List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders

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Indianapolis 500-Mile Race all-time lap leaders

File:LeadersCircleAward-Indy500.JPG
The Leaders Circle Award Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Two hundred and three drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in ninety-five 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 United States Al Unser 644 4,356 14.78% 4 1970 1971 1978 1987
2 United StatesRalph DePalma 612 1,594 38.39% 1 1915  
3 United States Mario Andretti 556 3,040 18.29% 1 1969  
4 United States A. J. Foyt 555 4,909 11.31% 4 1961 1964 1967 1977
5 United States Wilbur Shaw 508 2,019 25.16% 3 1937 1939 1940  
6 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 505 1,785 28.29% 2 1989 1993  
7 United States Parnelli Jones 492 1,130 43.54% 1 1963  
8 United States Bill Vukovich 485 676 71.75% 2 1953 1954  
9 United States Bobby Unser 466 2,611 16.85% 3 1968 1975 1981  
10 New Zealand Scott Dixon 434 Active driver 1 2008  
11 United States Michael Andretti 431 2,653 16.25%  
12 United States Rick Mears 429 2,342 18.32% 4 1979 1984 1988 1991
13 United States Billy Arnold 410 821 49.94% 1 1930  
14 United States Gordon Johncock 406 3,158 10.73% 2 1973 1982  
15 United States Louis Meyer 332 1,916 17.33% 3 1928 1933 1936  
16 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti 329 1,940 16.96% 3 2007 2010 2012  
17 United Kingdom Jim Clark 298 682 43.69% 1 1965  
18 United States Bill Holland 297 914 32.49% 1 1949  
19 United States Johnny Rutherford 296 2,770 10.69% 3 1974 1976 1980  
20 Brazil Tony Kanaan 290 Active driver 1 2013  
21 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 272 Active driver 3 2001 2002 2009  
22 United States Rex Mays 266 1,385 19.21%  
23 United States Rodger Ward 261 2,160 12.08% 2 1959 1962  
24 United States Mauri Rose 256 2,326 11.01% 3 1941 1947 1948  
25 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon 235 1,129 20.73% 2 2005 2011  
26 United States Jimmy Murphy 220 907 24.26% 1 1922  
27 United States Tommy Milton 218 1,204 18.11% 2 1921 1923  
28 United States Jimmy Bryan 216 1,411 15.31% 1 1958  
29 United States Tom Sneva 208 2,180 9.54% 1 1983  
30 United States Frank Lockhart 205 280 73.21% 1 1926  
31 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 192 Active driver 2 2000 2015  
32 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 187 2,957 6.32% 2 1990 1997  
33 United States Jimmy Snyder 181 495 36.57%  
34 United States Lee Wallard 178 591 30.12% 1 1951  
35 United States Danny Sullivan 162 1,523 10.64% 1 1985  
36 United States Howdy Wilcox 155 1,335 11.61% 1 1919  
37 United States Jim Rathmann 153 2,320 6.59% 1 1960  
38 South Africa Tomas Scheckter 153 1,691 9.05%  
39 United States Peter DePaolo 152 738 20.60% 1 1925  
40 United States Marco Andretti 141 Active driver  
41 United KingdomDario Resta 140 407 34.40% 1 1916  
42 United States Sam Hanks 140 1,566 8.94% 1 1957  
43 France Jules Goux 139 773 17.98% 1 1913  
44 United States2 George Robson 138 333 41.44% 1 1946  
45 United States Pat Flaherty 138 812 17.00% 1 1956  
46 United States Gary Bettenhausen 138 2,372 5.82%  
47 United States Johnnie Parsons 131 1,504 8.71% 1 1950  
48 United States Lloyd Ruby 126 2,357 5.35%  
49 United States Bobby Rahal 124 2,007 6.18% 1 1986  
50 United States Earl Cooper 123 941 13.07%  
51 United States Tony Stewart 122 700 17.43%  
52 United States Joe Boyer 118 536 22.01% 1 1924  
53 United States Greg Ray 116 920 12.61%  
54 France René Thomas 114 744 15.32% 1 1914  
55 United States Al Unser Jr. 110 3,173 3.47% 2 1992 1994  
56 United States Kelly Petillo 108 1,283 8.42% 1 1935  
57 United States Wally Dallenbach Sr. 108 1,448 7.46%  
58 United States Sam Hornish Jr. 107 1,346 7.95% 1 2006  
59 United States Babe Stapp 106 960 11.04%  
60 United States Fred Frame 106 1,281 8.27% 1 1932  
61 United States Buddy Rice 99 Active driver 1 2004  
62 United States Ted Horn 94 1,944 4.84%  
63 United States Dave Lewis 93 384 24.22%  
64 United States Bill Cummings 93 1,229 7.57% 1 1934  
