch to Ganassi. Still, has the powerful Penskes to catch.

Tony Kanaan: Driving skills and approach much like that of fellow Brazilian Castroneves. Expected high heat and humidity won't bother Miamians.

Sam Hornish Jr.: Won the pole and posted the fastest speed on six of seven practice days. But the race conditions will be much different. History here not good.

Buddy Rice: The Panoz chassis has worked against the Rahal-Letterman team all month. But it has been cold. Major change in track conditions could work in favor of the adaptable Rice.

... AND FIVE WHO WON'T

Vitor Meira: The driver is capable. But the one-car team must make 10 pit stops without a mistake while dealing with vastly different conditions.

Danica Patrick: Bobby Rahal's team is the only top-echelon side using the Panoz chassis and her car is not nearly as fast as it was last May.

Michael Andretti: Couldn't win here while in his prime. And the more you want it and harder you try, the tougher Indy is to win.

Dario Franchitti: Andretti Green Team won last year as the Honda factory team. This year, everyone has Honda engines, explaining Andretti's slide on the grid.

Scott Dixon: Crashed in two of his first three Indy 500s. Plus, if a Ganassi car is going to win this race it will be the faster and steadier Wheldon.

THE LINEUP

Starting grid for today's Indianapolis 500, with row, position, driver and car number, chassis-engine and qualifying speed.Comments by Union-Tribune writer Bill Center:

ROW 1

1. Sam Hornish Jr. (6)Dallara, 228.985 mph

Led 77 laps last year before crashing for the second straight year and third time in six starts. Never finished higher than 14th.

2. Helio Castroneves (3)Dallara, 228.008

Won back-to-back Indys in first two starts in 2001-2002 and second to Penske teammate Gil de Ferran after winning pole in 2003.

3. Dan Wheldon (10)Dallara227.338

Defending Indy 500 champ won six races and had 12 top-10 finishes last season en route to season championship. Third here in 2004.

ROW 2

4. Scott Dixon (9)Dallara, 226.921

2003 IRL season champion has crashed in two of his first three Indy 500s. New Zealander qualified fourth in 2003 when he led 15 laps.

5. Tony Kanaan (11)Dallara, 226.776

Finished eighth from the pole last year and led 54 laps. Finished second here en route to 2004 IRL title. Led 107 laps in five Indys.

6. Vitor Meira (4)Dallara, 226.156

Finished second to Wheldon last year while teammate of Danica Patrick. Sixth in 2004. Top driver from one-car team on the grid.

ROW 3

7. Kosuke Matsuura (55)Dallara, 225.503

Third straight start from this row for Adrian Fernandez's driver. Crashed last year while running ninth with 14 laps to go.

8. Scott Sharp (8)Dallara, 225.321

Seventh last year was best Indy finish for 11-race veteran. Won pole in 2001, but embarrassingly crashed in the first turn of the first lap.

9. r-Marco Andretti (26)Dallara, 224.918

Mario's grandson is the third-youngest driver ever to start the Indy 500. Fastest rookie in the field. Drives for dad Michael's team.

ROW 4

10. Danica Patrick (16)Panoz, 224.674

Started and finished fourth last year as a rookie. First woman to lead a lap at Indy. Best finish by a woman. Looking for first IRL win.

11. Tomas Scheckter (2)Dallara, 224.659

Very fast, but extremely inconsistent. Has led 148 laps in his first four Indys. Also crashed twice. Finished fourth here in 2003.

12. Ed Carpenter (20)Dallara, 224.548

Stepson of Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and IRL founder Tony George. Survived the season-opening crash that killed Paul Dana.

ROW 5

13. Michael Andretti (1)Dallara, 224.508

Owner of Andretti Green Racing team returned to cockpit after two-year retirement to drive alongside son Marco in his first Indy 500.

14. Buddy Rice (15)Panoz, 224.393

Winner of 2004 Indy 500 missed last year's race after crashing in practice. Patrick's teammate was 11th as rookie in 2003.

15. r-Townsend Bell (90)Dallara, 224.374

Californian won Indy Lights title in 2001, finished fourth in a 2002 CART race and ran the 2004 IRL season with Panther Racing.

ROW 6

16. Bryan Herta (7)Dallara, 224.179

Third last year at Indy and fourth in 2004 for Andretti Green Racing. Completed all but five possible laps in four previous Indy 500s.

17. Dario Franchitti (27)Dallara, 223.345

Ashley Judd's husband started and finished sixth last year. Finished fourth in IRL standings last year with half his career four wins.

18. Max Papis (52)Dallara, 222.058

Second Indy 500. Won three road races in CART series in 2001-2002 and won 2002 24 Hours of Daytona. Late addition to the Cheever team.

ROW 7

19. Eddie Cheever (51)Dallara, 222.028

Don't be confused, this is the former Formula One driver who won this race in 1998. Oldest driver in field at 48. Fifth last year.

20. r-P.J. Chesson (91)Dallara, 221.576

Was working on a shellfish boat out of Miami when call came to drive car co-owned by Gene Simmons of KISS fame and NBA star Carmelo Anthony.

21. Felipe Giaffone (14)Dallara, 221.542

Led 12 laps and finished third in 2002 with Mo Nunn's team. Joined Foyt on last day of 2005 trials and bumped Arie Luyendyk Jr.

ROW 8

22. Jeff Bucknum (92)Dallara, 221.461

Son of three-time Indy 500 starter Ronnie Bucknum. Crashed in an accident triggered by Patrick's spin as a rookie last year.

23. Larry Foyt (41)Dallara, 221.332

Son of four-time winner and team owner finished 32nd and 33rd in first two Indy 500s and crashed in both races. Indy 500s are only IRL starts.

24. Jaques Lazier (21)Panoz, 221.151

Returns with low-budget Playa Del Racing team. Best finish at Indy was a 13th in 2000 as a rookie. Younger brother of 1996 winner.

ROW 9

25. Buddy Lazier (5)Dallara, 220.922

Won first Indy 500 after the IRL-CART split in 1996. Also finished second here in 1998 and 2000, when he won the IRL championship.

26. Jeff Simmons (17)Panoz, 220.347

Hired by Rahal Letterman Racing in March to take the spot of Paul Dana, who was killed in practice before the season opener.

27. Al Unser Jr. (31)Dallara, 219.388

Two-time Indy 500 winner (1992 and 1994) returns after a one-year absence. Seven top-five finishes at Indy in 17 previous starts.

ROW 10

28. Roger Yasukawa (12)Panoz, 218.793

Last-minute substitute in the cockpit for Playa Del Racing co-owner Jon Herb, who could not get the car up to speed. Tenth in 2004.

29. Airton Dare (88)Panoz, 218.170

IRL Rookie of the Year in 2000. A week after finishing 24th here in 2004, broke right arm and leg in crash at Texas. Didn't run in 2005.

30. Stephan Gregoire (97)Panoz, 217.428

Fastest rookie qualifier in 1993. Led a lap and finished 19th. Best finish in six previous Indys was an eighth in 2000.

ROW 11

31. r-Arie Luyendyk Jr. (61)Panoz, 216.352

Son of two-time Indy 500 winner and qualifying record holder was bumped from last year's field. Four-year vet of Indy Pro Series.

32. PJ Jones (98)Panoz, 215.816

Son of 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones broke his neck here in 2002 practice accident. Only IRL start was a 28th in 2004 Indy 500.

33. r-Thiago Medeiros (18)Panoz, 215.729

Won six races and title in Indy Pro developmental series in 2004. Qualified backup car in final hour after crashing main car.