List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders

All-time lap leaders

  • Two hundred fifty drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in 109 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
1 Scott Dixon 677 Active driver 1 2008  
2 Al Unser 644 4,356 14.78% 4 1970 1971 1978 1987
3 Ralph DePalma 612 1,594 38.39% 1 1915  
4 Mario Andretti 556 3,040 18.29% 1 1969  
5 A. J. Foyt 555 4,909 11.31% 4 1961 1964 1967 1977
6 Wilbur Shaw 508 2,019 25.16% 3 1937 1939 1940  
7 Emerson Fittipaldi 505 1,785 28.29% 2 1989 1993  
8 Parnelli Jones 492 1,130 43.54% 1 1963  
9 Bill Vukovich 485 676 71.75% 2 1953 1954  
10 Bobby Unser 440 2,611 16.85% 3 1968 1975 1981  
11 Michael Andretti 431 2,653 16.25%  
12 Rick Mears 429 2,342 18.32% 4 1979 1984 1988 1991
13 Billy Arnold 410 821 49.94% 1 1930  
14 Tony Kanaan 352 3,951 8.91% 1 2013  
15 Gordon Johncock 339 3,158 10.73% 2 1973 1982  
16 Louis Meyer 332 1,916 17.33% 3 1928 1933 1936  
17 Dario Franchitti 329 1,940 16.96% 3 2007 2010 2012  
18 Hélio Castroneves 326 Active driver 4 2001 2002 2009 2021
19 Jim Clark 298 682 43.69% 1 1965  
20 Bill Holland 297 914 32.49% 1 1949  
21 Johnny Rutherford 296 2,792 10.60% 3 1974 1976 1980  
22 Rex Mays 266 1,385 19.21%  
23 Rodger Ward 261 2,160 12.08% 2 1959 1962  
24 Mauri Rose 256 2,326 11.01% 3 1941 1947 1948  
25 Dan Wheldon 235 1,729 13.59% 2 2005 2011  
26 Jimmy Murphy 220 907 24.26% 1 1922  
27 Ryan Hunter-Reay 219 Active driver 1 2014  
28 Tommy Milton 218 1,204 18.11% 2 1921 1923  
29 Jimmy Bryan 216 1,411 15.31% 1 1958  
30 Tom Sneva 208 2,180 9.54% 1 1983  
31 Frank Lockhart 205 280 73.21% 1 1926  
32 Juan Pablo Montoya 193 1,263 15.28% 2 2000 2015  
33 Arie Luyendyk 186 2,957 6.29% 2 1990 1997  
34 Jimmy Snyder 181 495 36.57%  
35 Lee Wallard 178 591 30.12% 1 1951  
36 Simon Pagenaud 169 2,389 7.07% 1 2019  
37 Danny Sullivan 162 1,523 10.64% 1 1985  
38 Howdy Wilcox 155 1,335 11.61% 1 1919  
39 Tomas Scheckter 153 1,691 9.05%  
40 Jim Rathmann 150 2,320 6.47% 1 1960  
41 Ed Carpenter 150 Active driver  
42 Peter DePaolo 148 738 20.05% 1 1925  
43 Will Power 145 Active driver 1 2018  
44 Marco Andretti 144 Active driver  
45 Dario Resta 140 408 34.31% 1 1916  
46 Sam Hanks 140 1,566 8.94% 1 1957  
47 Jules Goux 139 773 17.98% 1 1913  
48 George Robson 138 333 41.44% 1 1946  
49 Pat Flaherty 138 812 17.00% 1 1956  
50 Gary Bettenhausen 138 2,372 5.82%  
51 Takuma Sato 138 Active driver 2 2017 2020  
52 Álex Palou 133 Active driver 1 2025  
53 Johnnie Parsons 131 1,504 8.71% 1 1950  
54 Lloyd Ruby 126 2,357 5.35%  
55 Bobby Rahal 126 2,007 6.28% 1 1986  
56 Earl Cooper 123 939 13.10%  
57 Tony Stewart 122 700 17.43%  
58 Joe Boyer 119 555 21.44% 1 1924  
59 Greg Ray 116 920 12.61%  
60 René Thomas 114 744 15.32% 1 1914  
61 Al Unser Jr. 110 3,173 3.47% 2 1992 1994  
62 Kelly Petillo 108 1,283 8.42% 1 1935  
63 Wally Dallenbach Sr. 108 1,448 7.46%  
