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Indianapolis 500 records

Indianapolis 500 records

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As of 107th race, May 28, 2023.

Race records

Victories

Quantity

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More information Wins, Owner ...
More information Wins, Driver-Owner ...
More information Wins, Chassis ...
More information Wins, Engine ...
More information Wins, No ...
More information Wins, Pos ...

Quality

Rookie winners
Inaugural race inclusive, ten drivers have won the
race in their first start*, and one driver has won it in his
first two starts. Rookie winners have occurred in ten out of
one hundred races, 10%, in two consecutive years twice
(1913 1914, 2000 2001), and in three consecutive
years once (1926 1928).
Years Driver Career
Victories
1911   United States Ray Harroun 1911  
1913 France Jules Goux 1913  
1914 United States René Thomas 1914  
1926 United States Frank Lockhart 1926  
1927 United States George Souders 1927  
1928 United States Louis Meyer 1928 1933 1936
1966 United Kingdom Graham Hill 1966  
2000 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 2000 2015  
2001 2002 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2001 2002 2009 2021
2016   United States Alexander Rossi 2016  
* United States Louis Meyer won in his first start
in 1928, but had competed a year earlier
as a relief driver for United States Wilbur Shaw.
Consecutive driver victories
Wins Driver Career Victories
2 United States Wilbur Shaw 1937 1939 1940  
United States Mauri Rose 1941 1947 1948  
United States Bill Vukovich 1953 1954  
United States Al Unser 1970 1971 1978 1987
Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2001 2002 2009 2021
Most races between victories
Ten drivers have intervals between race
victories extending five or more races*.
Years Driver Career Victories
15 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 2000 2015  
12 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2001 2002 2009 2021
10 United States A. J. Foyt 1961 1964 1967 1977
9 United States Gordon Johncock 1973 1982  
United States Al Unser 1970 1971 1978 1987
7 United States Bobby Unser 1968 1975 1981  
Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 1990 1997  
Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2001 2002 2009 2021
6 United States Bobby Unser 1968 1975 1981  
United Kingdom Dan Wheldon 2005 2011  
5 United States Louis Meyer 1928 1933 1936  
United States Rick Mears 1979 1984 1988 1991
* United States Mauri Rose's 1947 victory occurred six years
after his co-victory with United States Floyd Davis in 1941,
but only two races later due to the cancellation
of the race, 19421945, due to World War II.
Most races between first and last victories
Five drivers have won multiple victories
across a time period of at least ten races.
Years Driver Career Victories
20 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2001 2002 2009 2021
17 United States Al Unser 1970 1971 1978 1987
16 United States A. J. Foyt 1961 1964 1967 1977
15 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 2000 2015  
13 United States Bobby Unser 1968 1975 1981  
12 United States Rick Mears 1979 1984 1988 1991
Most starts before first victory
Eight drivers have won the race for the
first time after ten or more career starts.
Starts Driver Career Victories
13 United States Sam Hanks 1957  
12 Brazil Tony Kanaan 2013  
United States Josef Newgarden 2023  
11 United States Jim Rathmann 1960  
United States Johnny Rutherford 1974 1976 1980
Australia Will Power 2018  
10 United States Tom Sneva 1983  
United States Al Unser Jr. 1992 1994  
* Won after two consecutive second-place finishes.

Narrowest Margin of Victory:

Widest Margin of Victory:

Speed and qualification records

Lap speed records

More information Type, Distance ...

