We rank indycars greatest drivers of all time the drive. The indianapolis 500 was won most recently by the english racing driver dan wheldon. She started 22nd and finished th on the lead lap at the 2015 mavtv 500 at the auto club speedway. The only american driver to record wins in the ntt indycar series, cart, champ car, weathertech sportscar championship american le mans. Danica patrick, the indy 500 driver, almost wins indy 500. The century of racing in the indianapolis 500 is filled with drivers who found disappointment, their dreams of winning the iconic race abruptly shattered by crashes, engine failures, botched pit. In less than two weeks, danica patrick will get behind the wheel of a race car and compete for the final time.
Penske has won the 500 a record 17 times, and has defending race winner will power in his stable. As for the car number with the most indy 500 wins, the no. Michigan marked the first oval track on indycars virtual schedule and reigning indianapolis 500 winner simon pagenaud won the race. Bryan herta currently is a coowner of andretti herta autosport, which fields driver marco andretti. Michael mario andretti born october 5, 1962 is an american semiretired auto racing driver and current team owner. Bartz will get a great race car driver, who just happens to be a savvy marketer and twitter fiend. Foyts four indy 500 wins immortalized in bronze at the. Pagenaud swapped the lead several times in the races final laps. After 40 cars started in the inaugural race in 1911, the contest board of the american.
Danica patrick reflects on her historic indycar win 12. Rathmann also participated in the two runnings of the race of two worlds at monza, italy, winning. The indy 500 purse is large enough that the race winner will make seven figures in prize money, and the driver who finishes in last place will still make six figures. Foyt 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977, al unser 19701971, 1978. As detailed below, the record for the most indy 500 wins is four, and three drivers share that record. For 2008, carpenter returned with vision racing to drive the no. Its unbelievable to get the pirtek car into victory lane, the team penske driver said from his home in australia after taking his second win from the six iracing challenge events. Takuma sato becomes first japanese driver to win the. The indianapolis 500 looms larger than life in american openwheel automobile racing and the status of its best drivers duh. May 27, 2019 simon pagenaud starts from the pole for the indianapolis 500 in a car owned by roger penske, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first race at indy. But a ball bearing in jones car failed after 196 laps, and foyt glided by to take a twolap victory.
For 19961997, victories in the indianapolis 500 and indy racing league are listed solely under the heading of indycar. It was the 102nd running on the indianapolis 500, ran on may 29th 2011. While cart sanctioned the primary yearlong season of races, the indianapolis 500. The indianapolis 500 is an openwheel car race and is currently sanctioned by indy racing league llc, and has been run as an indycar series event since 1996. Stan foxy fox race car driver, he retired after nearly dying in a wreck at the indianapolis 500 in 1995 and then later was killed in a road accident in new. James hinchcliffe born december 5, 1986 is a canadian race car driver best known for competing in the indycar series. He made 3 cart starts in 1991 but was badly injured in a practice crash for the indianapolis 500. In 1961, when foyt won his first indy 500, the front straight was still paved in bricks. Daniel john sullivan iii born march 9, 1950, better known as danny sullivan, is an american former racing driver. The 10 greatest cars in indy 500 history macs motor city. From 1971 to 1980 it consisted of the three 500 mile events on the calendar. In the period of 19711990, indy car racing contested their own triple crown. Mclaughlin, who ran out of fuel earlier in the race, couldnt believe his good fortune. Simon pagenaud first french driver to win in more than a.
Simon pagenaud wins indycars 1st virtual race on an oval. Starting 32nd he quickly clawed his way to the front of the torrid labor day race and led most of the race. Ironman of indy car racing with record 317 consecutive starts heading into 2020 his second season driving for racing legend a. The first indianapolis 500 mile race, then called the international sweepstakes, was. He is one of three men to win the indianapolis 500 four times 1979, 1984, 1988, 1991 and is the current recordholder for pole positions in the race with six 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991. With three indianapolis 500 victories to his name, including one in 2012 that would end up being his 31st and final indycar win, franchitti is tied for 4th place on the alltime indy 500 wins list. The 2019 indy 500 is here, and one of the best events in all of motorsports means there will be some gamblers looking to win some cash who will drop a few dollars on the annual indycar race at the. Ontario motor speedway was closed in 1980, and the california 500 was replaced with the michigan 500. Winning the indianapolis 500 is a lifechanging event for will power. Danica patrick isnt racing in indy 500 for nostalgia. Rick ravon mears born december 3, 1951, known by the nickname rocket rick, is a retired american race car driver.
Foyt became the first driver to win the indianapolis 500 four times, a feat since duplicated by just two others. An andretti driver has now won the 500 three times in the last four years, and five times overall dating to 2005 with the. Ir3007 was first delivered to panther racing where it was driven by sam hornish jr. The hall of fame race car driver won the indy 500 not once, not twice, but three times.
