Vertex/Cunningham files entry for 85th Indy 500.

Vertex/Cunningham Racing filed an entry March 23 for the 85th Indianapolis 500, with rookie Shigeaki Hattori as the driver.

Hattori, a native of Japan who lives in Hermosa Beach, Calif., will drive the #55 EPSON G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone, with an identical backup car entered. Jamie Nanny is the chief mechanic, and Ted Bitting is the team manager.

The 85th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 27. Entries must be postmarked by April 11. All drivers will compete for one of the 33 starting spots in the world's most prestigious auto race.

Hattori began his Indy Racing Northern Light Series career at the Casino Magic 500 last June at Texas Motor Speedway. He recorded four top-10 finishes in five starts last year, finishing 22nd in the series point standings.

Despite his veteran status in Indy Racing, Hattori is considered an Indianapolis 500 rookie. He passed the Rookie Orientation Program last April in a Treadway Racing car but did not drive in the event.

2001 Indianapolis 500 entries (as of March 23):

Driver
Entrant
Car
C/E/T
Entry Date

Arie Luyendyk
Treadway/Hubbard Racing
#5, #5T Meijer
G/O/F
March 1

Felipe Giaffone (R)
Treadway/Hubbard Racing
#21, #21T Hollywood
G/O/F
March 1

Scott Sharp
Kelley Racing
#8, #8T Delphi Automotive Systems
D/O/F
March 12

Mark Dismore
Kelley Racing
#28, #28T Delphi/Bryant Heating and Cooling
D/O/F
March 12

TBA
Kelley Racing
#20, #20T TBA
D/O/F
March 12

Greg Ray
Team Menard
#2, #2T Johns Manville/Menards
D/O/F
March 14

TBA
Team Menard
#22, #22T Johns Manville/Menards
D/O/F
March 14

Robbie Buhl
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24, #24T Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Team Purex
G/I/F
March 19

Airton Dari
TeamXtreme Racing
#88, #88T 1-800-BAR-NONE TeamXtreme
G/O/F
March 19

Jaques Lazier
Jonathan Byrd TeamXtreme Racing
#77, #77T Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria TeamXtreme
G/O/F
March 19

Nicolas Minassian (R)
Chip Ganassi Racing Teams
#33, #33T Target Chip Ganassi Racing
G/O/F
March 20

Bruno Junqueira (R)
Chip Ganassi Racing Teams
#44, #44T Target Chip Ganassi Racing
G/O/F
March 20

Shigeaki Hattori (R)
Vertex/Cunningham Racing
#55, #55T EPSON
G/O/F
March 23

Key: C/E/T-Chassis/engine/tire; D-Dallara; F-Firestone; G-G Force;
I-Infiniti; O-Oldsmobile; TBA - To be announced

Entry Summary:

DRIVERS (11)
Former race winners: Arie Luyendyk, 2 (1990, 1997).
Former pole winners: Arie Luyendyk, 3, (1993, 1997, 1999); Greg Ray, 1 (2000).
Rookies (4): Felipe Giaffone, Shigeaki Hattori, Bruno Junqueira, Nicolas Minassian.
U.S. born (5): Robbie Buhl, Mark Dismore, Jaques Lazier, Greg Ray, Scott Sharp.
Foreign born (6): Airton Dari, Brazil; Felipe Giaffone, Brazil; Shigeaki Hattori, Japan; Bruno Junqueira, Brazil; Arie Luyendyk, The Netherlands; Nicolas Minassian, France.
Youngest: Airton Dari, 23.
Oldest: Arie Luyendyk, 47.
Most previous starts: Arie Luyendyk, 15.

CARS (26)
Chassis: G Force 16, Dallara 10.
Engines: Oldsmobile 24; Infiniti 2.