Pole positions

More information Poles, Driver ...
Consecutive pole position qualifications
Twelve drivers have qualified for the
pole position in consecutive years.
Poles Driver Career Pole Positions
2 United States Ralph DePalma 1920 1921  
United States Rex Mays 1935 1936 1940 1948  
United States Eddie Sachs 1960 1961  
United States Parnelli Jones 1962 1963  
United States Mario Andretti 1966 1967 1987  
United States A. J. Foyt 1965 1969 1974 1975  
United States Tom Sneva 1977 1978 1984  
United States Rick Mears 1979 1982 1986 1988 1989 1991
United States Scott Brayton* 1995 1996*  
Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2003 2007 2009 2010  
United States Ed Carpenter 2013 2014 2018  
New Zealand Scott Dixon 2008 2015 2017 2021 2022
* United States Scott Brayton qualified for the pole position in 1996, but was
killed in a practice session accident nine days before the race in a
backup car. Tony Stewart, the second qualifier, moved onto the
pole position Brayton's stead, while Danny Ongais, per regulations,
started the pole-winning car from the final starting position.
Most races between
pole position qualifications

Five* drivers have intervals between pole
positions extending five or more races.
Years Driver Career
Pole Positions
20 United States Mario Andretti 1966 1967 1987  
9 United States Bobby Unser 1972 1981  
7 New Zealand Scott Dixon 2008 2015 2017 2021 2022
5 United States A. J. Foyt 1965 1969 1974 1975  
* United States Rex Mays' 1948 pole position qualification
occurred eight years after qualifying for it in 1940,
but only four races later due to the cancellation of
the race, from 19421945, due to World War II.

Average race speeds

More information Year, Driver ...
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Lap leader records

More information Rank, Driver ...
Most race laps led by non-winning entry
Four entries have failed to win despite dominating to lead
eighty percent or more of a given race's completed laps.
Laps
Led
Distance
Led
Percent
Race Led
Year Driver Start
Pos
Final
Pos
mi km
196 490 788.6 98.0% 1912 United States Ralph DePalma 7 11
171 427.5 688.0 85.5% 1967 United States Parnelli Jones 6 6
170 425 684.0 85.0% 1987 United States Mario Andretti 1 9
160 400 643.7 80.0% 1992 United States Michael Andretti 6 13
Most laps led from start
Two entries, both starting from the pole position, have led the
opening forty percent or further of a given race's completed laps.
Laps Year Driver Full
Laps
Led
Percent
Race Led
Start
Pos
Final
Pos
92 1990 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 128 64.0% 1 3
81 1927 United States Frank Lockhart 110 55.0% 1 18
Latest lead change
Races with final lead change taking
place at or within three laps of finish
Lap Year Winner Overtaken
200 2006 United States Sam Hornish Jr. United States Marco Andretti
2011 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon United States J. R. Hildebrand
2023 United States Josef Newgarden Sweden Marcus Ericsson
199 1912 United States Joe Dawson United States Ralph DePalma
1989 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi United States Al Unser Jr.
1999 Sweden Kenny Bräck United States Robby Gordon
2012 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti New Zealand Scott Dixon
2019 France Simon Pagenaud United States Alexander Rossi
2021 Brazil Hélio Castroneves Spain Álex Palou
198 1961 United States A. J. Foyt United States Eddie Sachs
1986 United States Bobby Rahal United States Kevin Cogan
2013 Brazil Tony Kanaan United States Ryan Hunter-Reay

Led opening lap and final lap: 21 entries among 19 drivers

Led opening lap,
consecutive races

Nine drivers have led the opening
race lap in consecutive races.
Years Driver
2 19221923 United States Jimmy Murphy
19281929 United States Leon Duray
19351936 United States Rex Mays
19401941
19541955 United States Jack McGrath
19641965 United Kingdom Jim Clark
19721973 United States Bobby Unser
19891990 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
19961997 United States Tony Stewart
20222023 Spain Álex Palou
Most laps led by rookie
Six drivers have led forty percent or further distance
of a given race in their first year of competition.
Laps Percent
Race Led
Year Driver Start
Pos
Final
Pos
167 83.5% 2000 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 2 1
143 71.5% 1947 United States Bill Holland 8 2
138 69.0% 1913 France Jules Goux 7 1
102 51.0% 1914 France René Thomas 15 1
95 59.4% 1926 United States Frank Lockhart 20 1
85 42.5% 2002 South Africa Tomas Scheckter 10 26

