A.J. Foyt Enterprises

It's hard to call something "a once in a lifetime opportunity" when you've already done it twice previously.

But that's exactly what Tony Stewart is faced with after being offered a ride in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 by team owner Roger Penske.

Stewart would then race again later the same day in NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, completing one of the most difficult feats in motorsports, the so-called "Double:" racing 500 miles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the most legendary and prestigious race in the world, and then flying to Charlotte for a 600-mile nightcap.

That's 1,100 total race miles in roughly a 13-hour window. And don't forget the two-hour, 600-mile flight between the two cities.

"Where's Stewart?" Penske asked during his speech last Friday at the nationally televised NASCAR Awards Banquet in Las Vegas. "How about doing the Double at Indy this year? You available?"

Banquet attendees thought he was joking, but afterward Penske insisted he was quite serious about his offer.

"If he wants to do the Double, I'd put him in it," Penske said. "We've talked about it before; I guess I made it official tonight."

Fans have already jumped on the bandwagon to convince Stewart. An online petition that was started by IMS officials late Monday garnered over 400 names in just the first hour alone.

Only three drivers have attempted the Double in modern day racing: John Andretti, who was the first to do so in 1994, as well as Robby Gordon (who has done it three times) and Stewart.

Gordon is the last driver to attempt the Double, doing so in 2004.

Stewart, meanwhile, has done the Double twice. In his first attempt in 1999, Stewart finished ninth at Indianapolis and fourth at Charlotte.

Two years later, Stewart finished sixth at Indy and third at Charlotte.

Ironically, less than two months ago, Stewart's former crew chief and current director of competition at Stewart Haas Racing, Greg Zipadelli, scoffed at the notion of SHR's newest Cup driver, Danica Patrick, trying the Double next year.

"I lived through it twice with one of the greatest racers I've ever seen, and trying to run both of those races is just stupid," Zipadelli said. "She needs to focus on the Cup car if that's what she wants to do. If she's here to be in NASCAR, then she needs to be here focused on NASCAR."

Which brings us back to my original "once in a lifetime" premise and how it applies to Stewart.

Even though he hasn't done the Double in over a decade, how can Stewart turn down the chance to race for the most successful team owner in IndyCar racing with a record 15 Indianapolis 500 wins?

If Stewart is to ever realize his childhood dream of winning the Indy 500, the time and opportunity are both now.

Sure, Stewart has said several times in recent years, particularly after his second triumph at Indy in NASCAR's Brickyard 400, that he had given up his hopes and dreams of ever winning the 500.

But Penske's offer puts things in a whole different ballpark.

Stewart running both races would be a huge boost for both NASCAR and the struggling IndyCar series, something that both sanctioning bodies need.

Not only would ticket sales at both Indy and Charlotte significantly spike, fans at both tracks would be able to say they were part of history, not only of Stewart running his third career double, but doing so for the iconic and legendary Penske.

Rather than dismiss the idea completely out of hand and say he's not interested, Stewart's silence since Penske's offer has been quite telling.

I can understand why Stewart might be hesitant, though. He'll be 42 next year. He's no longer just a driver in NASCAR, he's a driver-owner, which comes with a whole different set of responsibilities and perspective than when Stewart did the Double in 1999 and 2001.

The last thing he'd need is to wreck in the 500 and potentially have that affect him in both the 600 as well as the rest of the Sprint Cup season.

There are also sponsorship conflicts: Stewart fronts Mobil1 while Penske is affiliated with Shell Pennzoil (although Penske had a previous lengthy relationship with Mobil1, as well).

And then there'd be the biggest hurdle of all: getting Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to start the 500 earlier, thus giving Stewart (and potentially others who might also try the Double) a bit of breathing room in getting between both tracks and races.

That, unfortunately, will be easier said than done. Historically, IMS has adopted a "our way or the highway" approach to the 500. And rightly so, to an extent, as the 600 pales in comparison to the 500.

But there's no denying both series have struggled over the last four years due to the country's economic woes.

