Indy 500: Who are the Latin American drivers going for glory in 2022?

This weekend will see the 106th running of the Indy 500, at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The race is billed as the ‘greatest spectacle in racing’, with cars reaching speeds of over 200mph. The race covers a total distance of 500 miles, which is around 200 laps of the 2.5-mile oval.

Qualifying for this year’s race took place last weekend with New Zealand’s Scott Dixon taking pole position. It will be the fifth time that Dixon will start the race from pole, and his best lap was the fastest in history with an average speed of 234.046mph. He will be joined on the front row by reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay.

With 33 cars taking to the track on Sunday 29 May, there are plenty of drivers looking to win the famous Borg-Warner Trophy. We take a look at the four Latin American drivers who are going to be on the grid in 2022. 

Tony Kanaan – Chip Ganassi Racing

Kanaan is the highest placed of the Latin American drivers and will line up on the grid in sixth place. The Brazilian driver has raced in the Indy 500 20 times during his career and has won the race once before, in 2013. 

At 47 years old, Kanaan would become the joint oldest winner in history if he were to finish first in this year’s race. 

Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren SP

O’Ward is looking to become the first Mexican driver to win the famous race. The Arrow McLaren SP driver finished third in the 2021 IndyCar championship after putting in some impressive performances across the season. 

Despite making a slow start in 2022, he has started to hit some form and secured his first win of the season at the Grand Prix of Alabama at the start of May. He is currently sitting in seventh place in the 2022 championship.

He has raced at the Indy 500 on two occasions and was awarded the Rookie of the Year in 2020 after finishing sixth place on his debut. 

Helio Castroneves – Meyer Shank Racing

Castroneves is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Indy 500 and enters this year’s race looking to claim a record breaking fifth win.

The Brazilian won on his Indy 500 debut in 2001 and has raced at the Brickyard 21 times since then. He was the winner of the race in 2021 for Meyer Shank Racing and will hope to repeat the feat again this time around. 

Although he starts Sunday’s race from 27th on the grid, his Indy 500 experience means he can never be discounted from a race victory 

Juan Pablo-Montoya – Arrow McLaren SP

Montoya made his debut in IndyCar in 2000 and won the Indy 500 at his first attempt. He stepped away from IndyCar in 2001 and had a six-season spell in Formula 1 with Williams and McLaren. He then returned to racing in the United States when he competed in NASCAR for seven seasons. 

He has taken part in the Indy 500 six times during his career and secured his second victory in 2015, in only his third attempt.  

He is one of only three drivers to win races in IndyCar, F1 And NASCAR along with Mario Andretti and Dan Gurney. 

The Colombian will start the race from 30th position on the grid so will have a challenge on his hands if he wants to add to his two race victories.