Strange things happen during the Indy 500 though history does dictate that the driver in victory circle tonight is likely to come from out of the first three rows.

Only twice (1911, 1936) has the winner come from as far back as the 28th starting position.

With that said, here's my guide to making your pick as to who the winner of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 will be: (W - former winner); (R - rookie)

Front Row

Scott Dixon: The 2003 IRL champion was runner up at last year's rain-shortened event. Pro: He's been fast all month. Con: He's had more than his share of bad luck at Indy.

Dan Wheldon (W): Winner of the 2005 race, Wheldon expected to be on the pole. Winning his second race would be a cool consolation prize. Pro: This Englishman hasn't forgotten the taste of winner's milk. Con: Some question if he's lost his edge since leaving Andretti Green Racing.

Ryan Briscoe: This Aussie has big shoes to fill after replacing Sam Hornish Jr. for Penske Racing. He was a dark horse pick in last year's race when he finished fifth.Pro: He's very fast. Con: He wrecks a lot.

Row 2

Helio Castroneves (W): The two-time winner has been under the radar all month. He's the consensus pick to win. Pro: Been there, done that. Con: Only a flawed execution by his team can keep this Brazilian from his third win.

Danica Patrick: Indy car's poster child and cover girl is the fan favorite to win. She's been fast and came close to winning the pole. Pro: No one has a stronger desire to win and prove themselves. Con: Andretti Green Racing's cars haven't been among the best this year.

Tony Kanaan: Should have won this race last year, but bad pit strategy handed the rain-shortened victory to his teammate, Dario Franchitti. Always a threat to win. Pro: Perhaps the best pure driver in the field. Con: Same as Patrick - AGR's cars.

Row 3

Marco Andretti: Third generation driver still frustrated by 2006 loss to Hornish. It's what drives him to win. He's been fast all month. Pro: Indy is his best track. Con: Youth and potential lack of patience.

Vitor Meira: Meira should have won this race in 2005 when he had the best car. He finished second. He's scored four top 10s in five races at Indy. Pro: Smooth, smart and always fast. Con: Are the Panther Racing team's best days behind them?

Hideki Mutoh (R): Former Indy Lights rookie of the year scored two wins in that series in 2007. Replaced Dario Franchitti at AGR. Pro: Has the experience of AGR to help him. Con: He's an Indy 500 rookie. They tend to make mistakes.

Row 4

Ed Carpenter: IRL founder Tony George's stepson has finally shown signs that maybe he belongs in the series. Pro: Has a lot to prove. Con: After four tries, he's still not finished on the lead lap at Indy.

Tomas Scheckter: Son of Formula One champion Jody Scheckter has always been fast at Indy, leading 148 laps. This year, he's running a car under the direction of Luczo Dragon Racing, a sister operation to Penske. Pro: Very fast and aggressive. Con: Maybe a bit too aggressive.

Townsend Bell: Former Indy Lights champion (2001) has since not shown the kind of form that could win him races. Pro: Dreyer & Reinbold team has given him a quality car. Con: At least 10 others in the field have a car that's equally as good. Bell will have to fight for it.

Row 5

Graham Rahal (R): This second generation driver has shown the kind of swagger you'd expect to see from a future Indy 500 winner and series champion. Could be a huge surprise on Sunday. Pro: At 19 years old, Rahal is arguably the best pure talent in the field. Con: Newman Haas Lanigan team has looked lost all month.

Darren Manning: Former Ganassi driver has only finished in one of his three Indy 500 starts. His best finish is 20th (2007). Pro: He's driving an A.J. Foyt car. Con: Not aggressive.

Bruno Junqueira: Brazilian driver started from the pole in 2002 while driving for Ganassi. This will be his first Indy 500 since 2005 when his career was nearly cut short after being wrecked by A.J. Foyt IV during the race. Pro: Junqueira has consistently been one of the fastest of the former Champ Car drivers. Con: Some say he's not been the same driver since his wreck at Indy.

Row 6

Justin Wilson (R): Former F1 driver has adapted very well to American-style open wheel racing. Two-time runner up to the Champ Car title. Pro: Desire to outperform much younger teammate Rahal. Con: Newman Haas Lanigan team has looked lost all month.

Buddy Rice (W): Won rain-shortened 2004 event but hasn't done much of anything since then. Move to Dreyer & Reinbold team could save his career. Pro: Still remembers the view from victory circle. Con: Could be Indy car racing's version of Derrike Cope.