That's why, for at least this one time, IMS officials should forgo selfish ideology and instead think more about how Stewart's potential feat would help both sanctioning bodies.

Unfortunately, if you think Republicans and Democrats in Washington are divided, that's nothing compared to the divisiveness between IndyCar and NASCAR over the years.

Egos have abounded while common sense has floundered. If an idea is presented that would significantly help both series, one side is likely to turn it down because it doesn't want to see the other side have success as well.

But there may be a way to bridge that long-time gap (at least this one time), while also dangling the proverbial carrot that would convince Stewart to take Penske up on his offer.

It's not about money or sponsorship, fanbases or media exposure.

Rather, it boils down to just one person who, if he picks up the phone and tells Stewart why he should do the Double, it will likely occur.

The answer isn't Brian France or Roger Penske; it's Anthony Joseph Foyt, aka A.J.

Foyt has been Stewart's hero since he was a kid. I've been around Stewart countless times over the years and once you get him talking about Foyt (or even better, hanging around with him in person) Stewart becomes almost a giddy little kid again.

Stewart is almost 42 and Foyt turns 78 next month, but the relationship the two have is immeasurable.

Why do you think when Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing and became co-owner of Stewart Haas Racing, one of the first things he did was to choose the No. 14 for his Sprint Cup car...the same No. 14 that has long been Foyt's legendary car number?

When Gene Haas first approached Stewart about giving him an equity share in what had been Haas CNC Racing and then rename the new company Stewart Haas Racing, Foyt was one of the first people Stewart called for advice.

Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears are the only drivers to ever win the Indy 500 four times each.

Stewart never realized his dream of winning the 500. In five career tries, his best finish has been fifth. Now he has the opportunity to try it one more time.

With all respect to Penske, his racing legacy and even his multi-billionaire status, he alone will likely not be able to convince Stewart.

That's where Foyt comes in and provides the best way to seal the deal.

Even though he owns the rival A.J. Foyt Racing, Foyt would likely be the one person who could ultimately sway Stewart into doing the Double again.

The way to do it is admittedly complicated, but still doable: in a unique hybrid agreement, Penske provides the race car and pit crew for Stewart to drive, while Foyt oversees the effort.

Call it Team Penske Foyt.

That way, Stewart gets that once-in-a-lifetime chance to race at Indy for his idol as well as Penske, once again reignites the fire within to earn that elusive Indy 500 victory and presents a promotional bonanza unlike any ever seen before in American motorsports.

Granted, a deal that would bring Penske and Foyt together would not be easy. They're longtime, albeit good-natured, rivals. They have two separate race teams but with a common goal of winning at Indianapolis.

If Penske can give Stewart a car worthy of winning the 500 and Stewart has Foyt atop his pit box, it becomes a win even before the green flag drops on race day.

Yes, Indy Cars have changed dramatically since Stewart was last in one in 2001. He'd likely have to do a great deal of testing in the weeks and months leading up to the 500, which would take him away from some of his ownership responsibilities on the NASCAR side.

But if there's one thing that Stewart has long been, it's that of a motorsports romantic. He loves to hear stories of old-time racers and races. He loves to hang out and fish, drink beer or just chew the fat with the likes of Foyt or legendary Alabama Gang co-founder Red Farmer.

Granted, there are still many hurdles to overcome, but all Stewart needs to remind himself of is just one thing:

Winning the Indy 500 for Foyt and Penske, and then potentially winning the Coca-Cola 600 later that evening.

It would start as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with the potential to end as one of the greatest racing stories ever told.


Follow me on Twitter @JerryBonkowski 

When Tony George established the Indy Racing League in 1994, his goal was to advance the careers of young American midget and sprint car drivers to American open-wheel racing's biggest event, the Indianapolis 500. In other words, it was a series built for drivers like Tony Stewart, then the 1995 USAC Triple Crown champion, but priced out of a ride in CART by expensive technology and ex-Formula 1 drivers.

