List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders

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All-time lap leaders

The Leaders Circle Award Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
  • Two hundred fifty-three drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in 110 races.
  • Career lap leader percentage rounded to hundredths of a percent.
  • Green indicates drivers active as of most recent race.
Rank Driver Laps
Led
Career
Laps Run
Career
Lap Leader
Percentage
Race
Wins
Years Won
1New Zealand Scott Dixon709Active driver12008 
2United States Al Unser6444,35614.78%41970197119781987
3United States Ralph DePalma6121,59438.39%11915 
4United States Mario Andretti5563,04018.29%11969 
5United States A. J. Foyt5554,90911.31%41961196419671977
6United States Wilbur Shaw5082,01925.16%3193719391940 
7Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi5051,78528.29%219891993 
8United States Parnelli Jones4921,13043.54%11963 
9United States Bill Vukovich48567671.75%219531954 
10United States Bobby Unser4402,61116.85%3196819751981 
11United States Michael Andretti4312,65316.25% 
12United States Rick Mears4292,34218.32%41979198419881991
13United States Billy Arnold41082149.94%11930 
14Brazil Tony Kanaan3523,9518.91%12013 
15United States Gordon Johncock3393,15810.73%219731982 
16United States Louis Meyer3321,91617.33%3192819331936 
17United Kingdom Dario Franchitti3291,94016.96%3200720102012 
18Brazil Hélio Castroneves326Active driver42001200220092021
19United Kingdom Jim Clark29868243.69%11965 
20United States Bill Holland29791432.49%11949 
21United States Johnny Rutherford2962,79210.60%3197419761980 
22United States Rex Mays2661,38519.21% 
23United States Rodger Ward2612,16012.08%219591962 
24United States Mauri Rose2562,32611.01%3194119471948 
25United Kingdom Dan Wheldon2351,72913.59%220052011 
26United States Jimmy Murphy22090724.26%11922 
27United States Ryan Hunter-Reay219Active driver12014 
28United States Tommy Milton2181,20418.11%219211923 
29United States Jimmy Bryan2161,41115.31%11958 
30United States Tom Sneva2082,1809.54%11983 
31United States Frank Lockhart20528073.21%11926 
32Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya1931,26315.28%220002015 
33Spain Álex Palou192Active driver12025 
34Netherlands Arie Luyendyk1862,9576.29%219901997 
35United States Jimmy Snyder18149536.57% 
36United States Lee Wallard17859130.12%11951 
37France Simon Pagenaud1692,3897.07%12019 
38United States Danny Sullivan1621,52310.64%11985 
39United States Howdy Wilcox1551,33511.61%11919 
40South Africa Tomas Scheckter1531,6919.05% 
41United States Jim Rathmann1502,3206.47%11960 
42United States Ed Carpenter150Active driver 
43United States Peter DePaolo14873820.05%11925 
44Australia Will Power145Active driver12018 
45United States Marco Andretti1443,5174.09% 
46United Kingdom Dario Resta14040834.31%11916 
47United States Sam Hanks1401,5668.94%11957 
48France Jules Goux13977317.98%11913 
49United States George Robson13833341.44%11946 
