Row 1

1. Helio Castroneves, No. 3 Team Penske: Logical choice based on past Indy record and dominant pole run. But the fastest guy doesn't always win.

2. Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske: Quiet Aussie couldn't pick a better place for breakthrough oval win. Except for that massive victory media tour

3. Dario Franchitti, No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast when he needs to be, and ability to drive disciplined races gives the Ganassi team multiple options.

Row 2

4. Ryan Briscoe, No. 12 Team Penske: Time to show whether that publicly stated focus on Indy has paid off.

5. Alex Tagliani, No. 77 Fazzt Race Team: Best story of the month. New team has great chemistry and showed speed every day.

6. Scott Dixon, No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing: Starting position belies the speed he showed all week.

Row 3

7. Graham Rahal, No. 30 Rahal Letterman Racing: Solid team capable of putting its driver in contention at the end. But Graham is looking for his first Indy finish.

8. Ed Carpenter, No. 20 Vision Racing: Great achievement for Vision Racing to make the shootout in a one-off return. Top finish could fund more races.

9. Hideki Mutoh, No. 06 Newman/Haas Racing: New driver performing well for legendary team making its 450th Indy car start.

Row 4

10. Townsend Bell, No. 99 Sam Schmidt Motorsports: Out to show last year's fourth-place finish wasn't a fluke.

11. Justin Wilson, No. 22 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Road-racing ace believes switch to DRR will help his oval skills.

12. Raphael Matos, No. 2 de Ferran Dragon Racing: Young Brazilian gained a superb mentor in de Ferran/Luczo Dragon merger.

Row 5

13. Mario Moraes, No. 32 KV Racing Technology: Needs to complete Lap 1 this year so team accountants can breathe again.

14. Davey Hamilton, No. 21 de Ferran Dragon Racing: Nice job in qualifying by returning veteran.

15. Mike Conway, No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Another relative newcomer looking for breakout oval run.

Row 6

16. Marco Andretti, No. 26 Andretti Autosport: Always competitive on race day at Indianapolis.

17. Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 37 Andretti Autosport: Needs a good finish to keep pressure on for a full-time ride.

18. Dan Wheldon, No. 4 Panther Racing: Midfield starting positions have never deterred one of Indy's best.

Row 7

19. E.J. Viso, No. 8 KV Racing Technology: Getting to the finish is key for young Venezuelan charger.

20. Tomas Scheckter, No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Still capable and still eager to return full time.

21. Ana Beatriz, No. 25 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Top female qualifier set for her first oval Indy car start.

Row 8

22. Simona De Silvestro, No. 78 HVM Racing: Female star has gained respect within HVM team and in the paddock and is building a fan base.

23. Danica Patrick, No. 7 Andretti Autosport: Struggled on the track and made it worse by bad-mouthing her team. Buckle up for what might be Danica's last Indy 500.

24. Bertrand Baguette, No. 36 Conquest Racing: Outsped some big-name drivers to a first-day qualifying berth.

Row 9

25. Bruno Junqueira, No. 33 Fazzt Race Team: Seven practice laps, seventh-fastest speed in the field. Somebody give this man a full-time job!

26. Alex Lloyd, No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing: Stepped up when it counted, unlike teammate Milka Duno.

27. Mario Romancini, No. 34 Conquest Racing: Nice work by Conquest Racing to get two cars into the field.

Row 10

28. John Andretti, No. 43 Andretti Autosport: Running for cousin Michael made for a good story, but it stretched Andretti Autosport pretty thin.

29. Sarah Fisher, No. 67 Sarah Fisher Racing: Devastated after Jay Howard's SFR car DNQ'd, owner Sarah has to focus on being driver Sarah.

30. Vitor Meira, No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing: Not the most harmonious month of May for the Foyt team.

Row 11

31. Takuma Sato, No. 5 KV Racing Technology: Speedy Japanese driver made speedy comeback to qualify after big weekend crash.

32. Tony Kanaan, No. 11 Andretti Autosport: Just qualifying for the race was a character-building experience for former series champion.

33. Sebastian Saavedra, No. 29 Bryan Herta Autosport: Young rookie has already experienced many of the emotions Indy elicits.