Bumping expected in 2007 source: irl-live.com The field continues to shape up for the 2007 Indianapolis 500 with 30 car and driver combinations already finalized as teams begin moving in to their garages in Speedway, Indiana this weekend. The track will open on Sunday for Rookie Orientation Programs and veterans needing (or wanting) refresher practice. Among the confirmed pairings are six previous winners of the 500 mile race, and two true rookies. The rookies, Phil Giebler and Milka Duno will be required to complete the traditional rookie program that consists of four 10 lap segments at predetermined speeds. The refresher program allows drivers with previous Indy 500 experience, but who are not actively racing in the IndyCar Series, a chance to turn laps before the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is opened for all entries on Tuesday, May 8th. Taking part in refresher tests in 2007 will be Michael Andretti, Ryan Briscoe, Jaques Lazier, Jon Herb, and several others. Some drivers that would be eligible to run the refresher program may not get on to the track as they are waiting on their cars to be completed, or have so far only found the funding for a second qualifying weekend program. PJ Jones is likely to fall in to this category. There are numerous interesting Indy-only combinations this year. Four-time Indy 500 wining driver and now car owner AJ Foyt has announced that recently troubled two-time winner Al Unser, Jr., will get to drive the number 50 car as a teammate to full-time driver Darren Manning. 50, a non-traditional number for Foyt, is being used mark Foyt's 50th year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as either a driver or a car owner. 1996 Indy 500 winner, Buddy Lazier, has teamed up with Sam Schmidt Motorsports for a 2007 Indy 500 entry. Schmidt, in recent years a late entry with a Panoz chassis, is coming to Indy with a pair of the much more preferred Dallara chassis they are leasing from Fernandez Racing.
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