50United States Pat Flaherty13881217.00%11956 
51United States Gary Bettenhausen1382,3725.82% 
52Japan Takuma Sato138Active driver220172020 
53United States Johnnie Parsons1311,5048.71%11950 
54United States Lloyd Ruby1262,3575.35% 
55United States Bobby Rahal1262,0076.28%11986 
56United States Earl Cooper12393913.10% 
57United States Tony Stewart12270017.43% 
58United States Joe Boyer11955521.44%11924 
59United States Greg Ray11692012.61% 
60France René Thomas11474415.32%11914 
61United States Alexander Rossi113Active driver12016 
62United States Al Unser Jr.1103,1733.47%219921994 
63United States Kelly Petillo1081,2838.42%11935 
64United States Wally Dallenbach Sr.1081,4487.46% 
65United States Sam Hornish Jr.1071,3467.95%12006 
66United States Babe Stapp10696011.04% 
67United States Fred Frame1061,2818.27%11932 
68Mexico Pato O'Ward104Active driver 
69United States Buddy Rice991,0479.46%12004 
70United States Ted Horn941,9444.84% 
71United States Dave Lewis9338324.28% 
72United States Bill Cummings931,2297.57%11934 
73United States Floyd Roberts9288310.42%11938 
74Sweden Kenny Bräck8988510.06%11999 
75United States Eddie Cheever Jr.892,1224.19%11998 
76United States Ray Harroun8820044.00%11911 
77United States Bob Sweikert8682510.42%11955 
78United States Conor Daly86Active driver 
79Sweden Felix Rosenqvist86Active driver12026 
80United States David Bruce-Brown8122536.00% 
81United States Danny Ongais791,5275.17% 
82Belgium Arthur Duray7720038.50% 
83Netherlands Rinus VeeKay73Active driver 
84United States Troy Ruttman721,4724.89%11952 
85Brazil Gil de Ferran7160111.81%12003 
86New Zealand Scott McLaughlin71Active driver 
87United States Jack McGrath701,0946.40% 
88United States Mark Donohue707489.36%11972 
89United States Buddy Lazier703,0152.32%11996 
90United States Josef Newgarden69Active driver220232024 
91United States Frank Brisko691,3305.19% 
92United States Leon Duray686939.81% 
93United States Ralph Hepburn681,8643.65% 
94United States George Souders6740016.75%11927 
95United States Eddie Sachs661,0696.17% 
96Sweden Marcus Ericsson60Active driver12022 
97Brazil Maurício Gugelmin5939614.90% 
98United States Harry Hartz579965.72% 
99Colombia Roberto Guerrero561,7353.23% 
100United States Johnny Thomson551,0445.27% 
101Canada James Hinchcliffe541,6563.26% 
102United States Robby Gordon531,5643.39% 
103United States Joe Leonard521,2654.11% 
104United States Jeff Ward521,2544.15% 
105Brazil Bruno Junqueira527347.08% 
106United Kingdom Max Chilton509975.02% 
107United States Deacon Litz491,5603.14% 
108Canada Scott Goodyear491,4603.35% 
109United States Ray Keech4640011.50%11929 
110United States Pat O'Connor467685.98% 
111United States Davy Jones467845.86% 
112United States Gil Anderson447845.61% 
113United States Jimmy Gleason436176.97% 
114United States Bob Burman417185.71% 
115United Kingdom Jackie Stewart4035811.17% 
116United States Louis Schneider398634.51%11931 
117United States John Paul Jr.398834.42% 
118Canada Alex Tagliani391,5432.52% 