Age records

Top ten oldest winners
Year Driver Age
Descriptive Exact
Days
Years Days
1987 United States Al Unser 47 360 17,527
1981 United States Bobby Unser 47 93 17,260
1993 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 46 169 16,971
2021 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 46 20 16,822
1982 United States Gordon Johncock 45 278 16,714
1997 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 43 248 15,954
2020 Japan Takuma Sato 43 208 15,913
1957 United States Sam Hanks 42 320 15,661
1989 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 42 167 15,508
1977 United States A. J. Foyt 42 133 15,474
Top ten youngest winners
Year Driver Age
Descriptive Exact
Days
Years Days
1952 United States Troy Ruttman 22 80 8,116
1912 United States Joe Dawson 22 318 8,352
1926 United States Frank Lockhart 23 53 8,454
1928 United States Louis Meyer 23 314 8,714
1995 Canada Jacques Villeneuve 24 49 8,815
1930 United States Billy Arnold 24 165 8,931
2016 United States Alexander Rossi 24 247 9,013
2000 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 24 251 9,017
1924 United States Lora L. Corum* 25 143 9,273
2001 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 26 17 9,514
* 1924 winning entry credited with two winning drivers,
with Corum starting, but race lead assumed only after
relief, and eventual drive to victory, by United States Joe Boyer.

Oldest Starter:

Youngest Starter:

Miscellaneous competitive records

Most race starts
Twelve drivers have started at least twenty races.
Starts Driver Career Victories Notes
35 United States A. J. Foyt 1961 1964 1967 1977 19581992, consecutive
29 United States Mario Andretti 1969    
27 United States Al Unser 1970 1971 1978 1987  
24 United States Johnny Rutherford 1974 1976 1980    
United States Gordon Johncock 1973 1982    
23 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2001 2002 2009 2021  
22 United States George Snider   Most starts without winning
Brazil Tony Kanaan 2013    
21 United States Gary Bettenhausen    
New Zealand Scott Dixon 2008    
20 United States Buddy Lazier 1996    
United States Ed Carpenter    
Best Female Driver Finishes
Races with one or more female drivers finishing in the top ten
Year Start
Pos
Final
Pos
Driver Notes
2009 10 3 United States Danica Patrick  
2005 4 4 United States Danica Patrick Led 19 laps; first female driver leader
2010 23 6 United States Danica Patrick  
2006 10 8 United States Danica Patrick  
2007 8 8 United States Danica Patrick  
1978 15 9 United States Janet Guthrie First top ten, female driver
2011 25 10 United States Danica Patrick Led 10 laps; most recent female driver leader
Most Leaders in Race
Races with more than ten race leaders
Leaders Year Winner
15 2017 Japan Takuma Sato
2018 Australia Will Power
14 2013 Brazil Tony Kanaan
2023 United States Josef Newgarden
13 2016 United States Alexander Rossi
2021 Brazil Hélio Castroneves
12 1993 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
11 2014 United States Ryan Hunter-Reay
Fewest Leaders in Race
Races with three or fewer race leaders
Leaders Year Winner
2 1930 United States Billy Arnold
1965 United Kingdom Jim Clark
3 1912 United States Joe Dawson
1916 United Kingdom Dario Resta
1919 United States Howdy Wilcox
1938 United States Floyd Roberts
1940 United States Wilbur Shaw
1947 United States Mauri Rose
1950 United States Johnnie Parsons
1952 United States Troy Ruttman
1967 United States A. J. Foyt
1968 United States Bobby Unser
1990 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk
1994 United States Al Unser Jr.
Most Starters in Race
Races with more than 33 starting entries
Started Year Winner Notes
42 1933 United States Louis Meyer Full field
40 1911 United States Ray Harroun Unlimited potential field size; 40 entries achieving required minimum speed
1931 United States Louis Schneider Full field
1932 United States Fred Frame Full field
38 1930 United States Billy Arnold 40 potential starting positions
35 1979 United States Rick Mears 2 further starting positions allotted from technical regulations ruling
1997 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 2 further starting positions allotted from technical regulations ruling
Fewest Starters in Race
Races with fewer than 33 starting entries
Started Year Winner Notes
21 1916 United Kingdom Dario Resta 30 potential starting positions
22 1924 United States Lora L. Corum 33 potential starting positions
Corum and Boyer, co-drivers of winning entry
United States Joe Boyer
1925 United States Peter DePaolo 33 potential starting positions
23 1920 United States Gaston Chevrolet 33 potential starting positions
1921 United States Tommy Milton 33 potential starting positions
24 1912 United States Joe Dawson 30 potential starting positions
1915 United States Ralph DePalma 33 potential starting positions
1923 United States Tommy Milton 33 potential starting positions
27 1913 France Jules Goux 30 potential starting positions
1922 United States Jimmy Murphy 33 potential starting positions
28 1926 United States Frank Lockhart 33 potential starting positions
29 1928 United States Louis Meyer 33 potential starting positions
30 1914 France René Thomas Full field
1947 United States Mauri Rose 33 potential starting positions
Most Lead Changes in Race
Races with twenty-five or more lead changes
Lead
Changes
Year Winner
68 2013 Brazil Tony Kanaan
54 2016 United States Alexander Rossi
52 2023 United States Josef Newgarden
38 2022 Sweden Marcus Ericsson
37 2015 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya
35 2017 Japan Takuma Sato
2021 Brazil Hélio Castroneves
34 2012 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti
2014 United States Ryan Hunter-Reay
30 2018 Australia Will Power
29 1960 United States Jim Rathmann
2019 France Simon Pagenaud
28 1923 United States Tommy Milton
27 2005 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon
Fewest Lead Changes in Race
Races with three or fewer lead changes
Lead
Changes
Year Winner
1 1930 United States Billy Arnold
2 1912 United States Joe Dawson
1916 United Kingdom Dario Resta
3 1919 United States Howdy Wilcox
1931 United States Louis Schneider
1949 United States Bill Holland

