Dan Wheldon has become a forgotten man, even though his mug is on the Borg-Warner Trophy.

He won the 2005 Indianapolis 500, but racing perspective can quickly shift gears in a what-have-you-done-lately environment. The personable 30-year-old Brit was reminded of how the fast life has slowed on Sunday, the afternoon after pole day, when he qualified for the 93rd 500. He was met in a quiet interview room by only five reporters.

“It’s not as busy when you’re not going for the pole, is it?” he said.

Wheldon will start a career-worst 18th in Panther Racing’s No. 4 car, which turned a four-lap average of 222.777 mph. The last time the seven-time Indy 500 starter was this far back in the grid was the year he won, when he started 16th.

“I had a good, balanced race car then,” he said of his memorable No. 26 ride with Andretti Green Racing. “I don’t have that right now.”

Wheldon made his name with two-thirds of racing’s “big three” teams, spending a combined six years with AGR and Ganassi Racing. He returns to the site of his greatest race in search of career redemption with a small but proud team, the same locals who backed Vitor Meira to a 500 runner-up finish last year.

“It’s my job not to let people forget about me,” he said.

He’s teammates with 2001 Indy pole sitter Scott Sharp, whose No. 16 car was the last to make the field Sunday. Sharp is slotted 20th with a 222.162-mph average.

“Both cars are in,” said owner John Barnes, relieved at the final gun, “but we’ve got a lot to do to get them right for the race.”

The team had to overcome several accidents. On Friday, Sharp hit the wall after he exited the first turn, the same corner where he crashed on the first lap in 2001. On Saturday, Wheldon lost control and backed into the second-turn wall. His team scrambled and put the car back together and he was in qualifying line when time ran out on pole day.

“I take it very personally, not contending for the front row, and when you come into this press conference room and there are five of you,” Wheldon said.

His eyes glared when asked later about how motivated he is to win in these circumstances.

“Yeah, incredibly, right now,” he said.

Panther Racing, an Indy fixture since 1998, has yet to celebrate in victory lane. Wheldon would like to change that.

“Sadly, both Scott Sharp and myself, we’ve had a difficult start to the month. But, you know, that’s Indianapolis,” Wheldon said. “I’ve experienced some of the best times in my life, but I’ve also experienced some of the worst. That’s what this track is all about, and this race in particular.”

He thinks back to winning the 500, and then the next year, when he dominated and led 148 laps. He almost lapped eventual winner Sam Hornish Jr., but a flat tire late dropped him to fourth.

“That’s what makes this race so great,” he said. “In 2006, although that was incredibly disappointing, it was probably one of the wake-up calls to how much I really enjoyed this race.”

Wheldon’s new car design fits his current status. The National Guard-sponsored entry is a camouflage color.

“It will be difficult to see me coming on race day,” he said, “but I’ll be coming all right.”