Can you match the numbers with the drivers

[Lucky161]

I consider myself a pretty serious IRL fan and also a fairly serious Winston Cup fan. I prefer the IRL, but I still watch as much Cup as I can. The thought occurred to that I can probably name the driver of every car in Winston Cup and can do it for most of the cars for a few years back. But for the IRL, which has even smaller fields, I doubt that I could get more than 80 or 90% of last years. In Cup, I can probably give the car owners and in many cases the crew chiefs. Heck, they even have crewmembers that are stars. I am sure some will take this as an opportunity to blast the IRL for lack of popularity or Cup for too much saturation, but that's not my intent. Just pointing out a personal observation.

[Roni]

I am a real big IRL fan and can name most if not all of the IRL and Nascar numbers.
IRL
2 Greg Ray/Jacques Lazier
3 Al Unser Jr.
4 Sam Hornish
5 Arie Luyendyk/Rick Treadway
6 Jaret Schroeder
7 Stephan Gregoire
8 Scott Sharp
9 Jaret Schroeder
10 Robbie McGhee
11 Donnie Beechler/Greg Ray
12 Buzz Calkins
14 Eliseo Salazar
15 Sarah Fisher
16 Corey Witherill
20 Tyce Carlson
21 Felipe Giaffone'
24 Robbie Buhl
28 Mark Dismore
30 Brandon Erwin
31 Casey Mears
32 Dider Andre'
35 Jeff Ward
51 Eddie Cheever
55 Shigeaki Hattori
66 Gil de Ferran
68 Helio castro Neves
88 Airton Dare
91 Buddy Lazier
92 Stan Wattles
98 Billy Boat
99 Jacques Lazier/Anthony Lazzaro/Davey Hamilton/Richie Hearn

I might of missed a couple, but for the most part that is the number/driver combo for the IRL. Who did I miss?

Nascar
01 Jason Leffler
1 Steve Park
2 Rusty Wallace
3 Late Dale Earnhardt
4 Robby Gordon/Kevin Lapage/Bobby Hamilton Jr
5 Terry Labonte
6 Mark Martin
7
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
9 Bill Elliot
10 Johnny Benson
11 Brett Bodine
12 Jeremy Mayfield
14 Mike Bliss/?
18 Bobby Labonte
19 Casey Atwood
20 TOny Stewart
21 Elliot Sadler
22 Ward Burton
24 Jeff Gordon
25 Jermey Naduea
28 Ricky Rudd
29 Kevin Harvick
31 Mike Skinner
32 Ricky Craven
33 Joe Nemecheck
36 Ken Scroeder
40 Sterlin Marlin
43 John Andretti
44 Buckshoot Jones
45 Kyle Petty
55 Bobby Hamilton
66 Todd BOdine
77 Robert Pressley
81 Dave Marcis
88 Dale Jarrett
91 Stacey Compton
93 Dave Blaney
99 Jeff Burton

I know I missed a few but the bulk of them are their. Who did I miss?

[Mackie]

Not to worry, this year the numbers will be larger, and maybe even stylized, there is one problem though, the tradition of using the lower numbers as they relate to the championship standings. I think for once that tradition should yield to common sense and stability. The numbers should belong to the team until the team goes away, or sells them, as they do in, forgive me, NASCAR!

[PHJIndy]

I can't remember where I put my toothbrush sometimes, but I can identify race cars like nobodies business. In fact I can still recite the entire roster of the 1976 Indianapolis Racers the WHA Eastern Division Champion hockey team. My wife wishes I could remember her mother's birthday.

[Lucky161]

Roni, you got me beat on the IRL. I would have put Mike Wallace in the #7 for Cup.
Mackie, I am pretty sure that has something to do with it, since I don't recall that many numbers of earlier Indy cars either.

[debdrake]

I suggested long ago that the IRL should assign a number to each driver when he/she starts their first race - and that number should remain with them until they retire from the series (or at least until they miss a couple seasons). The number would go with the driver, not with the team. Given how often the open wheel teams change drivers, it's the only way to achieve any sort of stability.