Most former winners starting race:

  • 10 – 1992

Fewest former winners starting race:

  • 0 – 1912

Most rookies starting race:

  • 19 – 1919, 1930 (excluding first race's 40 starters)

Fewest rookies starting race:

  • 1 – 1939, 1979

Most cars running at finish:

  • 30 – 2021

Fewest cars running at finish:

  • 7 – 1966

Most occasions running at finish:

Greatest improvement from starting position to finishing position (all-time):

Greatest improvement from starting position to finishing position (33-car field):

Most consecutive laps completed without falling out of competition:

  • 2,310 laps, Hélio Castroneves, 2007-2018 (from the start of the 2007 race through lap 145 of 2018 race)

Most cars and teams entered

  • 117, 1984

Race conditions

Highest Race Temperatures[1]
Races with air temperature equaling or exceeding 90°F (32°C)
Year Degrees Race Winner Notes
°F °C
1937 92° 33° United States Wilbur Shaw  
1953 91° 33° United States Bill Vukovich With anecdotal, "unofficial" testimony placing air temperature at the track itself
during the race near, at or exceeding 100 °F / 38 °C, potentially the hottest race
in history, with at least one fatality, United States Carl Scarborough, due to heat illness
1919 91° 33° United States Howdy Wilcox  
2012 91° 33° United Kingdom Dario Franchitti Reports at the track claimed temperature of 93 °F / 34 °C
2018 91° 33° Australia Will Power  
1978 90° 32° United States Al Unser  
1977 90° 32° United States A. J. Foyt  
Lowest Race Temperatures[1]
Races with highest air temperature not exceeding 65°F (18°C)
Year Degrees Race Winner Notes
°F °C
1992 58° 14° United States Al Unser Jr. 51 °F / 11 °C, lowest air temperature at start of race;
38 °F / 3 °C, coldest recorded wind chill during race
1997 60° 16° Netherlands Arie Luyendyk  
1930 62° 17° United States Billy Arnold  
1947 63° 17° United States Mauri Rose 37 °F / 3 °C, lowest air temperature on race morning;
50 °F / 10 °C, lowest average air temperature throughout race day
1915 65° 18° United States Ralph DePalma 56 °F lowest air temperature on race morning;
58 °F air temperature at start of race[2][3]
2003 65° 18° Brazil Gil de Ferran  
1924 65° 18° United States Lora L. Corum  
United States Joe Boyer
Rain-shortened races
Year Laps Distance Race Winner
(miles) (km)
1926 160 400.000 673.738 United States Frank Lockhart
1950 138 345.000 555.224 United States Johnnie Parsons
1973 133 332.500 535.107 United States Gordon Johncock
1975 174 435.000 700.065 United States Bobby Unser
1976 102 255.000 410.383 United States Johnny Rutherford
2004 180 450.000 724.205 United States Buddy Rice
2007 166 415.000 667.878 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti

