Tyson Gay ended the 2006 season ranked #1 in the world in the 200, but Wallace Spearmon and Xavier Carter could also make a case for being #1. Throw in Walter Dix of Florida State and 400-meter ubermensch Jeremy Wariner, and the men's 200 promises to be a tinderbox of excitement.

Spearmon has perhaps the deepest credentials of the group and is considered the favorite by many. The 2005 World Championships silver medalist, Spearmon is the defending U.S. champion and reigning World Cup champion in this event. On September 28 of last year, he became the #3 performer of all-time with his 19.65 performance in Daegu, South Korea. Earlier in September, Tyson Gay had run 19.68, finishing the year tied with Frank Fredericks as the fifth-fastest man in history. Gay's 100-meter speed - he is #2 world-ranked and the defending U.S. champion in that event - makes him very dangerous in the half lap. Competitors must be eying his wind-aided 100m times of 9.76 (+2.2mps) and 9.78 (+2.5mps) and warily.

Carter won four events at the 2006 NCAA Championships - the 100, 400, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay - then went on to lay down a time of 19.63 in the 200 at Lausanne, Switzerland, to become the second-fastest man in history, behind only Michael Johnson. Carter got a slow start to the 2007 season, but last week at the Nike Prefontaine Classic he ran down Spearmon and 100m world record holder Asafa Powell to win the 200.

In 2007, Dix added another record to his resume. Already the American junior record holder at 100 meters (10.06), Dix ran an eye-popping, collegiate-record time of 19.69 at the 2007 NCAA East Regional in Gainesville, Fla. He tacked on the NCAA titles in the 100 and 200 last weekend in Sacramento as well. At 5-9 and 190 pounds, Dix lacks the height and lankiness usually associated with 200-meter specialists, but his time and victories speak for themselves.

Speaking of tall and lanky, Olympic and world champion 400-meter runner Jeremy Wariner is in the field. As the defending world champion, he gets a bye into the World Championships in the 400, so he'll work on his 200-meter speed in Indy.

FAST FACTS

World record: 19.32, Michael Johnson, 1996

American record: 19.32, Michael Johnson, 1996

Meet record: 19.66, Michael Johnson, 1996

Time schedule: 1st round 4:30 p.m., Saturday; semifinals noon Sunday; final 2:20 p.m. Sunday

DID YOU KNOW? ...

* Team USA has won every men's 200 gold medal but one at the IAAF World Championships.

* Eight of the 10 fastest men of all time are Americans; four of the six fastest ever will compete here - Carter (#2), Spearmon (#3), Gay (#5) and Dix (#6).

* Spearmon's father, Wallace Spearmon Sr., was an All-American 200m runner and ran for Team USA in that event.

* Pietro Mennea of Italy owned the world record from 1979 until Michael Johnson broke it, first at the Olympic Trials and then at the Olympics, in 1996.

* Height is usually considered an advantage in the 200 because it helps runners negotiate the curve.