The Associated Press

Indy always has had an international flavor, with numerous foreign-born drivers participating. But this year the numbers are striking: In the first five rows, there are three Americans and 12 foreign-born drivers. In the last six rows, there are 15 Americans and three foreign-born drivers.

INDIANPOLIS 500

2004 Indy 500 multimedia: Photo galleries, the starting grid, track details and more. More coverage: From the Indianapolis Star

Nine countries are represented in the 33-car starting field. So if there is going to be an American winner for the first time since 1998 - the longest drought in Indy 500 history - polesitter Buddy Rice, Sam Hornish Jr. (11th) or Roger Yasukawa (12th) hold the country's best hopes.

Profiles of the 33 drivers in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, in starting order with car number in parentheses, age, hometown, chassis-engine, four-lap qualification average, and biographical information (w-former winner; r-rookie):

Row 1

1. (15) Buddy Rice, 28, Phoenix, G Force-Honda, 222.024: Driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, owned by former Indy winner Bobby Rahal and TV comedian David Letterman. Also won pole in season opener at Homestead, Fla. Tied for 7th in IRL points, with best finish sixth in Japan. Drove Formula 2000 in 1996-97 and Toyota Atlantic in 1998-00. Toyota Atlantic champion in 2000. Had five IRL starts in 2002 and 13 starts in 2003. Finished 11th as Indy 500 rookie in 2003.

2. (26) Dan Wheldon, 25, Emberton, England, Dallara-Honda, 221.524: Began driving full time for Andretti Green Racing when Michael Andretti retired after 2003 Indy race. Rookie of the year in Indy Lights in 2001. Made IRL debut with Panther Racing in 2002. Joined Andretti Green as test driver, finished 19th as rookie at Indianapolis in 2003. Leads series points after three races this season with two thirds and first career win in Japan.

3. (27) Dario Franchitti, 31, Edinburgh, Scotland, Dallara-Honda, 221.471: Came to IRL with Andretti Green Racing from CART, where he was series runner-up to Juan Montoya in 1999. Made CART debut in 1997 and had seven victories with Team Green in 1998-01. Was 19th as Indy rookie in 2002, missed race in 2003 after breaking his back in motorcycle accident. Best finish this year seventh at Japan. Married to actress Ashley Judd.

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Row 2

4. (36) Bruno Junqueira, 27, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, G Force-Honda, 221.379: Driving for Newman-Haas team, which returned to Indy for first time since IRL-CART split. Still running full schedule for Champ Car, which replaced CART this year, and currently second in point standings with runner-up finishes at Long Beach and Monterrey. Driving for Ganassi Racing in CART, was fifth as rookie at Indianapolis in 2001.

5. (11) Tony Kanaan, 29, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dallara-Honda, 221.200: Driving for Andretti Green Racing, second to teammate Dan Wheldon in IRL points after win in Phoenix and second in Japan. Also won Phoenix race last year, when he finished fourth in series points in his first full IRL season. Started second and finished third at Indy last year. Was 1997 Indy Lights champion, made CART debut in 1998 with 10 top-10 finishes and series rookie of the year. Only CART victory came in 1999 at Michigan.

6. (5) Adrian Fernandez, 39, Mexico City, G Force-Honda, 220.999: Owner-driver switched from CART to IRL, best finish 18th in two starts this season. At Indy for first time since 21st in 1995. Two-time Mexican national Formula Vee champion. Second in the Mexican International Formula Three series in 1990 and champion with four wins in 1991. Indy Lights rookie of the year in 1992. Joined Indy circuit as a test driver for Galles Racing in 1993.

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Row 3

7. (17) Vitor Meira, 27, Brasilia, Brazil, G Force-Honda, 220.958: Driving for Rahal Letterman, 17th in only start this season in Japan. Was in 14 races with Team Menard the past two years, with only pole and best finish of third at Texas in 2002.

8. (3) w-Helio Castroneves, 29, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dallara-Toyota, 220.882: Won Indianapolis 500 as rookie in 2001 and again in 2002, the first to repeat since Al Unser in 1970-71. Finished second to former Penske teammate Gil de Ferran in 2003. Third in IRL points this season, with best finish second in opener at Homestead. Competed in Indy Lights 1996-97 and made CART debut in 1998 with Bettenhausen Motorsports. Joined Penske in 2000. Won record $1.6 million from Indy victory in 2002.

9. (55) r-Kosuke Matsuura, 24, Aichi, Japan, G Force-Honda, 220.740: Fastest rookie qualifier. Tenth in IRL points with Fernandez Racing, best finish eighth in Japan. Was German F3 runner-up in 2002 and third in Formula Renault V6 Eurocup series with three wins in 2003. Eleventh in IRL debut at Homestead this year.

