INDYCARNATION

For the second time in three races, the sanctioning Indy Racing League has amended its rulebook to allow for a larger starting field.

Twenty-nine cars are expected at Chicagoland Speedway – the most outside of the 33 for the Indianapolis 500 – to be entered for the PEAK Antifreeze& Motor Oil Indy 300 on Aug. 28 at the 1.5-mile oval. Rule 8.1(E)(5)(f) caps the starting field at 28 cars for races other than Indianapolis, Brazil, Toronto and Mid-Ohio based on pit lane space. The rule also was amended for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio presented by Westfield Insurance on Aug. 8 to allow for a 27th entry.

In addition to the 24 full-season entries, expected to join the initial practice session at 9:15 a.m. (local time) Aug. 27 are Davey Hamilton in the No. 21 HP de Ferran Dragon Racing car, Graham Rahal in the No. 02 Quick Trim Newman/Haas Racing car, Sarah Fisher in the No. 67 Dollar General car for Sarah Fisher Racing, Ed Carpenter in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka car for Panther/Vision Racing, and Jay Howard in the No. 66 Service Central car for Sarah Fisher Racing.

In the '09 race, Ryan Briscoe held off Scott Dixon by 0.0077 of a second -- the fourth-closest margin of victory in IZOD IndyCar Series history -- to win. In fact, Chicagoland Speedway has been the site of three of the top five closest races (0.0024 of a second in 2002 the closest in series history and 0.0033 of a second in 2008 the second closest).

Twenty-three cars were entered in the '09 race. 

Wilson suffers torn thumb ligament

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing driver Justin Wilson has a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his first metacarpal phalangeal joint (translater: right thumb injury) suffered during an on-track incident during qualifications Aug. 7 for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

The injury, also known as skier's thumb, might require surgery, according to Indy Racing League medical director Dr. Michael Olinger.

Wilson, who is wearing a brace, was cleared to race by the Indy Racing League medical director. He's scheduled to test Aug. 13 at Infineon Raceway in preparation for the Aug. 22 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.

VERSUS on the air with special show Aug. 14

VERSUS will broadcast an IZOD IndyCar Series midseason show at 6 p.m. (ET) Aug. 14. … The Sept. 4 IZOD IndyCar Series race at Kentucky Speedway will be the 200th sanctioned by the Indy Racing League. The first was Jan. 27, 1996, at Walt Disney World Speedway, and the 100th was Aug. 29, 2004, at Nazareth Speedway.

Drivers testing at Kentucky Speedway

On Aug. 11, Ed Carpenter will test at Kentucky Speedway in the No. 20 Fuzzy's Ultimate Premium Vodka Panther/Vision Racing car. Earlier this week, it was announced that Carpenter would compete in the three domestic ovals to close the season.

Also seeing track time at Kentucky will be Marco Andretti in the No. 26 Venom Energy car for Andretti Autosport, Ryan Hunter-Reay in the No. 37 IZOD car for Andretti Autosport and series points leader Power in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car.

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