Nearly two decades and four major national championships later, the man they call "Smoke" may have established himself as his generation's answer to A.J. Foyt, the man he idolized as a boy growing up in Indiana.

Foyt—the seven-time USAC national champion, three-time USAC Stock Car champion and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner—has always been Stewart's inspiration. They share plenty of personality traits, from their brutal honesty to their overpowering will to win at any cost. They've established a friendship based on mutual admiration and good-natured barbs. There's a reason why Stewart chose No. 14 when he began to run his own team, and that's because it was Foyt's number for years.

But in the end, what may draw them closest together is the similarity of their careers. Like Foyt, Stewart has proved he can step into any vehicle and win, no matter the circumstances. In fact, Sunday's win at Homestead-Miami Speedway to clinch the Chase for the Sprint Cup over Carl Edwards was only the latest in a long line of great victories.

Stewart's winning ways began young, as he won the 1987 World Karting Association National Championship. Then came his USAC Triple Crown—championships in the Silver Crown, Sprint Car and Midget series in 1995. That's where he first followed in Foyt's footsteps; Foyt won the Silver Crown title in 1972 and the Sprint Car title in 1960.

Then came Stewart's stint in Indy cars, which included three wins and the 1997 championship. That doesn't even come close to Foyt's 67 wins and seven titles, but Stewart was good enough in his Team Menard equipment to frequently beat Foyt's IRL team, which was one of the best in the division. Only a win at Indianapolis eluded him.

Stewart moved to stock cars full time in 1999, winning three races as a rookie and taking his first title in 2002. It took him only two seasons to top Foyt's NASCAR win total of seven. And, like Foyt, he quickly gained an on-track reputation as a tough customer, refusing to take any flak from any of his competitors.

But it took him until 2005 to win at the track he grew up dreaming about: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His Indianapolis 500 dreams all but put to bed with the switch in racing disciplines, his new goal was to win the Brickyard 400, and after years of trying he finally put that goal to rest in 2005. For good measure, he added another Indy win in 2007.

By establishing his own team in 2009, Stewart took his next step towards becoming Foyt-like. Counting Homestead, he's now won 11 of his 44 career races as his own boss. Now, in the era of four-car superteams, he's the first owner/driver to win a championship since the late Alan Kulwicki in 1992.

For all of the limits on modern day race drivers, Stewart has still managed to put together a career record reasonably comparable to Foyt's. There are two key limits—more reliable equipment and top-flight drivers makes competition tougher—and we no longer live in an era where drivers can compete full time in multiple series due to contractual restrictions. And yet Stewart finds the time to run various midget and late model races, and even manages multiple race tracks.

There are only two things truly missing from Stewart's resume. The first is a Formula 1 ride, and Foyt never did that, instead electing to stay at home and conquer American series. But Stewart and McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton actually swapped rides earlier this year in a well-publicized Mobil 1 promotion, and that's probably good enough for him.

The other is a Daytona 500 win, something Foyt did in 1972. Stewart has Firecracker 400 wins in 2005, 2006 and 2009, so it's not like he can't win at the track, but for some reason the season opener has always eluded him. Then again, if he starts next season as hot as he finished this one, it should only be a matter of time.

Tony Stewart's drive at Homestead to win his third Sprint Cup was remarkable. He passed 118 cars—coming back from 40th place twice—to take the victory and the championship. That's the kind of tough-as-nails drive A.J. Foyt would have given under the circumstances, too. I'm sure Foyt was one of the first to call and congratulate NASCAR's newest three-time champion. And just as Foyt was the best American-born racer in the world during his prime, so Smoke is to this generation.

According to the indychannel.com, Danica Patrick is heading to NASCAR full-time starting next season.

She will race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series full-time for JR Motorsports in the No. 7 Go Daddy Chevrolet.  She will also race seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events for Stewart-Hass Motorsports starting in February's Daytona 500.

She signed a three-year deal through 2015 with Stewart-Hass.

There's a chance she can still race in the 2012 Indianapolis 500, but according to Dave Furst, she will not enter next season's Indianapolis 500.

