please put down your pencils

The Indy 500 contest is now closed. I would like to thank all of the participants. You put some work into your answers! I hope you had fun and learned a few things a long the way. More than one person correctly answered EVERY question. I put those names on slips of paper and had a friend draw one name at random.

And the winner is…

Michelle!

Congratulations Michelle! And thanks to all of you who played along. Perhaps I’ll make it a yearly event.

THE ANSWERS

1) This year’s event will mark how many runnings of the Indy 500?
The 91st . The Indy 500 began in 1911, but was not run during WWI (1917-1918) and WWII (1942-1945).

2) For the first time three women have qualified for the Indy 500. Name all three.
Sarah Fisher, Danica Patrick, and rookie Milka Duno.

3) How many drivers in the 2007 Indy 500 were born in the 1980’s?
Eight.

Scott Dixon (1980)
Ryan Briscoe (1981)
Danica Patrick (1982)
Marco Andretti (1987)
Tomas Scheckter (1980)
Ed Carpenter (1981)
AJ Foyt IV (1980)
Sarah Fisher (1980)

4) Who is this year's pole sitter?
Helio Castroneves, whose Pole Day speed was 225.817 mph.

5) Name the father-son duo that will compete in this year’s race.
Michael and Mario Andretti

6) Name the person who gives the command to “…START YOUR ENGINES!!”
Chairman of the IMS, Mari Hullman-George

7) How many American born drivers will compete in this year’s race?
20 Drivers

Sam Hornish Jr. (Defiance, OH)
Danica Patrick (Roscoe, IL)
Marco Andretti (Nazareth, PA)
Michael Andretti (Bethlehem, PA)
Scott Sharp (Norwalk, CT)
Jeff Simmons (Hartford, CT)
Ed Carpenter (Indianapolis, IN)
Buddy Rice (Phoenix, AZ)
AJ Foyt IV (Hockley, TX)
Davey Hamilton (Nampa, ID)
Sarah Fisher (Commercial Point, OH)
Buddy Lazier (Vail, CO)
Roger Yasukawa (Los Angeles, CA)
John Andretti (Nazareth, PA)
Al Unser Jr. (Albuquerque, NM)
Alex Barron (Menifee, CA)
Jon Herb (Milwaukee, WI)
Jaques Lazier (Denver, CO)
Richie Hearn (Glendale, CA)
Phil Gieblar (Oxnard, CA)

8) Who drives the #8 car?
Scott Sharp

The 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 is this Sunday, May 27th at NOON Eastern on ABC.

(go vitor)