And now, finally, after months of anticipation, we’re on it. He, as well as Castroneves, can become the oldest race winner in history. A Spaniard is on the pole for the first time, and an Argentine is competing for the first time since 1940. Carpenter will compete for the 20th time, which means that should he win he will set the record for most starts before doing so. History also says drivers should use numbers 1 through 7 as their car numbers as they have won 49 times. There is a one Japanese driver and one woman in the field, just as there was then, and a Brazilian trying to win his second “500” started from the ninth position.

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