I do know Tony Stewart is looking to start an IndyCar team and his idol is A.J. Foyt, so this is truly speculation from me, but look for a potential merger between the two teams to keep Patrick in the 500 for the future.

Patrick has made 110 starts in the Izod IndyCar Series with one win at Motegi in 2008.  She also finished in an IndyCar Series a record 45 consecutive races which still is active today.

She has three poles on her IndyCar resume and a best points finish of fifth.  To go along with that, she has 61 top-10 finishes in 110 career starts.

Patrick is the first woman to win a major motorsports event and lead the Indianapolis 500.  In her seven Indy 500 starts, her best finish was third in 2009.

She has only raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series during her NASCAR career.

Patrick has made 12 career Nationwide Series starts with a best finish of fourth in Las Vegas this year.

An official announcement is expect next week in her current hometown of Phoenix.

Vitor Meira has been quietly consistent this season and has given hope for a turn around at A.J. Foyt Enterprises.

A.J. Foyt Enterprises hasn't been one of the front-running teams since their last championship in 1999.  The last decade has been very disappointing for the famous No. 14 car.

Since the last championship, there have been 17 different drivers try and turn this team around.  The 17 different drivers have a combined zero wins for Foyt—they pretty much made A.J. Foyt Enterprises an afterthought. 

This season though they've been not only quiet but consistently good.

Vitor sits tied for 12th so far in the season standings and is 120 points out of the lead.  Vitor has been running at the end of every race this season and has a streak of nine consecutive races running at the finish dating to last season.  Vitor has also completed 99.6 percent of the laps run this season as well.

With top 10 consistency, look for him to creep his way up the standings this year.  He currently sits ahead of IZOD IndyCar favorites Helio Castroneves (14th), Danica Patrick (15th) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (21st) in the season standings.

After a quiet month of May and a disappointing 15th place finish in Indy, Vitor Meira followed it up with a 10th and 11th place finish respectively in the duels in Texas.

We shouldn't have been surprised by his consistent and strong showing Saturday night.  His 11th place finish in race number two in the duels was his worst at Texas since 2003.

With his 10th place finish in the first of the duel races, it gave Vitor a streak of nine straight finishes in the top 10 at Texas.

This week the Izod IndyCar Series heads to Milwaukee.  Vitor will be making his first start at Milwaukee with the Foyt team, but he has shown a lot of promise at the Milwaukee Mile in his five career starts there.  He has three top 10 finishes and two top fives in those five starts, including a pole in 2004.

Vitor will be making his 120th start Sunday and with a little luck can maybe steal his first career win in the series.  There is no one more deserving of a victory than Vitor.  With 15 podium finishes, Vitor and the No. 14 ABC Supply Co. Honda would be a very popular victor.

At the 100 anniversary of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the field will be led by the legendary AJ Foyt. 

It was announced today after weeks of ensuing controversy that the replacement for Donald Trump would be Foyt.  

Foyt will be driving the pace car around the 2.5 mile track, 50 years after winning his first 500 mile race which catapulted his career to what it became. 

Foyt is a legend of the sport and was the first driver to ever win the event 4 times. He won the biggest race of them all in 1961, 1964, 1967 and 1977.  Along with the wins as a driver, he also won the race as an owner in 1999 when Kenny Brack took the checkered flag. 

Foyt will be driving a special edition Chevrolet Camaro Convertible to start the field off on their journey.

When asked about driving the pace car by Paul Kelly, Foyt had this to say, “Since I won my first Indy 500 50 years ago, I had hoped to still be racing in it, but driving the Pace Car is the next best thing!”

It will be nice for race fans and non race fans alike to see a true living legend lead the field three wide around the track, instead of a reality TV star and possible presidential candidate who brought unwanted drama to the race. 

It is May sports fans and it is time to start thinking about that event that holds a special place in the heart of many people living and not living.

Although support for the race and sport is way down, it is still an amazing event to watch both on television and in person.