Davey Hamilton: Veteran driver's return to Indy is right out of Hollywood. This former sprint car star could easily score a top 10. Pro: Knows his way around the Speedway better than most. Con: Doesn't have one of the better cars in the field.

Row 7

Alex Lloyd (R): 2007 Indy Lights champion is the only driver to win in that series on both the oval and road course at Indy. Next in line for a ride at Ganassi. Had a hard wreck in practice. Pro: Fast, smart and patient. Con: Driving a Ganassi car engineered by Rahal Letterman.

Ryan Hunter-Reay (R): Former multiple-race winner in the Champ Car series had eyed moving to NASCAR before replacing Jeff Simmons at Rahal Letterman Racing. Wrecked in practice. Pro: This multi-talented racer would do much better on a better team. Con: Driving for Rahal Letterman Racing.

John Andretti: More like his uncle Mario than cousin Michael. Andretti only took two laps to get up to speed after being named to drive for Roth Racing. Pro: Unlike NASCAR, where he tends to wreck, Andretti usually finishes his Indy car races. Con: Driving for Roth Racing.

Row 8

Sarah Fisher: Until Danica Patrick won at Japan, held the record for the best Indy car finish by a woman (2nd at Homestead in 2001). Driving for her own team for the first time at Indy. Pro: Former World of Outlaws racer is aggressive and tough. Con: New team issues could sink her chances at Indy this year.

Will Power (R): Former Champ Car series rookie of the year won at Long Beach Champ Car series finale this year. Wrecked during practice. He'll be one of the better drivers in Indy cars once he figures out how to race on ovals. Pro: Loves his job and wants to be the best at it. Con: Driving for a former Champ Car team.

Jeff Simmons: Getting dismissed from Rahal Letterman team mid-season in 2007 was the best career move for Simmons. Will likely finish higher than Foyt teammate Manning. Could be a dark horse winner. Pro: Driving for A.J. Foyt. Con: Second-week qualifier with limited track time.

Row 9

Oriol Servia (R): Former Champ Car driver and Indy Lights champion missed the field in his first trip to Indy (2002). Pro: Limited experience at Indy could give him a needed edge. Con: Team (KV Racing Technology) not very good despite having former driver Jimmy Vasser at the helm.

E. J. Viso (R): Venezuelan-born driver has been fast all month, although he hit the wall during practice. Criticized for being a reckless driver by his competitors. Pro: Fast, aggressive and knows how to win. Con: Driving for former Champ Car team.

Milka Duno: Third female driver in the field who came to Indy cars after winning in sports cars. Struggled to find speed last year, not much better this year, but should finish. Pro: Driving for Dreyer & Reinbold this year. Con: Many consider Duno to be a moving chicane.

Row 10

Mario Moraes (R): Young (19 years old) Champ Car driver learning how to race on ovals. Is likely to be one of the first out of the race. Pro: Not much here. Con: Inexperience will get him into trouble.

Enrique Bernoldi (R): Former F1 driver (Arrows Orange and test driver for BAR Honda) getting his first taste of oval racing this season. He's not very good at it. Pro: Knows how to handle himself in high-pressure racing situations. Con: Former Champ Car team (Conquest Racing).

Jaime Camara (R): Former Indy Lights driver for Andretti Green Racing. Wrecked in practice Pro: Not much here. Con: Should this guy even be in an Indy car?

Row 11

A.J. Foyt IV: Wreck in practice forced Foyt to have to qualify on Bump Day. His car is better than his qualifying spot. Has done better as a driver since moving to Vision Racing in 2007. Pro: Good car should help him move through the field on race day. Con: Did this apple fall too far from the tree?

Buddy Lazier (W): 1996 race winner was the final qualifier for this year's race. He's always smooth and will get 150 percent out of his race car. Pro: Can be competitive in any car he's in. Con: Worst ever starting spot at Indy in 16 races.

Marty Roth: Canadian born businessman is the oldest driver in the field at 49. Guaranteed not to finish the race. Pro: Nothing here. Con: Should step out of the seat and give it to a young driver who could do better.

Now that you have my take on the field, here's my pick to win:

Helio Castroneves: The two-time winner has been running under the radar screen all month, while others take the spotlight. He knows how to win at Indy. Smooth, calculating and rarely makes mistakes - all pluses at Indy.

Who's your pick?

Bob Margolis, Yahoo! Sports / Eurosport