64 Sam Hornish Jr. 107 1,346 7.95% 1 2006  
65 Alexander Rossi 107 Active driver 1 2016  
66 Babe Stapp 106 960 11.04%  
67 Fred Frame 106 1,281 8.27% 1 1932  
68 Buddy Rice 99 1,047 9.46% 1 2004  
69 Pato O'Ward 95 Active driver  
70 Ted Horn 94 1,944 4.84%  
71 Dave Lewis 93 383 24.28%  
72 Bill Cummings 93 1,229 7.57% 1 1934  
73 Floyd Roberts 92 883 10.42% 1 1938  
74 Kenny Bräck 89 885 10.06% 1 1999  
75 Eddie Cheever Jr. 89 2,122 4.19% 1 1998  
76 Ray Harroun 88 200 44.00% 1 1911  
77 Bob Sweikert 86 825 10.42% 1 1955  
78 Conor Daly 82 Active driver  
79 David Bruce-Brown 81 225 36.00%  
80 Danny Ongais 79 1,527 5.17%  
81 Arthur Duray 77 200 38.50%  
82 Troy Ruttman 72 1,472 4.89% 1 1952  
83 Gil de Ferran 71 601 11.81% 1 2003  
84 Jack McGrath 70 1,094 6.40%  
85 Mark Donohue 70 748 9.36% 1 1972  
86 Buddy Lazier 70 3,015 2.32% 1 1996  
87 Josef Newgarden 69 Active driver 1 2023 2024  
88 Frank Brisko 69 1,330 5.19%  
89 Leon Duray 68 693 9.81%  
90 Ralph Hepburn 68 1,864 3.65%  
91 George Souders 67 400 16.75% 1 1927  
92 Eddie Sachs 66 1,069 6.17%  
93 Scott McLaughlin 66 Active driver  
94 Rinus VeeKay 65 Active driver  
95 Felix Rosenqvist 61 Active driver  
96 Marcus Ericsson 60 Active driver 1 2022  
97 Maurício Gugelmin 59 396 14.90%  
98 Harry Hartz 57 996 5.72%  
99 Roberto Guerrero 56 1,735 3.23%  
100 Johnny Thomson 55 1,044 5.27%  
101 James Hinchcliffe 54 1,656 3.26%  
102 Robby Gordon 53 1,564 3.39%  
103 Joe Leonard 52 1,265 4.11%  
104 Jeff Ward 52 1,254 4.15%  
105 Bruno Junqueira 52 734 7.08%  
106 Max Chilton 50 997 5.02%  
107 Deacon Litz 49 1,560 3.14%  
108 Scott Goodyear 49 1,460 3.35%  
109 Ray Keech 46 400 11.50% 1 1929  
110 Pat O'Connor 46 768 5.98%  
111 Davy Jones 46 784 5.86%  
112 Gil Anderson 44 784 5.61%  
113 Jimmy Gleason 43 617 6.97%  
114 Bob Burman 41 718 5.71%  
115 Jackie Stewart 40 358 11.17%  
116 Louis Schneider 39 863 4.51% 1 1931  
117 John Paul Jr. 39 883 4.42%  
118 Alex Tagliani 39 1,543 2.52%  
119 Teo Fabi 37 963 3.84%  
120 Bob Carey 36 200 18%  
121 Jim Hurtubise 36 894 4.03%  
122 Cliff Bergere 35 2,425 1.44%  
123 Paul Russo 35 1,482 2.36%  
124 Bob Swanson 34 267 12.73%  
125 Nigel Mansell 34 292 11.64%  
126 Oriol Servià 34 1,992 1.70%  
127 Bobby Marshman 33 635 5.20%  
128 Tony Gulotta 33 1,989 1.66%  
129 Art Cross 32 768 4.17%  
130 Duke Nalon 32 1,284 2.49%  
131 Ryan Briscoe 31 1,840 1.68%  
132 Phil Shafer 29 1,223 2.37%  
133 Mark Dismore 29 820 3.54%  
134 Danica Patrick 29 1,404 2.07%  
135 Carlos Muñoz 29 1,200 2.41%  
136 Graham Rahal 28 Active driver  
137 Fernando Alonso 27 378 7.14%  
138 Jimmy Vasser 26 1,249 2.08%  
139 Jimmy Davies 25 631 3.96%  
140 Tony Bettenhausen 24 1,975 1.22%  
141 Lou Moore 23 1,304 1.76%  
142 A. J. Allmendinger 23 200 11.50%  
143 Sting Ray Robb 23 Active driver  
144 Jacques Villeneuve 22 600 3.67% 1 1995  
145 Raul Boesel 21 2,213 0.95%  
146 Alessandro Zampedri 20 199 10.05%  
147 George Amick 18 200 9.00%  