119Italy Teo Fabi379633.84% 
120United States Bob Carey3620018% 
121United States Jim Hurtubise368944.03% 
122United States Cliff Bergere352,4251.44% 
123United States Paul Russo351,4822.36% 
124United States Bob Swanson3426712.73% 
125United Kingdom Nigel Mansell3429211.64% 
126Spain Oriol Servià341,9921.70% 
127United States Bobby Marshman336355.20% 
128United States Tony Gulotta331,9891.66% 
129United States Art Cross327684.17% 
130United States Duke Nalon321,2842.49% 
131United States David Malukas32Active driver 
132Australia Ryan Briscoe311,8401.68% 
133United States Phil Shafer291,2232.37% 
134United States Mark Dismore298203.54% 
135United States Danica Patrick291,4042.07% 
136Colombia Carlos Muñoz291,2002.41% 
137United States Graham Rahal28Active driver 
138Spain Fernando Alonso273787.14% 
139United States Jimmy Vasser261,2492.08% 
140United States Jimmy Davies256313.96% 
141United States Tony Bettenhausen241,9751.22% 
142United States Lou Moore231,3041.76% 
143United States A. J. Allmendinger2320011.50% 
144United States Sting Ray Robb23Active driver 
145Canada Jacques Villeneuve226003.67%11995 
146Brazil Raul Boesel212,2130.95% 
147Italy Alessandro Zampedri2019910.05% 
148United States George Amick182009.00% 
149United States Johnny Boyd181,4271.26% 
150United States Charlie Kimball181,9100.94% 
151United States Kevin Cogan171,5561.09% 
152Canada Devlin DeFrancesco17Active driver 
153United States Johnny Aitken161948.25% 
154United States Jerry Grant161,2751.25% 
155United States Robbie Buhl161,2791.25% 
156United States Santino Ferrucci16Active driver 
157Brazil Vítor Meira151,6220.92% 
158United Kingdom Mike Conway154763.15% 
159United States Zach Veach157291.92% 
160United States Colton Herta15Active driver 
161United States Gaston Chevrolet144003.50%11920 
162United States Ernie Triplett145592.50% 
163United States Russ Snowberger131,6330.80% 
164Mexico Josele Garza137071.84% 
165United States Billy Boat131,1121.17% 
166United Kingdom Justin Wilson131,4880.87% 
167United States Townsend Bell131,8980.68% 
168United States J. R. Hildebrand132,2020.59% 
169United States Swede Savage126219.35% 
170Brazil Felipe Giaffone129551.26% 
171Belgium Bertrand Baguette113832.87% 
172Denmark Christian Rasmussen11Active driver 
173United States Ralph Mulford101,6190.62% 
174United Kingdom Graham Hill103333.00%11966 
175United States Alex Barron109421.06% 
176United States Eddie Rickenbacker93552.53% 
177France Albert Guyot98081.11% 
178Belgium Josef Christiaens93202.81% 
179United States Louis Chevrolet94521.99% 
180United States Dutch Baumann99010.00% 
181United States Len Sutton97081.27% 
182Brazil Caio Collet9Active driver 
183United States Jimmy Daywalt89990.80% 
184United States Pancho Carter82,1410.37% 
185United Kingdom Jim Crawford81,0430.77% 
186United States Scott Pruett85921.35% 
187Israel Robert Shwartzman8Active driver 
188United States Don Freeland71,3110.53% 
189United States Roger McCluskey72,1550.32% 
190Canada Zachary Claman DeMelo71993.52% 
