Indy crews switch attention to pit-stop challenge.

Twelve of the fastest pit crews in US motorsports will challenge for bragging rights, a trophy and the $30,000 winner's cheque during today's 28th annual Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge as part of the traditional build-up to the Indianapolis 500.

Since 1977, the event has paired the finest pit crews and drivers - including eleven Indianapolis 500 winners - in head-to-head competition to determine the fastest crew at Indy for the year. The challenge is part of a full day of activities that make up Miller Lite Carb Day, including final practice for the 33 qualifiers and an exclusive concert, this year featuring the band Live. Former Indy winner Kenny Brack and his band, Kenny Brack and the Subwoofers, are the opening act, marking an emotional return for the Swede, who was injured during last season's IndyCar finale in Texas.

The 2004 Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge grid will showcase many of the teams and drivers in the IRL as they compete for an $80,000 purse. Eight of the twelve drivers taking part have won an IndyCar Series race, but the four 'winless' drivers - Dario Franchitti, Darren Manning, Kosuke Matsuura and Buddy Rice - all have winning pedigrees in other forms of racing.

Eight drivers and teams were selected due to their pit performance during various 2003 races. Three others were selected based on the current 2004 entrant points, and the final pair qualified by recording the fastest times in pit-stop time trials on 16 May. Dario Franchitti's Andretti Green team were added to the line-up after Mo Nunn Racing and Tora Takagi withdrew when it qualified it's back-up car, driven by Jeff Simmons, for the Indianapolis 500.

In each round, the teams must change all four tyres and make a simulated fuel hose connection to the car's fuel tank for a minimum of three seconds. The winner in each round is determined by the fastest time, and the pressure is on crews to complete the stop without a rules infraction as time penalties can make the difference between victory and elimination.

The full line-up is as follows:

Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing qualified as 'fastest in pits' at four racesHelio Castroneves Marlboro Team Penske qualified as 'fastest in pits' at two racesSam Hornish Jr Marlboro Team Penske qualified as 'fastest in pits' at one raceBryan Herta Andretti Green Racing qualified via pit-stop time trialsScott Sharp Kelley Racing qualified as 'fastest in pits' at two racesDarren Manning Target Chip Ganassi Racing qualified as 'fastest in pits' at two racesTony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing qualified on pointsBuddy Rice Rahal-Letterman Racing qualified on pointsDan Wheldon Andretti Green Racing qualified as 'fastest in pits' at one raceDario Franchitti Andretti Green Racing qualified via pit-stop time trialsAlex Barron Red Bull Cheever Racing qualified on points*Kosuke Matsuura Super Aguri Fernandez Racing qualified via pit-stop time trials

[* first reserve among pit-stop time-trial participants, replaces Tora Takagi]

The first-round pairings for the knock-out competition are:

Castroneves vs. Matsuura
Sharp) vs. Kanaan
Dixon) vs. Hornish Jr
Herta) vs. Barron

The first-round bye system was particularly kind to the three British drivers, with Franchitti, Manning and Wheldon joining Rice in heading straight to round two, where they will take on the winners from the opening four 'bouts'.

Last year, the #51 Red Bull Cheever Racing crew, then competing with Rice, took the honours.