INDY 500: Teadway/Hubbard wins race to file first for 85th Indy 500

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS- Arie Luyendyk has won the Indianapolis 500 twice, and his Treadway/Hubbard Racing team ensured that he won another race this year: the first entry for the 85th Indianapolis 500.

Treadway/Hubbard Racing filed two entries March 1 for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Luyendyk and rookie teammate Felipe Giaffone were named as the drivers for the respective entries.

Entry invitations for the Indianapolis 500 were mailed March 1, but a Treadway/Hubbard official completed the two entries that afternoon at the Indy Racing League office.

Luyendyk, from Scottsdale, Ariz., is coming out of retirement to attempt to win the Indianapolis 500 for the third time. He won the race in 1990 and 1997, taking the second title with Treadway Racing. He won the pole at Indy in 1993, 1997 and 1999. His last previous start at Indy - and in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series - came in 1999 with Treadway Racing.

Treadway/Hubbard is fielding a primary and backup G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone for Luyendyk with sponsorship from Meijer. Skip Faul is the chief mechanic and team manager.

The Indianapolis 500 is expected to be Luyendyk’s only start of the Northern Light Series season. He will attempt to make his 16th start in the Indianapolis 500 and would join elite company if he earned his third victory, as only eight drivers have achieved that feat.

Full-time Treadway-Hubbard driver Giaffone will attempt to make his first Indianapolis 500 start in the Hollywood G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. A backup car also has been entered for Giaffone, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Phil McRobert is the chief mechanic, and Faul is team manager.

Entries for the 85th Indianapolis 500 must be postmarked by April 11. All drivers will compete for one of the 33 starting spots in the world’s most prestigious auto race.

Text Provided By Paul Kelly

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