191United States Spencer Pigot79810.71% 
192Cayman Islands Kyffin Simpson7Active driver 
193United States Ira Hall64851.24% 
194United Kingdom Callum Ilott6Active driver 
195United States Cecil Green52172.30% 
196United States Jimmy Jackson58450.59% 
197United States Spencer Wishart56040.83% 
198United States Steve Krisiloff51,3870.36% 
199Venezuela E. J. Viso58430.59% 
200United Kingdom James Jakes55990.83% 
201Denmark Christian Lundgaard5Active driver 
202United States Fred Belcher42002.00% 
203United States Cliff Durant48880.45% 
204United States Mike Mosley41,6150.25% 
205United States Buzz Calkins41,0560.38% 
206United States Sam Schmidt41103.64% 
207France Sébastien Bourdais41,6870.24% 
208United States Oliver Askew4914.40% 
209United States Sage Karam41,3680.29% 
210United States Kyle Larson4Active driver 
211United States Kyle Kirkwood4Active driver 
212United States George Snider31,8320.16% 
213United States Davey Hamilton31,7830.17% 
214United States Scott Sharp32,1800.14% 
215United States Bryan Herta39650.31% 
216Mexico Adrian Fernández35830.51% 
217Brazil Mario Moraes32111.42% 
218United States Bryan Clauson33050.98% 
219United Kingdom Stefan Wilson35490.55% 
220United Kingdom Jack Harvey3Active driver 
221New Zealand Marcus Armstrong3Active driver 
222France Romain Grosjean3Active driver 
223United States Caleb Bragg22690.74% 
224United States Teddy Tetzlaff23710.54% 
225United States Joe Dawson24450.45%11912 
226United States Robert Evans21581.27% 
227United States Paul Bost2663.03% 
228United States Herb Ardinger28840.23% 
229United States Dan Gurney21,2040.17% 
230United States Roger Rager2553.64% 
231United States Don Whittington25470.37% 
232United States John Andretti21,8520.11% 
233United States Robby McGehee28870.23% 
234Japan Tora Takagi23790.53% 
235United States Jaques Lazier29790.20% 
236Brazil Rubens Barrichello22001.00% 
237Australia James Davison27480.27% 
238Canada Robert Wickens22001.00% 
239United States Jimmie Johnson21931.04% 
240France Jean Chassagne12850.35% 
241United States Art Klein14130.24% 
242United States Roscoe Sarles13540.28% 
243United States Howdy Wilcox II12000.50% 
244United States Fred Agabashian11,2730.08% 
245Australia Jack Brabham15100.20% 
246United States Bobby Allison11130.88% 
247United States Bill Vukovich II11,5270.07% 
248United States Tim Richmond13880.26% 
249United States Gordon Smiley11880.53% 
250United States Scott Brayton11,9050.05% 
251France Stéphan Grégoire17600.13% 
252United States Jeff Simmons16090.16% 
253Russia Mikhail Aleshin15240.19% 
NoteUnited States Lora L. Corum*0 11924 
United States Floyd Davis*0 11941 
  • United States Lora L. Corum and United States Floyd Davis are credited as being co-winners of the Indianapolis 500 in 1924 and 1941, respectively. However, as the winning entries in either race led only after their secondary drivers drove (and to the conclusion), Corum and Davis are not credited with leading any of those laps, nor did they lead throughout the remainder of their careers.

