Nearly 70 drivers attended the Indy Racing League's annual driver meetings and physical examinations last week in preparation for the 2008 IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series seasons which start March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

While the IRL does not publish an official list of drivers taking their physicals, sources have indicated a few interesting names among those going through the comprehensive examinations, along with series regulars like Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, Helio Castroneves, and Scott Dixon.

Former ChampCar driver's Dan Clarke and Nelson Philippe went through the paces, though neither has been closely associated with any IndyCar Series rides yet. Both have attended IndyCar Series events in the past, even while racing in the ChampCar World Series.

Philippe, unemployed at the start of the 2007 season attended the Homestead-Miami open test, where he met with several IRL officials behind closed doors.

He would never make any ICS starts, and finished 2007 by running the final two races of the CCWS calendar in Australia and Mexico City.

The most likely scenario is that those drivers are making themselves available for potential rides in either series, and by taking the IRL physical; they are also available to try and join the 33 starters in the lucrative Indianapolis 500. A plan often in past years by drivers like Jaques and Buddy Lazier who usually find themselves with Indy 500 rides.

Not taking his physical at this time was Tomas Scheckter. He could still meet with IRL doctors at a later time, but it is somewhat unusual for a driver with high hopes of a ride to miss the annual meetings. Scheckter is not currently signed with his 2007 team, Vision Racing.

Among the horde of drivers taking part in the proceedings' were many prospective Indy Pro Series pilots. While there are few car and driver combinations nailed down at this time, the interest in the IRL's support series is very high. Fields in excess of 20 are again expected, with 30 starters for some races not thought to be out of the question.

ORS / CAPSIS International