BALTIMORE – How’s this for a starting lineup?

Leading the field on the pace laps for the Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT is four-time Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winner Al Unser driving the “Fastest Seat in Sport.”

A few hundred yards behind on the 2.04-mile, 12-turn street circuit driving the Honda Accord Safety car is three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford.

On the pole for the 75-lap race is 2008 Indy 500 champion Scott Dixon in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car.

Through the remainder of the field are drivers with a combined seven 500 Mile Race victories.

Unser, who turned 74 on May 29, was a magnet for spectators and IZOD IndyCar Series officials and team personnel as he toured the paddock, pausing every few feet to pose for a photo or greet an old friend, and signed autographs in the INDYCAR Fan Village adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Following surgeries to replace both knees and back surgery over the past few years, Unser said he’s “feeling fit as a fiddle.” He was invited to drive the two-seat Indy car after fellow Indy 500 winners Mario Andretti and Arie Luyendyk could not make the event because of prior commitments, and was medically cleared.

“I’m OK now. The operations were from the wear and tear over the years and crashing and doing things that maybe you’re not supposed to do,” said Unser, who ranks fourth on the all-time Indy car victory list with 39. “It’s good to see everybody. It’s good to see old friends and see what’s happened since I’ve been gone. It’s remarkable. The changes with the car and engines I think it’s all a plus. It’s a fantastic series and I’m just glad to be here.”

Unser said he’s been impressed with the depth of the competition that has produced 10 different winners and that there have been four first-time winners.

“That’s what makes the series so good and exciting,” he said. “You don’t have that many winners without it being a good show.”

Unser’s attention the past half-dozen years has been the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque, N.M.

“We think we have a nice museum, and it honors racing with Indy cars and stock cars and we have motorcycles,” he said. “It’s not just cars; it’s about my family and how we got started in racing and it tells a story. There’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.”

Pair of top 10s for Dragon Racing

Sebastien Bourdais, who started 22nd in the No. 7 Dragon Racing car, earned his third podium finish of the season.

Teammate Sebastian Saavedra recorded a career-best eighth place in the No. 6 entry. His previous best was 10th in Race 2 at Belle Isle in June.

Schmidt surprised with car cake

The design was made by Charm City Cakes and presented to team co-owner Sam Schmidt, who turned 49 on Aug. 15, by drivers Simon Pagenaud and Tristan Vautier.

“It was a great surprise for him. That's why we do what we do, we get to see everybody smile," said Geof Manthorne of Charm City Cakes.

Of note

It was on Sept. 1, 1952, that the Firestone Racing pulled off one of the rarest doubles in open-wheel history: Chuck Stevenson won the Ted Horn Memorial on the “Magic Mile” dirt oval at DuQuoin, Ill., while George Hammond was victorious in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Both were part of the AAA-sanctioned National Championship. ... Simona De Silvestro celebrated her 25th birthday on race day. ... The ambient temperature was 92 degrees at the green flag. ... Verizon P1 Award winner Scott Dixon was using a new Honda engine. He mileaged out his fourth engine in qualifying. Each entrant is allowed five fresh-built engines, according to the engine manufacturer supply agreement, for the season.