Lap Leaders, Individual Races

Most Laps Led

Fifty-seven of one hundred ten Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by the driver leading the most laps, 53.27%.

Year Leader, Most Laps Laps
Led
Percentage
Race Led
Won
Race
1911United States Ray Harroun8844.0%Yes
1912United States Ralph DePalma19698.0%No
1913France Jules Goux13869.0%Yes
1914France René Thomas10251.0%Yes
1915United States Ralph DePalma13266.0%Yes
1916United Kingdom Dario Resta10385.8%Yes
1919United States Howdy Wilcox9849.0%Yes
1920United States Joe Boyer9346.5%No
1921United States Ralph DePalma10854.0%No
1922United States Jimmy Murphy15376.5%Yes
1923United States Tommy Milton12864.0%Yes
1924United States Earl Cooper11959.5%No
1925United States Peter DePaolo11557.5%Yes
1926United States Frank Lockhart9559.4%Yes
192711055.0%No
1928United States Leon Duray6432.0%No
1929United States Louis Meyer6532.5%No
1930United States Billy Arnold19899.0%Yes
193115577.5%No
1932United States Fred Frame5829.0%Yes
1933United States Louis Meyer7135.5%Yes
1934United States Frank Brisko6929.5%No
1935United States Kelly Petillo10251.0%Yes
1936United States Louis Meyer9648.0%Yes
1937United States Wilbur Shaw13165.5%Yes
1938United States Floyd Roberts9246.0%Yes
United States Jimmy SnyderNo
1939United States Louis Meyer7939.5%No
1940United States Wilbur Shaw13668.0%Yes
194110753.5%No
1946United States George Robson13869.0%Yes
1947United States Bill Holland14371.5%No
1948United States Mauri Rose8140.5%Yes
1949United States Bill Holland14673.0%Yes
1950United States Johnnie Parsons11583.3%Yes
1951United States Lee Wallard15979.5%Yes
1952United States Bill Vukovich15075.0%No
195319597.5%Yes
19549045.0%Yes
1955United States Bob Sweikert8643.0%Yes
1956United States Pat Flaherty12763.5%Yes
1957United States Sam Hanks13668.0%Yes
1958United States Jimmy Bryan13969.5%Yes
1959United States Rodger Ward13065.0%Yes
1960United States Jim Rathmann10050.0%Yes
1961United States A.J. Foyt7135.5%Yes
1962United States Parnelli Jones12060.0%No
196316783.5%Yes
1964United States A.J. Foyt14673.0%Yes
1965United Kingdom Jim Clark19095.0%Yes
1966United States Lloyd Ruby6834.0%No
1967United States Parnelli Jones17185.5%No
1968United States Bobby Unser12763.5%Yes
1969United States Mario Andretti11658.0%Yes
1970United States Al Unser19095.0%Yes
197110351.5%Yes
1972United States Gary Bettenhausen13869.0%No
1973United States Gordon Johncock6448.1%Yes
1974United States Johnny Rutherford12261.0%Yes
1975United States Wally Dallenbach9655.2%No
1976United States Johnny Rutherford4847.1%Yes
1977United States Gordon Johncock12964.5%No
1978United States Al Unser12160.5%Yes
1979United States Bobby Unser8944.5%No
1980United States Johnny Rutherford11859.0%Yes
1981United States Bobby Unser8944.5%Yes
1982United States Rick Mears7738.5%No
1983United States Tom Sneva9849.0%Yes
1984United States Rick Mears11959.5%Yes
1985United States Mario Andretti10753.5%No
1986United States Rick Mears7638.0%No
1987United States Mario Andretti17085.0%No
1988United States Danny Sullivan9145.5%No
1989Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi15879.0%Yes
199012864.0%No
1991United States Michael Andretti9748.5%No
199216080.0%No
1993United States Mario Andretti7236.0%No
1994Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi14572.5%No
1995Brazil Maurício Gugelmin5929.5%No
1996Colombia Roberto Guerrero4723.5%No
1997United States Tony Stewart6432.0%No
1998United States Eddie Cheever7638.0%Yes
1999Sweden Kenny Bräck6633.0%Yes
2000Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya16783.5%Yes
2001Brazil Hélio Castroneves5226.0%Yes
2002South Africa Tomas Scheckter8542.5%No
20036331.5%No
2004United States Buddy Rice9150.5%Yes
2005United States Sam Hornish Jr.7738.5%No
2006United Kingdom Dan Wheldon14874.0%No
2007Brazil Tony Kanaan8350.0%No
2008New Zealand Scott Dixon11557.5%Yes
20097336.5%No
2010United Kingdom Dario Franchitti15577.5%Yes
2011New Zealand Scott Dixon7336.5%No
2012United States Marco Andretti5929.5%No
2013United States Ed Carpenter3718.5%No
2014United States Ryan Hunter-Reay5628.0%Yes
2015New Zealand Scott Dixon8442.0%No
2016United States Ryan Hunter-Reay5226.0%No
2017United Kingdom Max Chilton5025.0%No
2018United States Ed Carpenter6532.5%No
2019France Simon Pagenaud11658.0%Yes
2020New Zealand Scott Dixon11155.5%No
2021United States Conor Daly4020.0%No
2022New Zealand Scott Dixon9547.5%No
2023Mexico Pato O'Ward3919.5%No
2024New Zealand Scott McLaughlin6633.0%No
2025Japan Takuma Sato5125.5%No
2026Spain Álex Palou5929.5%No

More than 50% of race laps led, non-winning entries

Twenty separate entries in equal years, driven by sixteen drivers, have failed to win despite leading over half a given race's completed laps.[1]