65 United States Floyd Roberts 92 883 10.42% 1 1938  
66 Sweden Kenny Bräck 89 885 10.06% 1 1999  
67 United States Eddie Cheever, Jr. 89 2,122 4.19% 1 1998  
68 United States Ray Harroun 88 200 44.00% 1 1911  
69 United States Bob Sweikert 86 825 10.42% 1 1955  
70 United States Ryan Hunter-Reay 82 Active driver 1 2014  
71 United States David L. Bruce-Brown 81 224 36.16%  
72 United States Danny Ongais 79 1,527 5.17%  
73 Belgium Arthur Duray 77 200 38.50%  
74 Brazil3 Gil de Ferran 71 601 11.81% 1 2003  
75 United States Jack McGrath 70 1,094 6.40%  
76 United States Mark Donohue 70     1 1972  
77 United States Buddy Lazier 70     1 1996  
78 United States Frank Brisko 69      
79 United States Troy Ruttman 69     1 1952  
80 United States Ed Carpenter 69      
81 United States Leon Duray 68      
82 United States Ralph Hepburn 68      
83 United States George Souders 67     1 1927  
84 United States Eddie Sachs 66      
85 Australia Will Power 66      
86 Brazil Maurício Gugelmin 59      
87 United States Harry Hartz 57      
88 Colombia Roberto Guerrero 56      
89 United States Johnny Thomson 55      
90 United States Joe Leonard 52      
91 United States Jeff Ward 52      
92 United States Robby Gordon 52      
93 Brazil Bruno Junqueira 52      
94 Canada Scott Goodyear 50      
95 United States Deacon Litz 49      
96 United States Ray Keech 46     1 1929  
97 United States Pat O'Connor 46      
98 United States Davy Jones 46      
99 United States Jimmy Gleason 43      
100 Norway Gil Anderson 41      
101 United States Bob Burman 41      
102 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 40      
103 United States Louis Schneider 39      
104 United States John Paul, Jr. 39      
105 Italy Teo Fabi 37      
106 United States Bob Carey 36      
107 United States Jim Hurtubise 36      
108 United States Cliff Bergere 35      
109 United States Paul Russo 35      
110 France Simon Pagenaud 35      
111 United States Bob Swanson 34      
112 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 34      
113 United States Bobby Marshman 33      
114 United States Tony Gulotta 33      
115 United States Art Cross 32      
116 United States Duke Nalon 32      
117 Japan Takuma Sato 31      
118 Australia Ryan Briscoe 30      
119 United States Phil Shafer 29      
120 United States Mark Dismore 29      
121 United States Danica Patrick 29      
122 Canada Alex Tagliani 28      
123 Canada Jacques Villeneuve 26     1 1995  
124 United States Jimmy Vasser 26      
125 Canada James Hinchcliffe 26      
126 United States Jimmy Davies 25      
127 United States Tony Bettenhausen 24      
128 United States Lou Moore 23      
129 United States A. J. Allmendinger 23      
130 Brazil Raul Boesel 21      
131 Italy Alessandro Zampedri 20      
132 United States George Amick 18      
133 United States Johnny Boyd 18      
134 Spain Oriol Servià 18      
135 United States Kevin Cogan 17      
136 United States Johnny Aitken 16      
137 United States Jerry Grant 16      
138 United States Robbie Buhl 16      
139 Brazil Vitor Meira 15      
140 United Kingdom Mike Conway 15      
141 Colombia Carlos Muñoz 15      
142 United States3 Gaston Chevrolet 14     1 1920  
143 United States Ernie Triplett 14      
144 United States Russ Snowberger 13      
145 Mexico Josele Garza 13      
146 United States Billy Boat 13      
147 United Kingdom Justin Wilson 13      
148 United States Charlie Kimball 13      
149 United States Swede Savage 12      
150 Brazil Felipe Giaffone 12      
151 Belgium Bertrand Baguette 11      
152 United States Ralph Mulford 10      
153 United States Alex Barron 10      
154 United States Eddie Rickenbacker 9      
155 France Albert Guyot 9      
156 Belgium Josef Christiaens 9      
157 United States4 Louis Chevrolet 9      
158 United States Dutch Bauman 9      
159 United Kingdom Graham Hill 9     1 1966  
160 United States Len Sutton 9      
161 United States Jimmy Daywalt 8      
162 United States Pancho Carter 8      
163 United Kingdom Jim Crawford 8      
164 United States Scott Pruett 8      
165 United States Don Freeland 7      
166 United States Roger McCluskey 7      