An online spat between mclarens lando norris and indianapolis 500 winner simon pagenaud has highlighted how seriously drivers are taking their virtual racing during the covid19 shutdown. List of american championship car winners wikipedia. Formula one driver lando norris, winner of last weeks indycar virtual race, was headed for what appeared a 123 podium sweep for the arrow mclaren sp entries on the final lap. May 25, 2019 of the seven, castroneves was the only driver to have won the indy 500 more than once, and was attempting to tie a. As a driver he won three championships and 24 races in the cart openwheel series, including the 1986 indianapolis 500. Michael andretti was born to dee ann and racing legend mario andretti, a race car driver who became a fourtime indycar champion and the 1978 formula one world champion. Apr 16, 2020 driver janet guthrie first broke the gender barrier at the indy 500 in 1977. Competed in the five ntt indycar series oval events for ed carpenter racing.
Qualified second at indianapolis for the 103rd indianapolis 500. The field is the tightest in indy 500 history based on qualifying speeds from first to 33rd. May 10, 2014 one of the most memorable, popular, and headsup indy 500 wins in recent years was collected by the late dan wheldon in 2011, driving a race car with more miles on it than the village bicycle. Hinchcliffe has won six races to date for andretti autosport and schmidt peterson motorsports. Following a successful career racing karts, winning 50 of his 75 races. More than 300 of the worlds most exceptional vintage race cars will compete in 12 different sportscar vintage racing association svra classes on the 14turn, 2. Indy 500 snake pit presented by coors light the indianapolis 500 presented by gainbridge has been rescheduled for august 23 due to the covid19 pandemic. May 27, 2018 the threetime indianapolis 500 winner turned sports car driver returned to penskes indycar stable for the month of may. Competed n indianapolis 500 for newmanhaas racing, finishing 12th after laterace contact. Competed in five ntt indycar series events for ed carpenter racing with a best finish of second at world wide technology raceway. Collected six wins over two indy lights seasons, including. The 20 most significant race car engines 95 customs.
He is the only person to have recorded victories in the indianapolis 500, the daytona 500 stock car race, the 24 hours of daytona 1983 and 1985 with co driver bob wollek, the 24 hours of le mans international sports car endurance race in le mans, france, as well as the 12 hours of sebring his last major professional win, in 1985, with co. Troy ruttman, sprint car crash injury, august 1952. Number of cars that have completed race without a pit stop. The 2019 indy 500 is sunday at indianapolis motor speedway on nbc. His mother, beth boles, won a novice jet ski world title in 1990 and his stepfather j. On april 20, 2008, 26yearold danica patrick wins the indy japan 300 at twin ring montegi in montegi, japan, making her the first female winner in indycar racing history. May 26, 2019 as for the car number with the most indy 500 wins, the no. His first win came in 1928 and he picked up his second in 1933, before winning his final indy in 1936.
May 19, 2019 simon pagenaud won the pole for next sundays indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 229. Mclaughlin lastsecond winner of ims indycar iracing. Jimmy murphy takes the checkered flag first and wins the indianapolis 500 in 1922. Only two other drivers in the history of the sport have won the race as. The dale coyne racing team continued changing drivers on a race by race basis throughout the season, with their no.
As a result of this change, we have also made the unfortunate, but unavoidable decision to cancel race weekend concerts, including the snake pit presented by coors light, featuring martin garrix, galantis, rezz, steve aoki, and yellow claw. Indycar drivers secret weapon to winning the indy 500 drivers may be fit, but not all of them are mentally and cognitively conditioned to win. Statistically one of the most successful drivers in the history of american openwheel car racing, andretti won the 1991 cart ppg indy car world series and amassed 42 race victories, the most in the cart era and fourthmost all time. Danica patrick becomes first woman to win indy race history. May 28, 2017 the car of aj foyt racing indycar driver conor daly 4 is taken back to the garage area after his crash in the indy 500 at indianapolis motor speedway, sunday, may 28, 2017. Feb 18, 2020 in the wake of ryan newmans crash near the end of the daytona 500 that horrified onlookers and left the veteran driver hospitalized in serious condition, denny hamlin and his team, joe gibbs. Rick ravon mears born december 3, 1951, known by the nickname rocket rick, is a. At the seasonopening gainsco auto insurance indy 300 at homestead, carpenter qualified in 2nd place, but his time was nullified as his car as well as the car of teammate a. Simulation legends race will match indy 500 winners, f1. Scott mclaughlin wins on indy oval for 2nd virtual victory. Danica patrick becomes first woman to win indy race. The indianapolis 500 is an automobile race, held annually on the last weekend in may to coincide with memorial day.
A complete list of alltime race champions, records. Its hard for me to believe that ive been racing cars for over 60 years, said foyt. He had earned the top qualifying spot with a speed of 229. Full position payout listing will power took home about 20% of the total 2018 indy 500 purse for his race victory. Three drivers have won the indianapolis 500 four times each. His career since has been a roller coaster, as he parlayed that indy 500 win into four seasons with chip ganassi racing, and finally the last two at a. Jun 18, 2015 big al unser won the indy 500 four times including backtoback in 1970 and 1971 and took home the 1970 usac national championship as well as two ppg indycar world series championships. He is known by the nickname the thrill from west hill. Robert woodward bobby rahal born january 10, 1953 is an american former auto racing driver and team owner. Son of former indy car driver bryan herta, who won four races in his driving career and two indianapolis 500s as a team owner. Which driver has the most indianapolis 500 wins answers. Mark dismore born october 12, 1956 in greenfield, indiana is a former driver in the indy racing league and the 1990 toyota pacific champion as well as the winner of the 1993 24 hours of daytona with dan gurneys all american racers in a toyota gtp car with co drivers rocky moran and p. Super tex was the first driver to win the indianapolis 500 four times and he won seven nascar premier series races, including the 1972 daytona 500.
