will make the race#83-Brian Vickers, 131.349#10-Patrick Carpentier, 131.267#06-Sam Hornish, 131.062#27-Jacques Villenuve, 131.014#09-Sterling Marlin, 130.933#36-Johnny Benson, 130.757#78-Joe Nemechek, 130.738#21-Bill Elliott [has past champ prov to use”>, 128.411will miss the race:#84-A.J. Allmendinger, 130.572#55-Michael Waltrip, 130.364#4-Ward Burton, 129.538#49-John Andretti, 129.454#44-Dale Jarrett, 128.155#00-David Reutimann, 0.000Crew Chief NoteInteresting the 3 open wheel drivers are making the race while a couple of the good old NASCAR boys are watching. My man Blaney is starting 17 could be an interesting race. I wonder how long Jimmy Johnson & Jeff Gordon can run side by side and not wreck I feelsorry for Richard Childress He must have an ulcer by now of course look at the bucks he is raking in and next year he adds Jr to the mix.Three Indy 500 Champs in field – NOT the first time,,,not the 2nd time: With #06-Sam Hornish (36th), #42-Juan Pablo Montoya (14th) and Jacques Villeneuve (27th) making the field of the Checker Auto Parts 500(k) at Phoenix, it’s the first time three Indianapolis 500 winners will start a NASCAR race.(Indianapolis Star and many sources reported this fact)UPDATE: there have been at least two other NASCAR Cup races where 3 or 4 former Indy 500 winners made the same race:On October 10, 1976, three Indy 500 winners started the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway [now Lowe’s Motor Speedway”>Johnny Rutherford (Indy 500 winner in 1974 and 1976) finished 31st.A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967) finished 38th.Gordon Johncock (1973) finished 39th.And on January 19, 1964, in the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside [road course”>, there were four Indy 500 winners in the field:Troy Ruttman (1952) finished 10th.A.J. Foyt (1961) finished 21st.Parnelli Jones (1963) finished 32nd.Rodger Ward (1962) finished 38th.(researched at racing-reference.info).(11-10-2007) News source: Jayski