Rank Year Driver Laps
Led
Race
Percentage
Final
Pos
1 1912 United States Ralph DePalma 196 98.0% 11
2 1967 United States Parnelli Jones 171 85.5% 6
3 1987 United States Mario Andretti 170 85.0% 9
4 1992 United States Michael Andretti 160 80.0% 13
5 1931 United States Billy Arnold 155 77.5% 19
6 1952 United States Bill Vukovich 150 75.0% 17
7 2006 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon 148 74.0% 4
8 1994 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 145 72.5% 17
9 1947 United States Bill Holland 143 71.5% 2
10 1972 United States Gary Bettenhausen 138 69.0% 14
11 1977 United States Gordon Johncock 129 64.5% 11
12 1990 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 128 64.0% 3
13 1962 United States Parnelli Jones 120 60.0% 7
14 1924 United States Earl Cooper 119 59.5% 2
15 2020 New Zealand Scott Dixon 111 55.5% 2
16 1927 United States Frank Lockhart 110 55.0% 10
17 1921 United States Ralph DePalma 108 54.0% 12
18 1941 United States Wilbur Shaw 107 53.5% 18
1985 United States Mario Andretti 2
20 1975 United States Wally Dallenbach 96 55.2% 9

Lap leader records

Most races led
Drivers leading in at least ten races
Background colors designate finishing position
Races
Led
Driver Years
17 New Zealand Scott Dixon 2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024 2026
15 Brazil Tony Kanaan 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2022  
14 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 2001 2002 2003 2006 2007 2009 2010 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2021 2023  
13 United States A. J. Foyt 1961 1962 1964 1965 1967 1969 1970 1974 1975 1976 1977 1979 1982  
11 United States Al Unser 1970 1971 1973 1977 1978 1979 1983 1987 1988 1992 1993  
United States Mario Andretti 1966 1969 1980 1981 1984 1985 1987 1989 1991 1992 1993
10 United States Bobby Unser 1968 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1977 1979 1980 1981  
Australia Will Power 2010 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2023  
Most consecutive races led
Twelve drivers have led in five or more consecutive* races.
Years Driver
8 20132020 Australia Will Power
7 20022008 Brazil Tony Kanaan
20122018 Brazil Tony Kanaan
6 19791984 United States Rick Mears
20112016 Canada Alex Tagliani
20212026 Spain Álex Palou
20212026 Mexico Pato O'Ward
5 19381946 United States Rex Mays
19401948 United States Mauri Rose
19711975 United States Bobby Unser
19801984 United States Tom Sneva
20112015 New Zealand Scott Dixon
20132017 Brazil Helio Castroneves
* United States Rex Mays and United States Mauri Rose led the race in
periods extending nine years each, but are counted
as leading in five consecutive due to the cancellation
of the race, from 19421945, due to World War II

Most race laps led by winning entry
Eleven entries, all to date starting from the front row*
have won in dominant fashion, leading three-quarters
or more of a given race's completed laps.
Laps
Led
Percent
Race Led
Year Winning Driver Start
Pos
198 99.0% 1930 United States Billy Arnold 1
195 97.5% 1953 United States Bill Vukovich 1
190 95.0% 1965 United Kingdom Jim Clark 2
1970 United States Al Unser 1
103 85.8% 1916 United Kingdom Dario Resta 4*
167 83.5% 1963 United States Parnelli Jones 1
2000 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 2
159 79.5% 1951 United States Lee Wallard 2
158 79.0% 1989 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 3
155 77.5% 2010 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti 3
153 76.5% 1922 United States Jimmy Murphy 1
* With four-wide starts occurring in years 1913-1920,
Dario Resta started on the front row in 1916.
Fewest race laps led by winning entry
Eighteen entries have won despite leading only ten
percent (20 laps / 50 miles) or less of a given race.
Laps
Led
Percent
Race Led
Year Driver Start
Pos
1 0.5% 2011 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon 6
2 1.0% 1912 United States Joe Dawson 7
5 2.5% 2023 United States Josef Newgarden 17
9 4.5% 2015 Colombia Juan-Pablo Montoya 15
10 5.0% 1966 United Kingdom Graham Hill 15
11 6.3% 1975 United States Bobby Unser 3
13 6.5% 1972 United States Mark Donohue 3
2022 Sweden Marcus Ericsson 5
14 7.0% 1920 United States Gaston Chevrolet 6
2016 United States Alexander Rossi 11
2025 Spain Álex Palou 6
15 7.5% 1995 Canada Jacques Villeneuve 5
16 8.0% 1993 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 9
17 8.5% 2017 Japan Takuma Sato 4
18 9.0% 1987 United States Al Unser 20
19 9.5% 1928 United States Louis Meyer 13
2006 United States Sam Hornish Jr. 1
20 10.0% 2021 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 8
Most race laps led by non-winning entry
Six entries have failed to win despite dominating to lead
three-quarters or more of a given race's completed laps.
Laps
Led
Percent
Race Led
Year Driver Start
Pos
Final
Pos
196 98.0% 1912 United States Ralph DePalma 7 11
171 85.5% 1967 United States Parnelli Jones 6 6
170 85.0% 1987 United States Mario Andretti 1 9
160 80.0% 1992 United States Michael Andretti 6 13
155 77.5% 1931 United States Billy Arnold 18 19
150 75.0% 1952 United States Bill Vukovich 8 17

