rpm.espn.com: Drivers to Watch

ESPN Network: ESPN.com \| RPM \| NFL.com \| NBA.com \| NHL.com \| ESPNdeportes \| ABCSports \| EXPN \| FANTASY

Start your engines!
Play RPM.ESPN Stock Car Challenge!

Win a Honda S2000!
Play The CART Challenge powered by Honda!

Tuesday, April 24
Drivers to Watch
ESPN.com news services

Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at Atlanta.

Billy Boat
Holder of the qualifying record (224.145 mph) at the Atlanta track since IRL starting racing here in 1998; eighth-place finish last season was best effort in three years at the speedway; just missed the top 10 in previous two seasons; finished fifth in the season-opener at Phoenix; seventh in the standings with 47 points.

Eddie Cheever
Maneuvered his way to a ninth-place finish in Miami to give the new Infinity Indy 35A engine its first top-10 result; debut in Phoenix was rather disappointing with a 19th place; engine failure last year was the cause for a 21st-place finish; was sixth in 1999 and third in 1998; matched a career-best third-place finish in the points standings last year.

Sarah Fisher
Second-place finish at Miami on April 8 was a career best and the highest for a woman in the history of Indy-style racing; crossed the finish line just 1.87 seconds behind Sam Hornish Jr.; the two also had a rivalry on kart tracks some 10 years ago in their native Ohio; a contender for the top spots in Atlanta; sixth in the IRL standings with 53 points.

Felipe Giaffone
Followed his sixth-place rookie debut in Phoenix with an even better fourth-place finish in Miami; leads the Rookie of the Year race with 60 points and is third in the overall standings.

Sam Hornish Jr.
After winning the season's first two races, the 21-year-old will attempt to tie a series record of three straight in his debut at Atlanta (Kenny Brack won three in 1998); dominated the first two races, leading 140 of 200 laps at Phoenix and 142 of 200 in Miami -- 70 percent of laps contested this year; points leader with 104 and tops in earnings with over $260,000.

Buddy Lazier
The 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series champion finished second to Greg Ray last year, just 3.054 seconds behind; started the defense of his title with a third-place finish in Phoenix, then placed 20th in the inaugural race at Miami.

Greg Ray
Defending champion will try to retain his Atlanta 500 title also halt the strong season run of Sam Hornish Jr.; won from the pole last July in dominant style; also was fast in testing last week, matching his pole time from last year; should be motivated after finishing the first two races 21st and 22nd.

Eliseo Salazar
Chilean started the year with consistent rides of second in Phoenix and third in Miami; 75 points earned puts him 29 behind red-hot Sam Hornish Jr.; 10th at Atlanta last year; drives the No. 14 Dallara owned by racing legend A.J. Foyt; competed three years in Formula One, with a couple of points-paying finishes; won three IMSA sports car races before turning his attention to Indy Racing.

Scott Sharp
Winner in Atlanta two years ago but unable to retain the title last season; finished 16th; good runs in the first two races -- fourth in Phoenix and eighth in Miami; sits fourth in the series standings with 56 points; his five career IRL wins is a series record -- one last year in Texas.

Al Unser Jr.
Former two-time Indianapolis 500 winner bounced back from a disappointing race in Phoenix to finish sixth in Miami; third behind Buddy Lazier and winner Greg Ray last July in one of his better performances.

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

	Viewer's Guide: April 27-30