If you do not get chills while watching AJ Foyt lead the field of 33 around the two and a half mile oval then you should check your pulse, because it is truly one of the amazing moments in sports.

The race will be run on May 29th with coverage beginning on ABC at 11am est. 

James Evens serves as a National Featured Columnist for college football and basketball, as well as the FC for the Purdue Boilermakers.    Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.      

I was 12 years old when I shook hands with the little-known '60s racing legend Jim Hurtubise.

I encountered him following the Rex May's Indy Car Classic, in the pits at the Milwaukee Mile, and for reasons both physical and profoundly motivational, it was a handshake I never forgot.

I had seen him almost die in a crash just two years earlier from a vantage point so close to the action that I wound up with a face-full of rubber dust.

A spectator, just a couple rows up and to my right, got gashed in the face and was streaming blood from between his fingers, due to being struck with a chunk of fiberglass Herk's air-born vehicle had peeled off the back of AJ Foyt's open wheeler.

Prior to the actual crash the best racing dual I'd ever seen or would see had unfolded before the unwavering awe struck gaze of myself and the two other guys I was with.

We had arrived early on race day and ran to get the seats we loved in the rickety wooden bleachers just above—and slightly past turn four—as it angled against the white concrete wall and bent into the main straight.

Back then everyone ran Miller-Offenhauser 4-bangers which hammered and echoed off the old concrete grandstands with deafening, chest thumping waves of sound that reverberated up the spine of anyone who was alive, for miles around the track, in the otherwise quiet little West Allis clapboard neighborhoods.

We liked our seats in the fourth turn because you could look right down into the driver's cockpits and watch them wrestling with the big steering wheels as they came out of the turn with their right front tire lifting up off the pavement, and then dropping back down to the track, just in time to take the rocketing cigar-shaped cars out to the wall for the straight shot down to turn one.

In the early '60s, the vehicles being raced around the Milwaukee Mile were more like bucking broncos that had to be tamed in a wild west show, than the sleek high tech hummingbirds that whip past at today's events.

On that day, which proved to be so fateful for Jim Hurtubise, a young racer in a bright red Offy, three cars and three drivers began hanging together in the lead with just a foot or two separating their cars.

Roger Ward from Milwaukee was in the lead in the only rear engine car on the track.

Foyt held behind him, and in a close third, Hurtubise wrestled his racer's big steering wheel and blasted around again, and again, just a split second behind the other two.

I had been right down track-side a couple of times in fake trips to go to the restroom, so I could walk along the outside wall and feel those three go hammering by in the whipping, dusty hot summer wind and the earsplitting racket that enveloped their three cars and seemed to almost bind them into one.

For me, it was fortunate I returned to my seat before the gravitational bond holding the three of them broke, and hot flaming chaos erupted. 

I had a camera around my neck that day, but never even thought about raising it to my face during the critical moments, because that would have interrupted what I chose instead to record with my eyes and brain.

Coming out of turn four in the hot sun that sent visible heat waves rippling off the track below, the shimmering cars, two white and one red, suddenly ended their 140 mile-an-hour thunder-clapping ballet when Roger Ward in the lead car shot his hand straight up to indicate he had dropped his transmission and was violently slowing down.

Foyt jammed on his brakes hard and in time, but Hurtubise in the red tubular rocket with gold numbers went up the right back side of Foyt's car like it was a launching platform.

In an odd, airborne way, where we could see the underside of his car, Hurtubise 's vehicle launched up and then came back to earth just in time to slam full-on sideways into the concrete retaining wall below us.

With a concussive impact the race car rocked the stands and sent shrapnel flying into the face of the guy next to us.

The car ignited in a billowing, sickening, yellow and bright blue ball of exploding fuel that engulfed the driver who flopped around in the flaming cockpit like a rag-doll.

Jim spun and impacted the wall a couple of more times, writhing in the flames, until he came to rest at the start-finish line where pit crews inundated his car with mounds of white-yellow foam.

Jim's brother, working on his pit crew, ran in to it all and dragged Hurtubise out.

Cut to the pits, now two years later. 