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Row 4

10. (4) Tomas Scheckter, 23, Cape Town, South Africa, Dallara-Chevrolet, 220.417: Son of 1979 F1 champion Jody Scheckter. Fourth at Indianapolis last year for Ganassi Racing, moved to Panther Racing this season, with best finish fifth in opener at Homestead. Led 85 laps and was co-rookie of the year at Indianapolis in 2002. Only IRL victory was at Michigan in 2002 for Cheever Racing.

11. (6) Sam Hornish Jr., 24, Defiance, Ohio, Dallara-Toyota, 220.180: Two-time IRL series champion, moved from Panther Racing to Team Penske in place of retired 2003 Indy winner Gil de Ferran. Won first race for Penske in opener at Homestead, but 15th and 19th in next two races. Best finish 14th in four starts at Indianapolis. Seventh in Toyota Atlantic series in 1999. Joined IRL in 2000 and has record 12 wins in 55 starts.

12. (16) Roger Yasukawa, 26, Los Angeles, G Force-Honda, 220.030: Tenth in rookie race at Indianapolis in 2003 with Fernandez Racing and 11th in only IRL start this season at Japan for Rahal Letterman. Had eight top-10 finishes in 16 races with Fernandez in 2003.

Row 5

13. (1) Scott Dixon, 23, Auckland, New Zealand, G Force-Toyota, 219.319: CART rookie of the year in 2001, when victory at Nazareth, Pa., made him at age 20 the youngest winner ever in major open-wheel racing. Moved full-time to IRL with Ganassi Racing and was series champion with three wins in 2003. Started fourth and finished 17th as Indy rookie last year. Fifth in IRL points this season, with runner-up finish at Phoenix. Drove in Indy Lights in 1999-2000 and was series champion in 2000.

14. (2) r-Mark Taylor, 26, London, England, Dallara-Chevrolet, 219.282: Infiniti Pro Series champion with record seven wins in 2003. Best finish in three IRL starts for Panther Racing this season was 12th at Phoenix, and 17th in series points.

15. (10) r-Darren Manning, 29, North Yorkshire, England, G Force-Toyota, 219.271: Former Formula One test driver, was ninth in CART series for Walker Racing last year. Joined IRL with Ganassi Racing this season. Fourth in series points after finishing sixth, fifth and fourth in three races. Test driver for BAR F1 team in 2001-02.

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Row 6

16. (52) r-Ed Carpenter, 23, Indianapolis, Dallara-Chevrolet, 218.590: Stepson of IRL and Speedway president Tony George. Finished third in Infiniti Pro Series in 2002 and '03. Best finish in three IRL starts for Cheever Racing this season was 12th in the opener at Homestead. First tested IRL car at Atlanta in 2001 and made series debut with three races for PDM Racing in 2003.

17. (20) w-Al Unser Jr., 42, Albuquerque, N.M., Dallara-Chevrolet, 217.966: Indianapolis 500 winner in 1992 and 1994 and second-oldest driver in this year's lineup. Sixth in IRL points with Kelley Racing in 2003, did not have a ride this season until he was hired for Indy by car owner Pat Patrick. Ninth place last year was best finish at Indy since he won in 1994. Son of four-time Indy winner Al Unser Sr. and nephew of three-time winner Bobby Unser. Making his 17th start at Indianapolis, where he is second in career winnings with $5.4 million.

18. (70) Robby Gordon, 35, Orange, Calif., Dallara-Chevrolet, 216.522: Drove for Andretti Green in place of injured Dario Franchitti last year and finished 22nd. Best finish in eight previous Indy starts was fourth in 1999, when he ran out of fuel while leading on next-to-last lap. Won 24 Hours of Daytona three times. Made NASCAR debut at Daytona 500 in 1991 and first start at Indy in 1993 for A.J. Foyt. Will drive in Indy 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Concord, N.C., on same day for fourth time in five years.

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Row 7

19. (39) Sarah Fisher, 23, Columbus, Ohio, Dallara-Toyota, 215.771: Third woman to race at Indianapolis, has crashed in three of her first four starts. Without ride this season until hired for Indy by Kelley Racing. Second-place at Homestead, Fla., in 2001 the best finish by a woman in Indy-car history. At Kentucky in 2002, became first woman to start from pole. Voted most popular IRL driver the past three years.

20. (8) Scott Sharp, 36, Norwalk, Conn., Dallara-Toyota, 215.635: IRL series co-champion in 1996, making 10th start at Indy. Driving for Kelley Racing, best finishes this season ninth at Homestead and Japan. Started from pole at Indianapolis in 2001 but finished 33rd after first-lap crash. Best Indy finishes 10th in 1996 and 2000. Victory at Japan last year made him only driver to win at least one race in each of the IRL's first eight years.

21. (14) A.J. Foyt IV, 20, Hockley, Texas, Dallara-Toyota, 214.256: Grandson of four-time Indy winner and team owner A.J. Foyt. Youngest starter in Indy 500 history last year, when he finished 18th as a rookie. Won the IRL's inaugural Infiniti Pro Series championship in 2002. Best IRL finish 11th at Nazareth last year.

