2012 champ Hunter-Reay lurks in shadows

Some thoughts on the Indianpolis 500:

» I think not enough people are talking about Ryan Hunter-Reay and JR Hildebrand. The world is enamored with Fernandomania; Alexander Rossi is the reigning champion and starting on the front line; and Takuma Sato and Marco Andretti earned spots in the Fast Nine. The headlines detailing the exploits of Andretti Autosport abound, yet none seem to be about the race’s champion of 2012. Hunter-Reay is heading into Sunday the forgotten man on his own team and a favorite no one is talking about.

Not only has he won this race before, but his 10th place qualifying effort Sunday -- he posted the fourth fastest four-lap average speed at 231.442 mph -- demonstrated he’ll be driving one of the top cars for the top team in the field.

Hildebrand is the other contender flying under the radar. The Californian has been overshadowed by the stellar performance of his teammate and adopted Hoosier Ed Carpenter. Carpenter, who will be starting in the middle of Row 1, has more than earned the attention he’s garnered, but Hildebrand was only slightly slower on Pole Day than his boss and has an Indianapolis resume that can’t be ignored.

Hildebrand would already have his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy if not for the heartbreaking last-lap crash he endured in 2011 as a rookie. Instead he settled for runner-up and in the years after has tallied three more top-10 finishes. Starting on the outside of Row 2 -- the best starting spot of his career -- and with one of the top Chevrolets in the field, Hildebrand is poised to pull down victory lane Sunday afternoon.

» I think Fernando Alonso has made fans of all of us. This could have gone very differently. A rock star from the world’s premier open-wheel series, Alonso could have crossed the Atlantic and gone full-on prima donna.

But that’s not what has transpired. Alonso has embraced the madness from the moment he stepped off the plane in Indianapolis.

What’s more, there have been no whispers that the smile he readily flashes for American cameras disappears behind closed doors. Or that his enthusiasm for the race is anything but genuine. So he’s either simultaneously one of the world’s greatest drivers and actors or he’s legitimately enjoying himself and the hoopla surrounding this race. And all evidence points to the latter.

INDYCAR

INDIANAPOLIS 500 Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval, 2.5 miles). Schedule: Friday, practice, 8 a.m. (NBCSN); Sunday, race, 9:21 a.m. (Channel 15). Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps. Outlook: Scott Dixon won the pole for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. Dixon had the fastest average speed in 21 years at 232.164 MPH. Arie Luyendyk set the track record of 236.986 mph in second-day qualifying in 1996. …Dixon’s pole snapped a six-race streak of starting first for Team Penske. … Alexander Rossi seems to have taken to Indy quite well. After winning in 2016, Rossi will start a career-best third. …Formula 1 stalwart Fernando Alonso will start fifth.

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

COCA-COLA 600 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles), Concord, N.C. Schedule: Saturday, practice, 6 a.m. (FS1), practice, 8:30 a.m. (FS1); Sunday, race, 3 p.m. (Channel 10). Last year: Martin Truex Jr. won from the pole. Last race: Kyle Busch won in Charlotte for the first time in a Cup car during the All-Star race. Outlook: Kyle Larson leads the series with 475 points. Larson’s average finish is 6.9. … Martin Truex Jr. led all but just eight laps in winning at Charlotte in 2016 . ... Kyle Busch is coming off his first win in Charlotte in a Cup car, capturing the all-star race.

FORMULA ONE

MONACO GRAND PRIX Track: Monaco Circuit (circuit, 2.07 miles), Monte Carlo. Schedule: Sunday, race, 5 a.m. (Channel 12). Outlook: The series heads to Monaco, arguably the most iconic race in the sport. Formula 1 has been visiting Monaco since 1950. …Qualifying is perhaps more important here than any race in the series, given how difficult it is to pass cars on this track. …Sebastian Vettel has a six-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the standings. Valterri Bottas is third — but is 35 points behind Hamilton.

OTHER RACES

NASCAR Xfinity, Hisense 4K TV 300, Concord. N.C. Saturday, qualifying, 7:05 a.m. (FS1); race, 10 a.m. (FS1).

LOCAL RACES

Canyon Speedway Park, 9777 W. Carefree Highway, Peoria. Information: 602-2587223; canyonspeedwaypark.com. Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m.: Salute to Indy, with USAC Southwest Sprint Cars, IMCA Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks, Modlites, Micro Sprints. Arizona Speedway, 47346 N. Ironwood Road, San Tan Valley. Information: 480-9266688; arizonaspeedway.net. Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m.: 5th Annual John Morris Classic, with IMCA Modifieds and Sport Mods, Pure Stocks, Bombers.