Unofficial starting grid for the 99th Indianapolis 500 - MotorSportsTalk

Qualifying is in the books for the 99th Indianapolis 500, with Scott Dixon on the pole position (Verizon P1 Award) for the 2015 edition of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Beyond Dixon’s joy and the relief of the last row of drivers making the field lie 29 other stories to comprise this year’s field of 33.

Here’s the unofficial starting grid, with row, car number, driver, car name and speed.

Note the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda, which was qualified in the 21st position by Tristan Vautier, will move to 33rd and last place with a driver change coming and James Davison replacing Vautier.

Other spots could change based on if backup cars are required following Monday’s final full day of practice.

Otherwise, here’s how you can expect the grid to look next Sunday:

ROW 1
1. 9-Scott Dixon-W, Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, 226.760
2. 1-Will Power, Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, 226.350
3. 22-Simon Pagenaud, Avaya Team Penske Chevrolet, 226.145

ROW 2
4. 10-Tony Kanaan-W, NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, 225.503
5. 3-Helio Castroneves-W, Shell V-Power Nitro+ Team Penske Chevrolet, 225.502
6. 25-Justin Wilson, Andretti Autosport Honda, 225.279

ROW 3
7. 11-Sebastien Bourdais, Hydroxycut-HAUS Vaporizer KVSH Racing Chevrolet, 225.193
8. 27-Marco Andretti, Snapple Honda, 225.189
9. 21-Josef Newgarden, Century 21 CFH Racing Chevrolet, 225.187

ROW 4
10. 6-JR Hildebrand, Preferred Freezer/CFH Racing Chevrolet, 225.099
11. 26-Carlos Munoz, AndrettiTV Cinsay Honda, 225.042
12. 20T-Ed Carpenter, Fuzzy’s Vodka CFH Racing Chevrolet, 224.883

ROW 5
13. 32-Oriol Servia, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, 224.777
14. 83-Charlie Kimball, Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, 224.743
15. 2-Juan Pablo Montoya-W, Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, 224.657

ROW 6
16. 28-Ryan Hunter-Reay-W, DHL Honda, 224.573
17. 15-Graham Rahal, Steak ‘n Shake Honda, 224.290
18. 18-Carlos Huertas, Dale Coyne Racing Honda, 224.233

ROW 7
19. 29-Simona de Silvestro, TE Connectivity Honda, 223.838
20. 7-James Jakes, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, 223.790
21. 48-Alex Tagliani, Alfe Heat Treating Special Honda, 223.722

ROW 8
22. 8-Sage Karam, Comfort Revolution/Big Machine Records Chevrolet, 223.595
23. 5-James Hinchcliffe, Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Honda, 223.519
24. 43-Conor Daly, FUELED by BACON Special Honda, 223.482

ROW 9
25. 24-Townsend Bell, The Robert Graham Special Chevrolet, 223.447
26. 14-Takuma Sato, ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing Honda, 223.226
27. 63-Pippa Mann, Susan G. Komen Dale Coyne Racing Honda, 223.104

ROW 10
28. 98-Gabby Chaves-R, Bowers & Wilkins/Curb Honda, 222.916
29. 17-Sebastian Saavedra, AFS Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, 222.898
30. 41-Jack Hawksworth, ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing Honda, 223.738

ROW 11
31. 4-Stefano Coletti-R, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet, 222.001
32. 88-Bryan Clauson, KVSH/Jonathan Byrd’s/Cancer Treatment Centers of America Chevrolet, 221.358
33. 19-James Davison, Always Evolving/Dale Coyne Racing Honda, 223.747

DID NOT QUALIFY
34. 91-Buddy Lazier-W, Wynn Iowa Vision Research Lazier Racing Chevrolet, 220.153

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Benny Bloss will race for the factory Beta Motorcycles team in 2024 as that manufacturer joins SuperMotocross as the ninth brand to compete in the series. Beta Motorcycles will make their debut in the Monster Energy Supercross opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California in January.

*Benny Bloss finished among the top 10 twice in Pro Motocross, in 2016 and 2018. – Beta Motorcycles*

“The wait is over and we can finally share everything we have been working towards,” said Carlen Gardner, Race Team Manager in a press release. “It has been a great experience being a part of this development and seeing the progression. The only missing part was finding a rider that would mesh well with our Beta Family.

“After a one phone call with Benny, we knew it would be a good fit for him, and for us. We are happy to have him on board for the next two years and can’t wait to see everyone at Anaheim in January.”

Bloss debuted in the 450 class in 2015 with a 15th-place finish overall at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Bloss has a pair of top-10 rankings in the division with a sixth-place finish in the Pro Motocross Championship in 2016 and a seventh in 2018. His best Supercross season ended 15th in the standings in 2018.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Beta Factory Racing team,” Bloss said. “It’s cool to see a brand with such a rich history in off-road racing to come into the US Supercross and Motocross space. I know this team will be capable of great things as we build and go racing in 2024.”

Bloss is currently 22nd in the SuperMotocross rankings and has not raced in the first two rounds of the Motocross season.

Testing for Beta Motorcycles is scheduled to begin in August and the team expects to announce a second rider at that time.

The family-owned brand adds to the international flare of the sport. The company was founded in Florence, Italy in 1905 as Società Giuseppe Bianchi as they built handmade bicycles, The transition to motorcycle production in the late 1940s.

Beta Motorcycles competed and won in motocross competition in the late 1970s and early 1980s with Jim Pomeroy and other riders.

Beta will join Triumph Motorcycles as a second historic brand to join the sport in 2024. First established in 1902, Triumph has won in nearly every division they have competed in, dating back to their first victory in the 1908 Isle of Man TT. Triumph will debut in the 250 class in 2024 and plans to expand into 450s in 2025.

Read more about SuperMotocross