Row 8

22. (41) r-Larry Foyt, 27, Houston, G Force-Toyota, 213.277: Son of team owner and four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt. Making his IRL debut. Competed in NASCAR Busch series in 2001-02, with best finish eighth at Talladega. Moved up to NASCAR Cup series and drove 20 races in 2003. Started three Cup races this year with best finish 28th in Daytona 500.

23. (7) Bryan Herta, 34, Valencia, Calif., Dallara-Honda, 219.871: Joined Andretti Green Racing in 2003 in place of injured Dario Franchitti and had six top-five finishes. Best in three starts this year was seventh at Phoenix. Ninth and 13th in only starts at Indianapolis in 1994 and 1995. Drove for Team Rahal in CART in 1996-99 and with various teams after that. Only IRL win was at Kansas last year.

24. (51) Alex Barron, 33, Menifee, Calif., Dallara-Chevrolet, 218.836: Sixth at Indianapolis last year in place of injured Arie Luyendyk, and won at Michigan subbing for injured Felipe Giaffone. Fourth at Indy in 2002, when he was co-rookie of the year with Tomas Scheckter. Drove in CART in 1998-2001 and made IRL debut with Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2001. Fifth in IRL points in 2002.

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Row 9

25. (24) Felipe Giaffone, 29, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dallara-Chevrolet, 216.259: Hired by Dreyer & Reinbold team last month to replace co-owner Robbie Buhl, who retired as a driver. Drove last year for Mo Nunn Racing and was 33rd at Indianapolis. Missed five races after crash at Kansas. Finished 10th as a rookie at Indianapolis in 2001 and third in 2002 after leading 12 laps. First IRL win at Kentucky in 2002.

26. (12) Tora Takagi, 30, Shizuoka, Japan, Dallara-Toyota, 214.364: Indy 500 rookie of the year after finishing fifth in 2003. Tenth in IRL points last year and seventh this season for Mo Nunn Racing. Has 12 top-10 finishes in 19 IRL starts. Formula One driver in 1998-99, with four top-10 finishes. Joined CART in 2001 with Walker Racing.

27. (13) Greg Ray, 37, Plano, Texas, G Force-Honda, 216.641: IRL champion in 1999. In second year as owner-driver for Access Motorsports team, did not practice until morning of final qualifications. Best finish in three races this season 10th at Phoenix. Started on the pole and led 26 laps at Indy in 2000 but first out after crash on 68th lap. Best finish in seven starts at Indy was eighth in 2003. First driver to have car No. 13 at Indianapolis since 1914.

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Row 10

28. (91) w-Buddy Lazier, 36, Vail, Colo., Dallara-Chevrolet, 215.110: Indy 500 winner in 1996 and IRL series champion in 2000, when he was runner-up at Indy for the second time. Also runner-up in 1998. Making 12th start at Indy after getting ride with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing days before final qualifications. Father, Bob Lazier, was 19th at Indy in 1981. Had IRL-record four victories in 2001, when he was second to Sam Hornish Jr. in series points. Was 21st at Indy last year. Making first start this season.

29. (21) r-Jeff Simmons, 27, Hartford, Conn., Dallara-Toyota, 214.783: Making IRL IndyCar debut after getting ride with Mo Nunn Racing the day before final qualifications, when he finished second in the Infiniti Pro Series Freedom 100 with Foyt Racing. Won two races and was runner-up as rookie in Infiniti series in 2003.

30. (33) Richie Hearn, 33, Glendale, Calif., G Force-Toyota, 213.715: Making fifth start at Indianapolis and, for second straight year, his first of the season as late addition to Sam Schmidt Motorsports in car leased from Team Penske. Third as rookie at Indy in 1996 and sixth in 2002. Only IRL victory came at Las Vegas in 1996. Raced in CART from 1997-99.

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Row 11

31. (98) r-PJ Jones, 35, Torrance, Calif., Dallara-Chevrolet, 213.355: Son of 1963 Indy winner Parnelli Jones. Hired a week before final qualifications by Beck Motorsports. Passed Indy rookie test in 2002 but broke his neck in a crash in practice and did not compete. Had 59 career starts in CART.

32. (25) r-Marty Roth, 45, Toronto, Canada, Dallara-Toyota, 211.974: Oldest driver in the race. Formed own Infiniti Pro Series team after 2003 season and became the first Infiniti owner to move up to Indy cars.

33. (18) Robby McGehee, 30, St. Louis, Dallara-Chevrolet, 211.631: Making first start of the season after getting ride with PDM Racing two days before final qualifications, his fifth team in as many starts at Indy. Best previous finish was fifth in 1999, when he was rookie of the year in IRL debut.