Honda Seeking 12th Indianapolis 500 Victory
• Scott Dixon to start 101st Indy 500 from the pole
• Formula One’s Fernando Alonso, top rookie, will start fifth
• Honda to field 18 drivers in field of 33
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 26, 2017) – Honda’s Scott Dixon will lead the field to the green flag for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 as the manufacturer and its Honda Performance Development subsidiary seek an unprecedented 12th victory in the last 14 years.
Dixon, who previously won the “500” in 2008, heads a talented, 18-strong Honda lineup for the 101st running of the famed race, including three additional previous winners and two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso.
“Winning the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 last year was one of the high-water marks in the history of Honda Performance Development,” said Art St. Cyr, president of HPD. “We’re proud of Honda’s successes at Indianapolis, and our long history of participation in this great American sport. As the Indy 500 enters its second century, Honda’s commitment to innovation and continuous improvement remains just as strong. We’re looking forward to a great race on Sunday, and finishing in Victory Circle for the 12th time!”
In addition to Dixon, the first row on the starting grid includes Honda’s defending race winner, Alexander Rossi. He will be starting his second “500” from the outside of the front row, third, and seeking to become the first repeat winner since Helio Castroneves in 2001-02.
The second and third of the unique, three-wide starting rows each include two Honda drivers. Starting on the inside, fourth, will be Takuma Sato, who famously featured in a furious battle during the final laps of the 2012 race with eventual winner and fellow Honda racer Dario Franchitti. Impressively fast throughout practice and qualifying, Formula One star Alonso will be making his Indianapolis 500 debut from the middle of Row Two, fifth, after leading the rookie contingent in qualifying.
Starting on the inside of the third row will be fan favorite and 2013 race winner Tony Kanaan. Third-generation racer Marco Andretti, who came within 0.0635 seconds of winning the 2006 race as a rookie in one of the closest finishes in Indy history, will start alongside Kanaan, in eighth.
The fourth and fifth rows of the starting grid are all Honda-powered: Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 race winner, impressive rookie Ed Jones and veteran Oriol Servia will start 10th through 12th, respectively, on Row Four. The fifth row will be comprised of three drivers hoping to record their first victory at Indianapolis: Mikhail Aleshin, Graham Rahal and Max Chilton.
Another pair of Honda drivers gives the manufacturer an impressive total of 14 drivers in the first 17 grid positions, as Charlie Kimball and 2016 pole winner James Hinchcliffe will start 16th and 17th, respectively.
Jay Howard, returning to the “500” for the first time since 2011, will start 20th, with rookie Jack Harvey making his Indy 500 debut from 27th. Veteran Pippa Mann will start on the inside of the 10th row, 28th, while James Davison will start from 33rd after being called up to replace Sebastien Bourdais, injured in a qualifying crash on Saturday. Bourdais sustained fractures to his hip and pelvis in the massive Turn One crash, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Honda is the most successful major car manufacturer at the Indy 500, winning more races, having more starts and completing more laps than any other automaker in the 100 previous editions of the event. Since 1994, Honda has taken part in 16 Indianapolis 500 races, and powered 11 race winners at The Brickyard.
During 24 years of uninterrupted IndyCar competition, Honda has won 12 Manufacturers’ Championships, with Honda drivers winning 221 races and 15 series championships – a record unmatched by any other car company since Honda entered the series in 1994.
Honda’s Indianapolis 500 Historical Highlights:
o Honda has won more Indianapolis 500 races than any automaker: 11 victories from 16 races
o Honda has had more race starts at the Indianapolis 500 than any other auto manufacturer: 319 starts
o Honda has completed more race laps at the Indianapolis 500 than any other carmaker: 52,842 laps