Most laps led from start
Eleven entries have led the opening quarter
(50 laps / 125 miles) or further distance of a given race.
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
74 1922 United States Jimmy Murphy 153 76.5% 1 1
65 1919 United States Ralph DePalma 93 46.5% 4* 6
63 1935 United States Rex Mays 89 44.5% 1 17
59 1962 United States Parnelli Jones 120 60.0% 1 7
54 1925 United States Peter DePaolo 115 57.5% 2 1
1928 United States Leon Duray 59 29.5% 1 19
51 1967 United States Parnelli Jones 171 85.5% 6 6
50 1971 United States Mark Donohue 52 26.0% 2 25
1997 United States Tony Stewart 64 32.0% 2 5
* With four-wide starts occurring in years 1913-1920,
Ralph DePalma started on the front row in 1919.

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
Nine drivers have led one quarter (50 laps / 125 miles)
or further race distance 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
77 38.5% 1914 Belgium Arthur Duray 10 2
52 26.0% 2001 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 11 1
51 25.5% 1927 United States George Souders 22 1
Latest lead change
Races with final lead change taking
place at or within five laps of finish
Lap Year Winner Passed
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
2024 United States Josef Newgarden Mexico Pato O'Ward
2026 Sweden Felix Rosenqvist United States David Malukas
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
197 1960 United States Jim Rathmann United States Rodger Ward
1967 United States A.J. Foyt United States Parnelli Jones
2014 United States Ryan Hunter-Reay Brazil Hélio Castroneves
2015 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Australia Will Power
2016 United States Alexander Rossi Colombia Carlos Muñoz
196 1995 Canada Jacques Villeneuve [a] Canada Scott Goodyear
2018 Australia Will Power United Kingdom Stefan Wilson

Leaders Circle Club

In 1964, Autolite created the "Pacemakers Club," which recognized drivers who had led at least one lap during the Indianapolis 500. It quickly rose in stature and popularity, and became a highly sought-after honor associated with the Indianapolis 500. After changes in sponsorship, the organization was renamed the "Leaders Circle Club".

The qualifications were simple: any driver who had led at least one lap during the history of the race, whether living or already deceased, were recognized as members. At its inception, 102 drivers were listed as members. A total of 56 were deceased at the time, and 46 were living.

Honorees receive a jacket, and are honored at a banquet in their honor. The number of new members inducted at the banquet varies annually, as it is solely based on the previous year's first-time lap leaders. Some years can have as few as one or zero new members inducted, while other years have had as many as 4–5. The "club" is still active as of 2012.

Notes

  1. Goodyear was assessed a penalty for passing the safety car on a Lap 191 restart, and did not serve penalty within the five laps allotted. By rule, his lap card as pulled and Villeneuve took the lead automatically after the fifth lap.

References

  1. Zucker, Joseph. "Indy 500 Results 2019: Simon Pagenaud Earns 1st Career Win at Iconic Race". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2019-05-26.

See also