>>>Danica Patrick: The series’ most popular driver wants a fast start to forget about the second half of 2008, when she slumped after her breakthrough victory last spring in Japan. Patrick, 26, also makes her debut in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 19, and will try again to win the prize she covets most: the Indianapolis 500.
>>>Ryan Briscoe: This could be a breakout year for the Australian, who won three races for Team Penske last year. Briscoe, 27, has proved he can win on both oval tracks and road courses, and with Penske’s strong cars, he could make a run at the series championship.
>>>Dario Franchitti: The Scotsman of Italian descent won the Indy 500 and the series title in 2007, made a brief attempt at NASCAR stock car racing last year and is back in IndyCar. Franchitti has the credentials and the team to be strong — he’s now with reigning series champ Scott Dixon at Target Chip Ganassi — but will Franchitti, 35, show any signs of being rusty?
>>>Dan Wheldon: Few burn with the intensity of this Englishman, but because he left Ganassi to join Panther Racing, it’s questionable whether …Â More info
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