Meet IndyCar’s new drivers in the Indianapolis 500

Sunday’s 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 features several new drivers who aren’t IndyCar regulars. Get to know the fresh faces on the grid.

When the Indianapolis 500 starts Sunday, fans will be seeing many drivers that they don’t see at any other IndyCar race. The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” attracts additional teams and drivers each year, all drawn in by the possibility of putting their names down in history.

Some are former IndyCar regulars back for one more shot. Others are completely new faces trying to make their mark. One is a living legend. And one is stepping in on short notice due to injury. All have stories, and all want the same thing.

So who are these newcomers? Who among them might have the best chance to win? We’ve put together a list of all the new drivers participating in this year’s Indy 500 so you can get to know them before they take the green flag this weekend.

In the order in which they qualified, here are all the non-regular drivers in the Indianapolis 500:

FERNANDO ALONSO
Qualified: 5th

The driver who’s been getting more attention than any other going into this race, and with good reason. He’s a two-time Formula 1 champion (2005 and 2006) and widely considered to be one of the best F1 drivers in that league’s history. Alonso is also taking a bit of a risk skipping out on F1’s Monaco Grand Prix to run the Indy 500, but based on his qualifying result you can’t blame him. He was the sole Indianapolis-only driver to crack the Fast Nine.

ORIOL SERVIA
Qualified: 12th

Servia is IndyCar’s version of the “super sub.” He’s been there any time a team has needed a new driver and he’s always around for the Indy 500. This year, the Spaniard is reuniting with his old friends at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, hoping to turn them into a contender with his wisdom and sheer consistency. Servia’s good enough to drive full-time in IndyCar, so he’ll at least provide another car to watch on the grid.

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA
Qualified: 18th

It was just last year that Montoya was driving full-time in IndyCar. It feels strange not to see him on the grid every week, but at least he’s returned to Team Penske for the two Indianapolis races. He can always be a threat in competition, especially here where he’s a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. Montoya, like almost all the Penske cars, was hampered by a rough qualifying. He’ll have to chew up a few cars to get to the front. But he can do that since he proved that he’s literally the best driver in the world in the Race of Champions:

JAY HOWARD
Qualified: 20th

Howard was the 2006 Indy Lights champion but wasn’t able to parlay that title into much seat time in the senior series. He has just one Indy 500 under his belt in 2011, and it didn’t go well thanks to his right rear tire. Howard’s been out of IndyCar for four years, so it will be interesting to see if that affects him at all. But he’ll be driving for Schmidt Peterson Racing, and that makes a very fun trio to watch with James Hinchcliffe and Mikhail Aleshin.

SAGE KARAM
Qualified: 21st

At one point Karam was being touted as the next great American driver in the IndyCar series. He didn’t have much luck, though, when he shared the No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing car with Sebastian Saavedra (who’s also in this year’s Indy 500). Karam drives aggressively and sometimes that gets him in trouble. He’s finished 32nd in two consecutive Indianapolis 500 races, including a crash out last year — so he can only go up from here.

GABBY CHAVES
Qualified: 25th

Here’s one of IndyCar’s most heartwarming stories. Chaves was the 2014 Indy Lights champion and 2015 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, but he lost his full-time seat because he couldn’t get enough sponsorship money. His car eventually went to last year’s Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi, and we know how that turned out. It could be a win-win if Chaves is able to do well and parlay Sunday into a longer-term ride. He’s a promising young driver who deserves more than he’s been given, and now he’s back to hopefully get another opportunity.

JACK HARVEY
Qualified: 27th

Harvey was one of the many Indy Lights drivers trying to land a full-time ride in IndyCar during the offseason. He wasn’t successful in doing so, but Andretti Autosport and Michael Shank Racing are partnering together to run him at the 500. Harvey finished scond in two seasons of Indy Lights, so he has talent, but making the jump to IndyCar levels of competition isn’t a given. Can he impress at the top level? And if so, could we see Michael Shank decide to stay in IndyCar? Harvey was also part of McLaren’s Young Driver Program, so maybe he can hang out with Alonso.

PIPPA MANN
Qualified: 28th

The only female driver in the field, Pippa Mann is a staple at the Indianapolis 500. It’s always great to see her on the track and around the paddock, but she hasn’t been able to find success. Her best finish at Indy has been 18th. It would be particularly worthwhile if she could improve on that this time, as she’s driving for Dale Coyne Racing, which is struggling with the injury to Sebastien Bourdais. It’d be fantastic if Mann or her colleagues Ed Jones and James Davison were able to put on a good show for Bourdais.

BUDDY LAZIER
Qualified: 30th

At 49, Lazier is the oldest driver in the field. He comes to the table having won the 1996 Indy 500 and the 2000 championship. But for all his past accomplishments, Lazier’s recent results have left something to be desired. He failed to qualify in 2009 and 2015 and hasn’t finished higher than 30th the last three times he did qualify (2013, 2014 and 2016). It’s hard to see how he can be that competitive with teams and drivers that have more resources and more results.

SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA
Qualified: 31st

Saavedra was the other half of the No. 8 car when Sage Karam drove it. He’s a driver that keeps floating between opportunities; he even experimented in Red Bull Global Rallycross last year. But the interesting thing about Saavedra is that he’s driving for Juncos Racing, the team that bought the assets of KV Racing when that team folded in the off-season. Juncos is eyeing a full-time team if they can make things work at the 500 and potentially additional races this season. So Saavedra could be helping to bring a new team into IndyCar.

ZACH VEACH
Qualified: 32nd

Veach is coming off duties replacing JR Hildebrand at Alabama after Hildebrand broke his hand in an accident at Long Beach. With Hildebrand back, Veach is running the Indianapolis 500 for A.J. Foyt, making a young and talented team: himself, Conor Daly and Carlos Munoz. It’s only Veach’s second start in IndyCar, though, so inexperience could be a factor as he gets thrown into an event where the level of competition has never been higher.

JAMES DAVISON
Qualified: 33rd

Australian James Davison is in the toughest position on the grid. Everyone will be looking at him as he fills in for the injured Sebastien Bourdais. Not only that, but since Bourdais’ crash happened in qualifying, Davison is working on incredibly short notice. Asking him to win the Indianapolis 500 would be a very tall order. But he’ll do the best he can with his back up against it, and this will be a proving ground for him as he’s rumored to keep Bourdais’ seat for the remainder of the season.

Next: Complete Indianapolis 500 qualifying results

The 101st Indianapolis 500 takes place this Sunday, May 28 at 11 a.m. ET. For the latest news on the Indy 500 and all of IndyCar, follow along with the Motor Sports category at FanSided here.