Racing odds: Indianapolis 500

The one IndyCar race that registers on the American sports scene takes place Sunday with the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

And all the talk and hype leading into the Great American Race is whether Danica Patrick can win the open-wheel racing's crown jewel. Of course, Danica won in Japan earlier this year for her first career title, which upped the hype machine even more heading into Indy.

But fellow drivers seem to be OK with all the attention she gets.

"To be honest, without Danica in this series, and I hate to say this, but I don't think the series would be what it is right now, and I don't think it would be showing the potential it is right now," Dan Wheldon said. "Danica brings the mainstream media, if not to all the events, a lot of the key events."

Patrick has finished 8th at Indianapolis each of the past two years after finishing fourth in her debut in 2005.

"I'm very confident," said Patrick, who is +950 to win on WagerWeb.com. "There's no reason why I can't win this race at all."

The 26-year-old starts fifth in Sunday's race, but she is only one of three women racing Sunday: Sarah Fisher will start her seventh Indy 500 from the 22 nd position, while Milka Duno will start 27th out of 33 cars.

Tony Kanaan (+485 on WagerWeb.com) is happy to allow teammate Patrick to steal pre-race.

Over the past five years, Kanaan has finished 12th, fifth, eighth, second and third at Indy, and watched teammates Wheldon and Dario Franchitti pull into the winner's circle.

This year Kanaan's starting sixth, the worst qualifying position he's had in seven Indy starts, and will be on the outside of Patrick in the second row.

"Let's put it this way," the 33-year-old Brazilian said. "They can talk to her as much as they want, but following the race, you're going to have to come talk to me."

You have to like "Dancing With The Stars" contestant Helio Castroneves (+500) in this race. Expected to contend throughout, Castroneves will start on the inside of Row 2. With a victory, Castroneves can become just the third man to win three Indy 500s in a single decade (Mauri Rose, 1940s; A.J. Foyt, 1960s).

"I'm ready to go," the current point’s leader said. "We have a great team, we have great people on our side, and with that, obviously, you'll be able to achieve the results."

Castroneves won Indy in his debut race in 2001 and again in 2002, the first to repeat since Al Unser Sr. in 1970-71. He was second in 2003.

Polesitter Scott Dixon (the WagerWeb.com favorite at +250) won the IRL season opener this year, his 11th career win, and after four races is second in points to Castroneves.

Wheldon (+350) won the 2005 Indy 500 after passing Patrick with six laps to go but finished 22nd last year after crashing. He starts in the middle of Row 1.Ryan Briscoe (+950) rounds out Row 1; he was 5th at Indianapolis last year in his only IndyCar start of the season.

RACE LINEUP

1. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara, 226.366 mph.

2. (10) Dan Wheldon, Dallara, 226.110.

3. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara, 226.080.

Row 2

4. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara, 225.733.

5. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara, 225.197.

6. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara, 224.794.

Row 3

7. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara, 224.417.

8. (4) Vitor Meira, Dallara, 224.346.

9. (27) r-Hideki Mutoh, Dallara, 223.887.

Row 4

10. (20) Ed Carpenter, Dallara, 223.835.

11. (12) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara, 223.496.

12. (99) Townsend Bell, Dallara, 222.539.

Row 5

13. (06) r-Graham Rahal, Dallara, 222.531.

14. (14) Darren Manning, Dallara, 222.430.

15. (18) Bruno Junqueira, Dallara, 222.330.

Row 6

16. (02) r-Justin Wilson, Dallara, 222.267.

17. (15) Buddy Rice, Dallara, 222.101.

18. (22) Davey Hamilton, Dallara, 222.017.

Row 7

19. (16) r-Alex Lloyd, Dallara, 221.788.

20. (17) r-Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara, 221.579.

21. (24) John Andretti, Dallara, 221.550.

Row 8

22. (67) Sarah Fisher, Dallara, 221.246.

23. (8) r-Will Power, Dallara, 221.136.

24. (41) Jeff Simmons, Dallara, 221.103.

Row 9

25. (5) r-Oriol Servia, Dallara, 220.767.

26. (33) r-E.J. Viso, Dallara, 220.356.

27. (23) Milka Duno, Dallara, 220.305.

Row 10

28. (19) r-Mario Moraes, Dallara, 219.716.

29. (36) r-Enrique Bernoldi, Dallara, 219.422.

30. (34) r-Jaime Camara, Dallara, 219.345.

Row 11

31. (2) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara, 219.184.

32. (91) Buddy Lazier, Dallara, 219.015.

33. (25) Marty Roth, Dallara, 218.965.