Three twelve-year-old boys are making their way through the post race dust, haze and setting orange sunlight, to a small white mobile home trailer they know to be the whereabouts of Jim Hurtubise. 

We are going to see if we can get his autograph.

We are in disbelief that the man we saw crash and burn so horribly, is not only alive, but back in racing, and had just finished another Rex Mays Classic.

We he comes out of the trailer door, still dressed in his racing suit, you can see where the flames took all the flesh off his face, and left him with mostly scar tissue there, and only nostrils, no nose. 

I stick out my hand to shake his, and he extends an arm, again, mostly robbed of all except stretched, scarred skin and bone.

The hand he offers to shake is permanently fixed in a curved position and a normal shake isn't quite doable.  But I will never forget the vibrant energy that came out of his hand. 

It matched the gritty twinkle in his eyes, when he said simply, "Excuse the hand, I had the doctors set it that way so I could keep racing."

I reached out, and shook hands with a miracle...and a perfect role model for bringing the right attitude to any adversity.

After a week of practice laps at a wet and cold Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the drivers of the IZOD Indycar Series will take to the track on Saturday morning to attempt to gather enough speed to place their car into the field for the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Friday's practice featured much better weather than expected.  Teams went into the day expecting either a complete washout or less than an hour of practice.  As it turned out, cars were able to run basically the entire day with only slight delays for sprinkles.  Many drivers chose to run very little, but the track did see 1,308 laps turned on the day.

Helio Castroneves topped the speed chart again on Friday, with a fast speed of 226.56 in only 17 laps.  Will Power posted the second fastest time, followed by Alex Tagliani.  One thing is clear despite all the cloudy skies...Penske is going to be fast on pole day. 

What is not clear however is how these cars are going to be running once those clouds part, the sun begins to shine, and most importantly the track heats up.  Indycar's lose grip on the track if it gets too hot, however hotter temperatures tend to mean faster speeds as well.

The expected forecast calls for sunny skies and temps in the 80s, which the cars have not yet seen.  The new conditions could result in some very interesting time trials.

There is a new format for this year's qualifying.  Starting at 11 am on Saturday, the fastest 24 drivers will work their way into the field.  Bumping will begin to get the fastest 24 in the field by 4 pm. 

At 4 pm, the fastest nine drivers will then compete in the pole shootout.  Between 4:30 and 6 pm, all nine drivers will have their times erased and must make a new qualifying run.  Those new times will determine the pole, as drivers will be given two chances during the ninety minute session.

Sunday will feature filling the field to 33 cars, and then as much bumping as possible, as the drivers on the outside looking in attempt to bump their way in.  The winner of the pole will get a few extra bonuses this year, gaining $175,000 in bonus money, and 15 bonus points for the season championship. 

Second place will gain $75,000, while third garners $50,000.  Varying levels of bonus points will be awarded to all qualifiers who make the field.

Versus network will have all the coverage, seven and a half hours of qualifying action to make even the most seasoned Indycar lover giddy.  From 11  am to 6:30pm, you can get all the Indycar coverage you could possibly want.  Until then, please enjoy our writer's picks for the qualifying session.

Points will be awarded as bonuses since Indycar has decided to do the same.  Our writers will select the top three qualifiers, they will also select one driver who should not make the fast nine, but is able to.  Also, they will pick one driver who should make the top nine but is unable to. 

Correct pole gets the writer 10 points, second will result in seven points, and third will result in four points.  Correctly picking the other two categories will win the writer five points.  Picking a top three driver but in the wrong order will still result in two points for each driver picked.

So without further ado, here are the writers picks for qualifying for the 94th Indianapolis 500.

Chad Smith

Starting third – Dan Wheldon
Starting second – Helio Castroneves
Starting on the Pole – Scott Dixon

Someone that shouldn’t make the top nine but will: Alex Tagliani

Someone that should make the top nine but won’t: Ryan Hunter-Reay

Christopher Leone

Pole is gonna be Helio, he’s been pacing practices all week long and obviously knows his way around the speedway.