148 Johnny Boyd 18 1,427 1.26%  
149 Charlie Kimball 18 1,910 0.94%  
150 Kevin Cogan 17 1,556 1.09%  
151 Devlin DeFrancesco 17 Active driver  
152 Johnny Aitken 16 194 8.25%  
153 Jerry Grant 16 1,275 1.25%  
154 Robbie Buhl 16 1,279 1.25%  
155 Santino Ferrucci 16 Active driver  
156 Vítor Meira 15 1,622 0.92%  
157 Mike Conway 15 476 3.15%  
158 Zach Veach 15 729 1.92%  
159 Colton Herta 15 Active driver  
160 Gaston Chevrolet 14 400 3.50% 1 1920  
161 Ernie Triplett 14 559 2.50%  
162 Russ Snowberger 13 1,633 0.80%  
163 Josele Garza 13 707 1.84%  
164 Billy Boat 13 1,112 1.17%  
165 Justin Wilson 13 1,488 0.87%  
166 Townsend Bell 13 1,898 0.68%  
167 J. R. Hildebrand 13 2,202 0.59%  
168 Swede Savage 12 62 19.35%  
169 Felipe Giaffone 12 955 1.26%  
170 Bertrand Baguette 11 383 2.87%  
171 Ralph Mulford 10 1,619 0.62%  
172 Graham Hill 10 333 3.00% 1 1966  
173 Alex Barron 10 942 1.06%  
174 Eddie Rickenbacker 9 355 2.53%  
175 Albert Guyot 9 808 1.11%  
176 Josef Christiaens 9 320 2.81%  
177 Louis Chevrolet 9 452 1.99%  
178 Dutch Baumann 9 90 10.00%  
179 Len Sutton 9 708 1.27%  
180 Jimmy Daywalt 8 999 0.80%  
181 Pancho Carter 8 2,141 0.37%  
182 Jim Crawford 8 1,043 0.77%  
183 Scott Pruett 8 592 1.35%  
184 Christian Rasmussen 8 Active driver  
185 Robert Shwartzman 8 Active driver  
186 Don Freeland 7 1,311 0.53%  
187 Roger McCluskey 7 2,155 0.32%  
188 Zachary Claman DeMelo 7 199 3.52%  
189 Spencer Pigot 7 981 0.71%  
190 Ira Hall 6 485 1.24%  
191 Callum Ilott 6 Active driver  
192 Cecil Green 5 217 2.30%  
193 Jimmy Jackson 5 845 0.59%  
194 Spencer Wishart 5 604 0.83%  
195 Steve Krisiloff 5 1,387 0.36%  
196 E. J. Viso 5 843 0.59%  
197 James Jakes 5 599 0.83%  
198 Christian Lundgaard 5 Active driver  
199 Fred Belcher 4 200 2.00%  
200 Cliff Durant 4 888 0.45%  
201 Mike Mosley 4 1,615 0.25%  
202 Buzz Calkins 4 1,056 0.38%  
203 Sam Schmidt 4 110 3.64%  
204 Sébastien Bourdais 4 1,687 0.24%  
205 Oliver Askew 4 91 4.40%  
206 Sage Karam 4 1,368 0.29%  
207 Kyle Larson 4 Active driver  
208 Kyle Kirkwood 4 Active driver  
209 George Snider 3 1,832 0.16%  
210 Davey Hamilton 3 1,783 0.17%  
211 Scott Sharp 3 2,180 0.14%  
212 Bryan Herta 3 965 0.31%  
213 Adrian Fernández 3 583 0.51%  
214 Mario Moraes 3 211 1.42%  
215 Bryan Clauson 3 305 0.98%  
216 Stefan Wilson 3 549 0.55%  
217 Kyffin Simpson 3 Active driver  
218 Jack Harvey 3 Active driver  
219 Caleb Bragg 2 269 0.74%  
220 Teddy Tetzlaff 2 371 0.54%  
221 Joe Dawson 2 445 0.45% 1 1912  
222 Robert Evans 2 158 1.27%  
223 Paul Bost 2 66 3.03%  
224 Herb Ardinger 2 884 0.23%  
225 Dan Gurney 2 1,204 0.17%  
226 Roger Rager 2 55 3.64%  
227 Don Whittington 2 547 0.37%  
228 John Andretti 2 1,852 0.11%  
229 Robby McGehee 2 887 0.23%  
230 Tora Takagi 2 379 0.53%  
231 Jaques Lazier 2 979 0.20%  
232 Rubens Barrichello 2 200 1.00%  
233 James Davison 2 748 0.27%  
234 Robert Wickens 2 200 1.00%  
