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Indy 500 2022: Seven rookies are entered at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

scott horner, indianapolis star
·2 min read
1

The 2022 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 29 on the 2½-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Scott Dixon earned the pole position in qualifying. Here are the seven rookies competing in this year's race.

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Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson is new to the Indy 500, but not to Indianapolis Motor Speedway or 500-mile races. He won NASCAR's Brickyard 400 four times and has completed 161 500-mile races in his career. The 46-year-old Californian has acquitted himself throughout practice and qualifying, but a bobble on his Fast 12 qualifying run leaves him 12th on the starting grid.

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Romain Grosjean

The 36-year-old Formula 1 veteran is in his second IndyCar Series season and is attempting the Indy 500 for the first time. He had some squirrely moments throughout practice and qualifying but made the Fast 12 and is set to start 9th.

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David Malukas

The 20-year-old American has been consistent and mature in his approach. The No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Honda is set to start 13th after a qualifying effort of 231.607.

2022 Indianapolis 500 rookies (from left): Devlin DeFrancesco, Romain Grosjean, Callum Ilott, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard and David Malukas
2022 Indianapolis 500 rookies (from left): Devlin DeFrancesco, Romain Grosjean, Callum Ilott, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard and David Malukas

Callum Ilott

The 23-year-old Brit doesn't have the benefit of sharing information with a teammate, but he's set to start 19th in the No. 77 Chevrolet for Juncos Hollinger Racing after a qualifying run of 230.961.

Devlin DeFrancesco

The 22-year-old Canadian, driving for Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport, will start 24th after his 230.326 mph effort in qualifying.

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Kyle Kirkwood

The 23-year-old American has a qualifying run of 229.406 mph. The A.J. Foyt Racing car will start 28th.

Christian Lundgaard

The 21-year-old from Denmark had a qualifying run of 227.053 mph for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He's set to start 31st.

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Rookies win the Indy 500

  • 1911: Ray Harroun

  • 1913: Julie Goux

  • 1914: Rene Thomas

  • 1926: Frank Lockhart

  • 1927: George Souders

  • 1928: Louis Meyer

  • 1966: Graham Hill

  • 2000: Juan Pablo Montoya

  • 2001: Helio Castroneves

  • 2016: Alexander Rossi

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 2022: Seven rookies entered at Indianapolis Motor Speedway