Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Meyer Shank Racing ready for Indy 500 qualifying

The 107th Indianapolis 500, 200 laps on a 2.5-mile oval, is scheduled for May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thirty-four drivers are set to compete for the traditional 33 spots on the starting grid, with qualifying races on Saturday and Sunday.

The average age of the drivers this year is 31.8. Fifteen countries are represented, with the United States fielding 13 drivers. Nine former Indy 500 winners are competing, and there are four rookies. On average, the drivers have made seven Indy 500 starts.

Five teams, totaling 17 drivers, use Honda engines; seven teams, also totaling 17 drivers, use Chevrolet engines.

Two teams have Ohio connections.

Meyer Shank Racing:

Headquartered in Pataskala, Meyer Shank Racing is a Honda team that has two drivers competing in this year's Indianapolis 500. Owner Mike Shank is from Buckeye Lake.

– Helio Castroneves: Castroneves turned 48 on May 10 and is from Brazil, although he briefly lived in Columbus in the mid-1990s. He has 22 Indy 500 starts. He has won a record-sharing four times, in 2001, '02, '09, '21. (A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears have also have four victories.) Castroneves is also a four-time pole-sitter, most recently in 2010.

– Simon Pagenaud: The 39-year-old from France has 11 Indy 500 starts and won from the pole position in 2019.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing:

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing broke ground on a new Indianapolis-area headquarters in 2020 and subsequently relocated some of its operations from Hilliard. But the Honda team is still run by Ohio racing legend Bobby Rahal and features his son, New Albany native Graham Rahal, behind the wheel.

– Jack Harvey: An English driver, who is 30 years old and has six Indy 500 starts, his best finish was ninth in 2020.

– Katherine Legge: Legge has two Indy 500 starts to her credit, with a best finish of 12th in 2012. The 42-year-old from England is one of just nine women to race in the Indy 500.

– Christian Lundgaard: At 21 years old, the Dane has made just one Indy 500 start, finishing 18th in 2022.

– Graham Rahal: Rahal is now 34 years old. With 15 Indy 500 starts, he has placed as high as third, a feat he accomplished in both 2011 and '20.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis 500 qualifying to feature 2 teams with Ohio connections