235 Jimmie Johnson 2 193 1.04%  
236 David Malukas 2 Active driver  
237 Jean Chassagne 1 285 0.35%  
238 Art Klein 1 413 0.24%  
239 Roscoe Sarles 1 354 0.28%  
240 Howdy Wilcox II 1 200 0.50%  
241 Fred Agabashian 1 1,273 0.08%  
242 Jack Brabham 1 510 0.20%  
243 Bobby Allison 1 113 0.88%  
244 Bill Vukovich II 1 1,527 0.07%  
245 Tim Richmond 1 388 0.26%  
246 Gordon Smiley 1 188 0.53%  
247 Scott Brayton 1 1,905 0.05%  
248 Stéphan Grégoire 1 760 0.13%  
249 Jeff Simmons 1 609 0.16%  
250 Mikhail Aleshin 1 524 0.19%  
Note Lora L. Corum* 0   1 1924  
Floyd Davis* 0   1 1941  
  • Lora L. Corum and 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 seven 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
1911 Ray Harroun 88 44.0% Yes
1912 Ralph DePalma 196 98.0% No
1913 Jules Goux 138 69.0% Yes
1914 René Thomas 102 51.0% Yes
1915 Ralph DePalma 132 66.0% Yes
1916 Dario Resta 103 85.8% Yes
1919 Howdy Wilcox 98 49.0% Yes
1920 Joe Boyer 93 46.5% No
1921 Ralph DePalma 108 54.0% No
1922 Jimmy Murphy 153 76.5% Yes
1923 Tommy Milton 128 64.0% Yes
1924 Earl Cooper 119 59.5% No
1925 Peter DePaolo 115 57.5% Yes
1926 Frank Lockhart 95 59.4% Yes
1927 110 55.0% No
1928 Leon Duray 64 32.0% No
1929 Louis Meyer 65 32.5% No
1930 Billy Arnold 198 99.0% Yes
1931 155 77.5% No
1932 Fred Frame 58 29.0% Yes
1933 Louis Meyer 71 35.5% Yes
1934 Frank Brisko 69 29.5% No
1935 Kelly Petillo 102 51.0% Yes
1936 Louis Meyer 96 48.0% Yes
1937 Wilbur Shaw 131 65.5% Yes
1938 Floyd Roberts 92 46.0% Yes
Jimmy Snyder No
1939 Louis Meyer 79 39.5% No
1940 Wilbur Shaw 136 68.0% Yes
1941 107 53.5% No
1946 George Robson 138 69.0% Yes
1947 Bill Holland 143 71.5% No
1948 Mauri Rose 81 40.5% Yes
1949 Bill Holland 146 73.0% Yes
1950 Johnnie Parsons 115 83.3% Yes
1951 Lee Wallard 159 79.5% Yes
1952 Bill Vukovich 150 75.0% No
1953 195 97.5% Yes
1954 90 45.0% Yes
1955 Bob Sweikert 86 43.0% Yes
1956 Pat Flaherty 127 63.5% Yes
1957 Sam Hanks 136 68.0% Yes
1958 Jimmy Bryan 139 69.5% Yes
1959 Rodger Ward 130 65.0% Yes
1960 Jim Rathmann 100 50.0% Yes
1961 A.J. Foyt 71 35.5% Yes
1962 Parnelli Jones 120 60.0% No
1963 167 83.5% Yes
1964 A.J. Foyt 146 73.0% Yes
1965 Jim Clark 190 95.0% Yes
1966 Lloyd Ruby 68 34.0% No
1967 Parnelli Jones 171 85.5% No
1968 Bobby Unser 127 63.5% Yes
1969 Mario Andretti 116 58.0% Yes
1970 Al Unser 190 95.0% Yes
1971 103 51.5% Yes
1972 Gary Bettenhausen 138 69.0% No
1973 Gordon Johncock 64 48.1% Yes
1974 Johnny Rutherford 122 61.0% Yes
1975 Wally Dallenbach 96 55.2% No
1976 Johnny Rutherford 48 47.1% Yes
1977 Gordon Johncock 129 64.5% No
1978 Al Unser 121 60.5% Yes
1979 Bobby Unser 89 44.5% No
1980 Johnny Rutherford 118 59.0% Yes
1981 Bobby Unser 89 44.5% Yes
1982 Rick Mears 77 38.5% No
1983 Tom Sneva 98 49.0% Yes
1984 Rick Mears 119 59.5% Yes
1985 Mario Andretti 107 53.5% No
1986 Rick Mears 76 38.0% No
1987 Mario Andretti 170 85.0% No
1988 Danny Sullivan 91 45.5% No
1989 Emerson Fittipaldi 158 79.0% Yes