He also won the 2004 indianapolis 500 as a team owner for the winning driver, buddy rice. Team penske driver simon pagenaud left, signing autographs before the rolex 24hour race at daytona international speedway earlier this year, won indycars first irace on an oval saturday as he. Of all the winners in the 102year history of the indy 500, only five have won the race in. In late 1970 brawner teamed with the up and coming ex stock car driver art pollard. He earned 17 wins in the cart indy car world series, including the 1985 indianapolis 500. Douglas boles is the president of indianapolis motor speedway. Al unser 1978 is the only driver to win all three in the same season. Was the youngest winner of a british formula 3 race at age 16. Foyt 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977, al unser 1970, 1971, 1978, 1987 and rick. Despite starting at the rear, carpenter worked his way through the order to finish in. But norris ran into the back of simon pagenaud, a twotime iracing winner and the defending indy 500 champion, to take himself out of contention. Brickyard vintage racing invitational the pedigree of the brickyard vintage racing invitational june 2021 at the indianapolis motor speedway is elite, for both machines and drivers. Al unser, american automobileracing driver from a prestigious family of drivers, who won the indianapolis 500 four times 197071, 1978, 1987. Jim rathmann, born royal richard rathmann, was an american race car driver who won the indianapolis 500 in 1960.
He drove in the aaa and usac championship car series in the 19491950 and 19521963 seasons with 42 starts, including the indianapolis 500 in each of those seasons. Murphy became the first driver to win the race from the pole position, and he won with a thenrecord average speed of 94. With four career indianapolis 500 wins, no driver has won the greatest spectacle in racing more times than unser did. Foyt, al unser and rick mears earned their wins, as a current driver tries to join the club. The indianapolis 500 is an automobile race, held annually on the last weekend in may. It solidifies his spot as one of the top drivers of his generation, winning indycar s most prestigious event to go along. The 10 greatest race car drivers of all time goliath. The most successful active american driver in openwheel competition. A secondgeneration race driver, conor is the son of derek daly, who reached the pinnacle of the sport, competing in formula 1 and indy cars for well over a decade. Fewest laps completed, entire field when winner completed 500 miles. I felt like in my indycar career, there were so many times earlier on that it was sitting right there, and, shoot, including my fourth race in indycar in the indy 500. The fact that in 102 years only 19 drivers have become an indy 500 winner more. Finished runnerup in the 2018 indy lights championship.
Defending indy 500 champ will power is the only driver who said no preference. Prior to that, he was the winner in 1979, 1984 and 1988. Ribbs competed in many forms of auto racing, including the transam series, indycar. Indy 500 traditions and faqs indianapolis motor speedway. First indy car driver to complete every lap of every race during a season 2004. Sunday is the 99th running of the indianapolis 500 and one participant has a chance to join an elite group of drivers as a 4 time winner of the historic event helio castroneves has won the indy. The innaugural ontario 500 was nearly won by pollard in this car after an unbelievable performance. The indianapolis 500 is considered one of the most traditional and historical races in the world, and is also considered one of the three most significant motorsport races in the world. He finished sixth at the indycar grand prix before finishing 27th sunday. That year marked the 50th anniversary of the original 500 mile race, an event commemorated by the placing of a special gold brick, positioned by track owner tony hulman, original indy 500 winner harroun, and louis schwitzer, winner of the first automobile race a twolap, five mile event in august 1909. Takuma sato wins the 101st indianapolis 500 cbs news. The race is held at the indianapolis motor speedway, located in speedway, indiana. Danica patrick was born on march 25, 1982, in beloit, wisconsin. The 10 best postwar indy car drivers who never won the.
In his 16 indy 500 starts, he led the race nine times, for a total of 431 lapsand never won it. Paul anthony tracy born december 17, 1968 is a canadianamerican former professional auto racing driver who competed in cart, the champ car world series and the indycar series. In recognition of his achievement, foyts name and the years of his four wins 1961, 1964, 1967, and 1977 have been immortalized on a specially cast bronze brick, laid within the famed yard of bricks at the indianapolis motor speedway ims on thursday, april 25. Rick mears 29 wins, 3 titles, 4 indy 500 rick mears born 1951 is the third driver who reached fourwin record at the indianapolis 500, winning the race for the fourth time in 1991.
Mar 25, 2020 simulation legends race will match indy 500 winners, f1 champs, more. May 28, 2017 takuma sato wins the 101st indianapolis 500. During patricks inaugural indy 500, she led the race for 19 laps, marking the first time a woman ever led a lap in. Indycar has not actually raced at michigan since 2007, and. A single win at the speedway, even if it comes with a significant. While cart sanctioned the primary yearlong season of races, the indianapolis 500 itself remained under the sanctioning of usac.
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