dundurn Joined: 14/03/2007 Posts: 1471 Favourite Category: Quizzes & Puzzles

The field used to be 42 cars (a more logical but still arbitrary number). Around 1991 they added a 'wild card' place to be used for a Past Champion who didn't qualify as one of the fastest 40. (2 positions were granted as of right.) As a result the 43rd place wasn't always claimed but the 'tradition' of a 43 car field was established. For the last few years the 43rd place has been consistently available.