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DARIO FRANCHITTI
Nationality: Scottish
Born: May 19, 1973
Team: Andretti Green Racing
Career highlights: Scored first two IRL victories in 2004 on dominating drives at Milwaukee and Pikes Peak. Finished sixth in point standings. Runner-up in 1999 CART championship after losing tiebreaker to Juan Montoya. Earned 10 wins in CART from 1997-2002.

BRYAN HERTA
Nationality: American
Born: May 23, 1970
Team: Andretti Green Racing
Career highlights: Finished second at Chicago in 2004 and fourth at Indianapolis 500 after starting 23rd. Ninth in final standings. Scored initial IRL win at Kansas City in 2003 and added three other podiums. Two-time race winner in nine-year CART career.

TONY KANAAN
Nationality: Brazilian
Born: Dec. 31, 1974
Team: Andretti Green Racing
Career highlights: Captured 2004 IRL title with three wins, six seconds and only finished out of the top five once in 16 starts. Also led 889 laps, earned a pair of pole positions and completed all 3,305 laps of competition. Scored Honda's initial IRL win in 2003 at Phoenix, wound up fourth in points.

KOSUKE MATSUURA
Nationality: Japanese
Born: September 4, 1979
Team: Super Aguri Fernandez Racing
Career highlights: Earned Rookie of the Year honors on the strength of a fourth-place finish at Kentucky and eighth at Motegi. Started on outside of front row at Michigan. Led first eight laps of his IndyCar career at Texas. Won 2000 Japan Formula Dream series.

VITOR MEIRA
Nationality: Brazilian
Born: March 27, 1977
Team: Rahal Letterman Racing
Career highlights: Joined Rahal Letterman in third race of 2004 and finished second in his fourth start at Richmond. Lost race at Kansas City by 0.0051 of a second to teammate Buddy Rice. Led 152 laps, wound up eighth in points and secured ride for 2005. Captured pole at Texas in only his fourth IRL start in 2002.

DANICA PATRICK
Nationality: American
Born: March 25, 1982
Team: Rahal Letterman Racing
Career highlights: IRL rookie moves into Indy cars after spending last two seasons in Formula Atlantic series, where she became first female ever to capture a pole position. Finished second at Portland and also had podiums at Monterrey and Cleveland. Competed in formula cars in Europe from 1998-2001.

BUDDY RICE
Nationality: American
Born: Jan. 31, 1976
Team:Rahal Letterman Racing
Career highlights:Took his first IRL victory with an impressive run at Indianapolis, where he started from pole position and led 91 laps. Also victorious at Kansas City and Michigan. Won five poles, led 342 laps and finished third in point standings. Ran second in IRL debut at Michigan in 2002. Toyota Atlantic champion in 2000.

SCOTT SHARP
Nationality: American
Born: Feb. 14, 1968
Team:Delphi Fernandez Racing
Career highlights:Only driver from inaugural IRL race still competing, he's made 90 consecutive starts and moves to Delphi Fernandez after seven seasons with Kelley Racing. Managed an eighth in 2004 season finale at Texas. Captured pole for 2001 Indianapolis 500 and owns eight IRL victories and five poles. Shared 1996 IRL title with Buzz Calkins.

DAN WHELDON
Nationality: British
Born: June 22, 1978
Team: Andretti Green Racing
Career highlights: Runner-up in 2004 standings after snaring wins at Motegi, Richmond and Nazareth. Also finished third on eight occasions. Led 433 laps and took pole at Phoenix and Japan. IndyCar Rookie of the Year in 2003. Won 1999 US F2000 championship. Runner-up in 2000 Formula Atlantic and 2001 Indy Lights series.

ROGER YASUKAWA
Nationality: American
Born: October 10, 1977
Team: Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
Career highlights: Driving full-time for Dreyer and Reinbold in 2005 after making only two starts in 2004 for Rahal Letterman team. Finished 10th at Indianapolis after qualifying 12th fastest. Competed in full 2003 IRL season and recorded eight top-10 finishes (with a best of seventh). Won 2002 Toyota Atlantic race at Milwaukee in only second start. Won 1998 Barber Dodge West series.