Firestone Indy Lights teams and drivers return to action on the world's biggest racing stage – the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - this week, with 27 entries for the sixth Firestone Freedom 100.
Practice and qualifying are scheduled for today [Thursday 22 May], with the 40-lap race on the historic 2.5-mile oval slated for Friday, serving up an appetiser to Sunday's blue riband Indianapolis 500.
The record field features three more cars than last year's race, and includes 2006 race winner Wade Cunningham and Jeff Simmons, who also will compete in the 500 on 25 May. Neither, however, currently tops JR Hildebrand, who heads the points table following his first career Lights victory at Kansas Speedway in late April.
"I think that we've been a little bit of a dark horse as a team so far this year," the RLR/Andersen racing pilot admitted, "I signed up so late, and the team had some mixed results last year so, I think that, from the perspective of the other teams and drivers, there were a lot of question marks as to where we would really stack up. But we've been able to show, over the course of the first four races, that we'll be right in the hunt - and now we're leading the points.
"I'm certainly glad to be able to be the one to show everybody where we stand, but it's not really any added pressure. It's a big race for us, being out here in Indianapolis, so there's definitely some pressure given the prestige of the race but, being the points leader coming in, you're able to come in with some confidence. And the team is able to come in with some confidence. We had a really good test here back in March, so I'm really looking forward to it.
The former F2000 and Champ Car Atlantic frontrunner admitted to not having been a regular at Indianapolis while growing up, but says that he really 'gets' the whole aura surrounding the race and venue now.
![JR Hildebrand celebrates victory in the 2008 Kansas Lottery 100 Indy Lights race [pic credit: IRL/Garrett]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/433724.jpg)