1990 128 64.0% No
1991 Michael Andretti 97 48.5% No
1992 160 80.0% No
1993 Mario Andretti 72 36.0% No
1994 Emerson Fittipaldi 145 72.5% No
1995 Maurício Gugelmin 59 29.5% No
1996 Roberto Guerrero 47 23.5% No
1997 Tony Stewart 64 32.0% No
1998 Eddie Cheever 76 38.0% Yes
1999 Kenny Bräck 66 33.0% Yes
2000 Juan Pablo Montoya 167 83.5% Yes
2001 Hélio Castroneves 52 26.0% Yes
2002 Tomas Scheckter 85 42.5% No
2003 63 31.5% No
2004 Buddy Rice 91 50.5% Yes
2005 Sam Hornish Jr. 77 38.5% No
2006 Dan Wheldon 148 74.0% No
2007 Tony Kanaan 83 50.0% No
2008 Scott Dixon 115 57.5% Yes
2009 73 36.5% No
2010 Dario Franchitti 155 77.5% Yes
2011 Scott Dixon 73 36.5% No
2012 Marco Andretti 59 29.5% No
2013 Ed Carpenter 37 18.5% No
2014 Ryan Hunter-Reay 56 28.0% Yes
2015 Scott Dixon 84 42.0% No
2016 Ryan Hunter-Reay 52 26.0% No
2017 Max Chilton 50 25.0% No
2018 Ed Carpenter 65 32.5% No
2019 Simon Pagenaud 116 58.0% Yes
2020 Scott Dixon 111 55.5% No
2021 Conor Daly 40 20.0% No
2022 Scott Dixon 95 47.5% No
2023 Pato O'Ward 39 19.5% No
2024 Scott McLaughlin 66 33.0% No
2025 Takuma Sato 51 25.5% 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 Ralph DePalma 196 98.0% 11
2 1967 Parnelli Jones 171 85.5% 6
3 1987 Mario Andretti 170 85.0% 9
4 1992 Michael Andretti 160 80.0% 13
5 1931 Billy Arnold 155 77.5% 19
6 1952 Bill Vukovich 150 75.0% 17
7 2006 Dan Wheldon 148 74.0% 4
8 1994 Emerson Fittipaldi 145 72.5% 17
9 1947 Bill Holland 143 71.5% 2
10 1972 Gary Bettenhausen 138 69.0% 14
11 1977 Gordon Johncock 129 64.5% 11
12 1990 Emerson Fittipaldi 128 64.0% 3
13 1962 Parnelli Jones 120 60.0% 7
14 1924 Earl Cooper 119 59.5% 2
15 2020 Scott Dixon 111 55.5% 2
16 1927 Frank Lockhart 110 55.0% 10
17 1921 Ralph DePalma 108 54.0% 12
18 1941 Wilbur Shaw 107 53.5% 18
1985 Mario Andretti 2
20 1975 Wally Dallenbach 96 55.2% 9

Lap leader records

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 Juan Pablo Montoya 2 1
143 71.5% 1947 Bill Holland 8 2
138 69.0% 1913 Jules Goux 7 1
102 51.0% 1914 René Thomas 15 1
95 59.4% 1926 Frank Lockhart 20 1
85 42.5% 2002 Tomas Scheckter 10 26
77 38.5% 1914 Arthur Duray 10 2
52 26.0% 2001 Hélio Castroneves 11 1
51 25.5% 1927 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 Sam Hornish Jr. Marco Andretti
2011 Dan Wheldon J. R. Hildebrand
2023 Josef Newgarden Marcus Ericsson
2024 Josef Newgarden Pato O'Ward
199 1912 Joe Dawson Ralph DePalma
1989 Emerson Fittipaldi Al Unser Jr.
1999 Kenny Bräck Robby Gordon
2012 Dario Franchitti Scott Dixon
2019 Simon Pagenaud Alexander Rossi
2021 Hélio Castroneves Álex Palou
198 1961 A. J. Foyt Eddie Sachs
1986 Bobby Rahal Kevin Cogan
2013 Tony Kanaan Ryan Hunter-Reay
197 1960 Jim Rathmann Rodger Ward
1967 A.J. Foyt Parnelli Jones
2014 Ryan Hunter-Reay Hélio Castroneves
2015 Juan Pablo Montoya Will Power
2016 Alexander Rossi Carlos Muñoz
196 1995 Jacques Villeneuve [a] Scott Goodyear
2018 Will Power 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