Jean Alesi
Celebrates his 200th career grand prix at the United States Grand Prix; an impressive number as only four drivers have started more races - Ricardo Patrese (256), Gerhard Berger (210), Andrea de Cesaris (208) and Nelson Piquet (204); "Indianapolis is a great place to celebrate my 200th Grand Prix as it's such a fantastic motorsports name steeped in racing history," he said; "It would be my dream to be on the podium there for this race."; has one victory to his credit at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1995 when he drove for Ferrari.

Rubens Barrichello
Short of a victory this year, his second season with Ferrari has been excellent, perhaps even better than 2000 when he won his first Formula One race; finished on the podium in five of the last seven grand prixs, all of them points-paying results; overall, he only failed to finish in three races and placed on the podium in 10 races; his contribution to Ferrari already having clinched the constructors' title was very significant; performances and support also helped Michael Schumacher win his fourth career Formula One championship; with 54 points, is three behind David Coulthard in third place of the standings.

David Coulthard
Has not fulfilled his and McLaren's expectations this year in challenging for the title; won grand prixs in Brazil and Austria and finished on the podium in six more races; overall, he scored points in 11 of 15 grand prixs; that puts him in second place of the standings with 57 points; was fifth in last year's United States Grand Prix.

Mika Hakkinen
Despite a mediocre season at best, he should be in gear to do well in America since he announced during the Italian Grand Prix he will take a sabbatical until at least 2003 as rookie sensation and fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen will join David Coulthard at McLaren Mercedes; one victory this year, the 19th of his career, came at the British Grand Prix; has scored seven points-paying finishes and failed to run at the end in just as many; 24 points collected puts him sixth in the standings.

Juan Montoya
The racing world and Williams BMW is buzzing about the rookie sensation from Colombia; recorded his first career grand prix victory two weeks ago at Monza; although his season has been filled with numerous DNFs for various reasons, he also has two other second-place finishes and a fourth in England; the 25 points accumulated puts him in fifth place of the standings; won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 and comes here full of confidence; started from the pole in three of the past four races, Germany, Belgium and Italy; trying to become only the fifth driver to win a United States Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 during their careers -- others are Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti.

Kimi Raikkonen
Next to Williams BMW, the rookie driver from Finland and German teammate Nick Heidfeld at Red Bull Sauber Petronas are the next most improved team this year; has competed in less than 30 race races in his life before this year, but has impressed the Formula One experts with some of his performances; his team is fourth in the constructors' championship with 20 points and he could be a surprise podium finish at Indianapolis.

Michael Schumacher
Won the inaugural United States Grand Prix last year, which was the first Formula One race in the U.S. since 1991; Schumacher went on to capture the FIA Formula One World Championship for the Ferrari team, a feat he repeated this year after clinching the title in Hungary; winner of eighth grand prixs this year which made him the all-time winner in Formula One with 52; a victory at Indianapolis would tie the all-time Formula One record for single-season victories that he shares with Nigel Mansell, who first recorded the feat in 1992; Schumacher tied the record in 1995 and again in 2000; before the end of his stellar career, he is likely to smash all remaining records in the history of the sports.

Ralf Schumacher
The younger brother of four-time world champion has led the Williams BMW charge on Ferrari and McLaren this season with three victories; first win was in April at San Marino, followed by triumphs at the Canadian and German Grand Prixs; fourth in the standings with 48 points and has a realistic chance to reach second or third (Coulthard 57; Barrichello 54).