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Which Drivers Stand To Gain or Lose the Most at the Indy 500?

By Asher Fair

May 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Overall view of the front stretch of Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Overall view of the front stretch of Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 22, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver Sage Karam sits in his car in the qualifying line during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver Sage Karam sits in his car in the qualifying line during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Gain – Sage Karam

Sage Karam has been strong in the three Indy 500 races in which he has competed. He finished in 9th in 2014 after starting all the way back in 31st and then was fast through May in 2015 but was taken out in a first-lap wreck. Last season, he worked his way from 23rd place to the top 5 before an over-aggressive move on the outside of Townsend Bell caused him to wreck for the second straight year.

As a driver who specializes in going fast on ovals, as can be seen in his 5th place finish at Fontana and 3rd place finish at Iowa in 2015, Karam stands to gain a lot this month if all goes right. He hasn’t had a full-time ride since 2015 with Chip Ganassi Racing, and that is the ultimate goal for the 22-year-old. Actually using that speed he has always had at Indy to finish in a good position instead of having his day ruined by a wreck will be key, and if he is able to do that, teams in the paddock will surely take notice, getting him one step closer to a full-time ride.