Unser Jr., Andretti, Rahal and Fittipaldi, a foursome of the premier names in Indy Car racing, are among a growing 29-driver field that will attack the world's fastest track -- Michigan International Speedway -- on Sunday, May 26 with the inaugural running of the PPG Indy Car World Series' most prestigious event.

With ESPN providing live qualifying and race coverage of the U.S. 500 on separate weekends, the sport's real stars will strap themselves into the finest cars in pursuit of a $1 million winner's purse and the history-rich Vanderbilt Cup. The action kicks off May 9-12 when the sport's top teams arrive for practice and qualifying at MIS. The four-day session revolves around pole qualifying on Saturday, May 11 and the $100,000 Marlboro Pole Award for capturing the top qualifying slot.

Pole qualifying will be shown live on ESPN from 2-4 p.m. EST on Saturday, and second-day qualifying from 4-5 p.m. EST on Sunday. The inaugural U.S. 500 will be run Sunday, May 26 beginning at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN. The race also will be televised internationally and reach 187 countries.

Unser Jr., Andretti, Rahal and Fittipaldi are among an elite group of only 16 drivers in the entire history of Indy Car racing who have been able to register 20 or more victories in their careers. Unser Jr. and Andretti, with 31 triumphs each, rank first among active drivers and are tied for fifth all-time. Rahal is third on the active list with 24 victories and Fittipaldi fourth with 22.

The "Fab Four," who also has collected 72 career poles, has combined to win seven of the last 10 PPG Cup championships. Rahal has won three PPG Cup crowns (1986-87. '92), Unser Jr. two ('90, '94) and Andretti ('91) and Fittipaldi ('89) one each.

The foursome, however, will have their hands full as the U.S. 500 field boasts the most recognized, competitive and talented drivers in Indy Car who man the sport's fastest and most technologically advanced equipment.

All but two of the 29 entrants already have a driver in place as compared to the Indianapolis 500 entry list. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has announced 77 entries, down from 103 last year, but has only 35 actual drivers. Included in that group are 23 drivers with a year or less experience, including 16 rookies. Drivers also will be using equipment that dates as far back as 1991. Comparably, the U.S. 500 field has 14 drivers who have been competing in Indy Car racing for four or more years, including six with 10 or more seasons of experience. All but two entries in the field will be driving 1996 models. Seventeen teams, representing drivers from nine countries who have won more than 130 Indy Car races, will compete in the U.S. 500.

Unser Jr. (Marlboro Penske Mercedes) and Paul Tracy (Marlboro Penske Mercedes), fifth among active drivers with 10 victories, will drive for Marlboro Penske Racing. Fittipaldi (Marlboro Hogan Penske Mercedes), with at least one victory for a record 11 consecutive seasons, will race for the Hogan Penske operation.

The return of rookie Mark Blundell (VISA/PacWest Reynard Ford), out since March because of a broken foot, will push PacWest's stable to three cars. Teo Fabi (PacWest Reynard Ford), a five-time winner in his IndyCar career who was subbing for Blundell, will move to a new entry. The duo teams up with Mauricio Gugelmin (Hollywood Reynard Ford), the top-scoring Brazilian driver in the series last year.

Eight other teams will field multiple-car entries, including Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, Newman Haas Racing, Team Rahal and Walker Racing.

Jimmy Vasser (Target Reynard Honda) has emerged as one of the series' fastest growing stars for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing. Vasser has won three of the first five races of the season and leads the PPG Cup points race. His teammate is Alex Zanardi (Target Reynard Honda), who is second in the Rookie of the Year points.

Andretti (Kmart Texaco Havoline Lola Ford) will drive for Newman Haas with one of the sport's top young talents as his teammate, Christian Fittipaldi (Kmart Budweiser Lola Ford). Rahal (Miller Reynard Mercedes), the only active three-time series champion, will field his own entry as the only driver/owner in the series as well as having Bryan Herta (Shell Reynard Mercedes), a former PPG-Firestone Indy Lights champion, compete for Team Rahal.

Robby Gordon (Valvoline/Cummins/Craftsman Special Reynard Ford), one of the most versatile and exciting racers in the series, will be in one Walker Racing entry, but the other driver has yet to be determined because of the injury to Scott Goodyear. Goodyear (Valvoline DuraBlend Special Reynard Ford), who fractured a vertebra in his mid-back in March, is not expected to compete and a replacement will fill his seat.

Andre Ribeiro (LCI International Lola Honda), who already has two IndyCar victories in just 22 career starts, and the continually improving Adrian Fernandez (Tecate/Quaker State Lola Honda) will represent Tasman Motorsports. Roberto Moreno (Data Control Lola Ford), a Formula One veteran, and Hiro Matsushita (Panasonic/Duskin Lola Ford), the lone Japanese representative in the series, will be the two-car operation for Payton/Coyne Racing.

All American Racers and Bettenhausen Motorsports both expanded their teams from single-car operations in preparation for the U.S. 500. PJ Jones is scheduled to make his PPG Indy Car World Series season debut at the event and be reunited with former IMSA teammate, Juan Manuel Fangio II. The two will drive All American Racers Eagle Toyotas.

Stefan Johansson (Alumax Aluminum Reynard Mercedes), the 1992 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, has been the standard entry for Bettenhausen Motorsports this season, but the team also will enter a Penske Mercedes sponsored by Alumax Aluminum in the U.S. 500. A driver has yet to be announced.

Seven others will be single-entry teams, including Patrick Racing, Hall Racing and Player's/Forsythe Racing. Scott Pruett (Firestone Patrick Racing Lola Ford), third in the PPG Cup points, will pace Firestone Patrick Racing. Gil de Ferran (Pennzoil Reynard Honda), the 1995 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, will represent Hall Racing and Greg Moore (Player's/Indeck Reynard Mercedes), the leading 1996 Rookie of the Year candidate, will run for Player's/Forsythe.

Raul Boesel (Brahma Sports Reynard Ford) will compete for Brahma Sports, the reigning team champion formerly known as Team Green, and Parker Johnstone (Motorola Reynard Honda), a three-time IMSA Camel Lights champion, will drive for Brix Comptech. Rookies Jeff Krosnoff (Arciero-Wells Racing Reynard Toyota), a seven-year veteran in Japanese Formula racing, and Eddie Lawson (Delco Electronics Lola Mercedes), a four-time Grand Prix motorcycle world champion, will run for Arciero-Wells and Galles Racing, respectively.

Source: IndyCar Website

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