Distance records

More information Rank, Driver ...

Most years completing the full 500 miles

  • 17 Hélio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Most consecutive years completing the full 500 miles

Most consecutive laps completed

  • 1,367 Scott Dixon (from the start of the 2008 race through lap 167 of 2014 race)

Interval average speed records

More information Laps, Distance(miles) ...

Drivers who crashed while leading during final one hundred miles of race (Lap 160+)

  • 1931: Billy Arnold - Arnold charged from 18th starting position to lead the race by lap 7. Arnold, who had dominated the 1930 race (led 198 laps), proceeded to lead the next 155 laps, and built up a five-lap lead over second place. His rear axle broke on lap 162. He spun in turn four, was hit by another car, and went over the outside wall. One of his errant wheels bounced across Georgetown Road, and struck and killed a 12-year-old boy, Wilbur C. Brink. Arnold suffered a broken pelvis, and his riding mechanic, Spider Matlock, broke his shoulder.
  • 1952: Bill Vukovich - Vukovich led 150 laps, and was leading on lap 192 when a steering linkage failed. Vukovich nursed his car to a stop by driving up against the outside wall at the end of the back straightaway at the beginning of turn three, preventing other drivers from getting involved in the incident.
  • 1989: Al Unser Jr. - On the 199th lap, Al Unser Jr. was leading Fittipaldi down the backstretch. The two cars weaving through lap traffic, and Fittipaldi dove underneath Unser exiting turn two. Racing side-with Unser drawing back ahead by a nose entering turn three, the two cars touched wheels, and Unser spun out, crashing into the outside wall. Fittipaldi coasted around the final lap under caution to score his first race victory.
  • 1994: Emerson Fittipaldi - while leading the race on lap 184, Fittipaldi was attempting to lap his teammate Al Unser Jr., who was running second. Coming out of turn four, Fittipaldi's left wheels touched the rumble strips on the inside, causing the left side tires to lose adhesion, and the rear of the car to swing wide at the turn exit, resulting in the rear tagging the outside wall and knocking Fittipaldi out of the race. Unser Jr. went on to win.
  • 2002: Tomas Scheckter - After leading 85 laps during the race, the rookie was leading on lap 173. Coming out of turn 4, he slid high and smacked the outside wall down the frontstretch.
  • 2011: J. R. Hildebrand - During the final ten laps, a sequence of green flag pit stops shuffled the field. Rookie J. R. Hildebrand was attempting to stretch his fuel to the finish, and took over the lead with just over two laps to go. On the final lap, he was leading going into the final turn, when he came up on the lapped car of Charlie Kimball, who was slowing to the inside. Hildebrand went high, got into the "marbles," and smacked the outside wall. Without steering, and only on three wheels, his car slid down the frontstretch towards the finish line and the checkered flag. However, Hildebrand was passed by Dan Wheldon on the final 1,000 feet and Hildebrand finished second.

References

  1. "NWS Indianapolis, IN; Indianapolis 500". National Weather Service.
  2. "Weather Forecast". The Indianapolis Star. June 1, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2017 via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. "Weather Indications". The Indianapolis News. June 1, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2017 via Newspapers.com.Open access icon

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