Second will be Dixon, because he’s also been up there and what is a good IndyCar competition without Ganassi?

Third will be Dario, because the two Ganassi cars are pretty much equal everywhere. On the other hand the Penske cars will be a little more spread out, with neither of the Captain’s other two drivers being all that strong at Indy yet.

Dark horse is Moraes. He’s been fast at Indy the past two years and even led laps as a rookie in 2008. Anywhere else he’s still an iffy pick, but the kid grasps the speedway.

Driver who should qualify in the top nine but won’t is gonna be Marco Andretti in a tight battle for the last spot with Tony Kanaan and Paul Tracy.

Ryan Worden

Pole: Helio Castroneves.  Helio is the best driver to take to the famous brickyard since Rick Mears...at least when it comes to Indianapolis.  He is always fast at the track.  He will be looking for his fourth win at the 500.  All this means he is highly motivated to cash in that pole check with all the bonus points that come with it.

Second: Marco Andretti.  Marco didn't make it out of the south short shute on the first lap of last years race, so he is extra motivated this year.  Aside from that, he has been fast.  The Venom car has looked good the last several days, and I suppose I am a sucker for watching Andretti's do well before failing.

Third: Scott Dixon.  Dixie has been fast this month, atop the speed charts a few times.  He won the race in 2008, and will be looking to put his face back on the Borg this year.  He will challenge for the pole, but just won't have quite enough.

Dark Horse: Alex Tagliani.  Tags is having an interesting month.  His personal car has been incredibly fast, however he is also attempting to field a car for Bruno Junquiera.  The No. 33 car for Bruno has not made it to the track yet.  Despite this problem, Tags will attempt to stay focused and put his car into the top nine.

The one who won't make it: Ryan Briscoe.  Briscoe is one of my favorite drivers.  I picked him to run away with the championship.  However, he has been struggling this year for some reason.  Struggling for a Penske driver of course means he is in seventh place in the standings.  Of the six I think are in the "guaranteed to make it" category, I think Briscoe is the unlucky one.

Christen : Our control pick.  Christen is a friend of mine who has been visiting the track during practice.  This makes her slightly more educated than our usual control pick, however she has also been listening to my insanity for a few days, which has the reverse affect.  Could be the best week ever for control...could be the worst...oh, and I'm pretty sure she is picking based on looking on their photos in the program.

1. Vitor Meira
Honestly I don't know anything about Vitor Meira other than he drives for A.J. Foyt and after hearing stories about A.J. Foyt, he is pretty much my new hero. The man was attacked by a lion! He probably is the greatest story teller just based off of his own experiences of cheating death. He has the greatest luck ever. I want him to buy me a lottery ticket.

2. Will Power
Will Power is on my list because his last name is Power. It's an easy name to remember, plus he sounds like a winner. His name makes an awfully cheesy slogan and that is enough for me to think he must be a good racer.

3. Danica Patrick. I have to cheer for the ladies because I would love to see some major girl power out on the track. Ideally, I'd like the women to kick ass and place 1-5 but I know enough about racing to know that won't happen (ed note...err...Danica placed third last year).

Driver who won't make it in but should: Helio Castroneves. I'm cheering for Helio because I would like him to win a fourth Indy 500 so he could join another celebrity reality show.

I'm thinking Helio could be a contender on Celebrity Apprentice if Donald Trump decides to do another season since he has already tackled Dancing with the Stars. Indy Car Driver, Dancer, Apprentice, there's nothing this man can't do  (err...despite all this, she is picking him to be outside the top nine).

Driver who will make it in but shouldn't: Graham Rahal. Purple is by far my favorite color and Graham has a purple car. Although he's such a cutie, he got shafted in the sponsor department with the Quicktrim car.

Ideally, I think that each driver should get a lifetime supply of the product that is endorsing them and poor Graham has no use for Quicktrim. Unless there is a Kardashian as a driver, Quicktrim has no place in the Indy 500. Hopefully McDonald's took care of him.