167 United States J. R. Hildebrand 7      
168 United States Ira Hall 6      
169 United States Graham Rahal 6      
170 United States Cecil Green 5      
171 United States Jimmy Jackson 5      
172 United States Spencer Wishart 5      
173 Venezuela E. J. Viso 5      
174 United Kingdom James Jakes 5      
175 United States Fred Belcher 4      
176 United States Cliff Durant 4      
177 United States Mike Mosley 4      
178 United States Buzz Calkins 4      
179 United States Sam Schmidt 4      
180 United States George Snider 3      
181 United States Davey Hamilton 3      
182 United States Scott Sharp 3      
183 United States Bryan Herta 3      
184 Mexico Adrian Fernández 3      
185 Brazil Mario Moraes 3      
186 United States Caleb Bragg 2      
187 United States Teddy Tetzlaff 2      
188 United States Joe Dawson 2     1 1912  
189 United States Robert Evans 2      
190 United States Paul Bost 2      
191 United States Herb Ardinger 2      
192 United States Dan Gurney 2      
193 United States Roger Rager 2      
194 United States Don Whittington 2      
195 United States John Andretti 2      
196 United States Robby McGehee 2      
197 Japan Tora Takagi 2      
198 United States Jaques Lazier 2      
199 Brazil Rubens Barrichello 2      
200 France Jean Chassagne 1      
201 United States Art Klein 1      
202 United States Roscoe Sarles 1      
203 United States Howdy Wilcox II 1      
204 United States Fred Agabashian 1      
205 Australia Jack Brabham 1      
206 United States Bobby Allison 1      
207 United States Bill Vukovich II 1      
208 United States Tim Richmond 1      
209 United States Gordon Smiley 1      
210 United States Scott Brayton 1      
211 France Stephan Gregoire 1      
212 United States Jeff Simmons 1      
213 United States Townsend Bell 1      
214 Russia Mikhail Aleshin 1      
Note United States Lora L. Corum* 0   1 1924  
United States Floyd Davis* 0   1 1941  
* 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-six of ninety-eight Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by the driver leading the most laps, 57.14%.

Year Leader, Most Laps Laps
Led
Percentage
Race Led
Won
Race
1911 United States Ray Harroun 88 44.0% Yes
1912 United States1 Ralph DePalma 196 98.0% No
1913 France Jules Goux 138 69.0% Yes
1914 France René Thomas 102 51.0% Yes
1915 United States1 Ralph DePalma 132 66.0% Yes
1916 United Kingdom1 Dario Resta 103 51.5% Yes
1919 United States Howdy Wilcox 98 49.0% Yes
1920 United States Joe Boyer 93 46.5% No
1921 United States1 Ralph DePalma 108 54.0% No
1922 United States Jimmy Murphy 153 76.5% Yes
1923 United States Tommy Milton 128 64.0% Yes
1924 United States Earl Cooper 119 59.5% No
1925 United States Peter DePaolo 115 57.5% Yes
1926 United States Frank Lockhart 95 59.4% Yes
1927 110 55.0% No
1928 United States Leon Duray 64 32.0% No
1929 United States Louis Meyer 65 32.5% No
1930 United States Billy Arnold 198 99.0% Yes
1931 155 77.5% No
1932 United States Fred Frame 58 29.0% Yes
1933 United States Louis Meyer 71 35.5% Yes
1934 United States Frank Brisko 69 29.5% No
1935 United States Kelly Petillo 102 51.0% Yes
1936 United States Louis Meyer 96 48.0% Yes
1937 United States Wilbur Shaw 131 65.5% Yes
1938 United States Floyd Roberts 92 46.0% Yes
United States Jimmy Snyder No
1939 United States Louis Meyer 79 39.5% No
1940 United States Wilbur Shaw 136 68.0% Yes
1941 107 53.5% No
1946 United States2 George Robson 138 69.0% Yes
1947 United States Bill Holland 143 71.5% No
1948 United States Mauri Rose 81 40.5% Yes
1949 United States Bill Holland 146 83.0% Yes
1950 United States Johnnie Parsons 177 88.5% Yes
1951 United States Lee Wallard 159 79.5% Yes
1952 United States Bill Vukovich 150 75.0% No
1953 195 97.5% Yes
1954 90 45.0% Yes
1955 United States Bob Sweikert 86 43.0% Yes
1956 United States Pat Flaherty 127 63.5% Yes
1957 United States Sam Hanks 136 68.0% Yes
1958 United States Jimmy Bryan 139 69.5% Yes
1959 United States Rodger Ward 130 65.0% Yes
1960 United States Jim Rathmann 100 50.0% Yes
1961 United States A.J. Foyt 71 35.5% Yes
1962 United States Parnelli Jones 120 60.0% No
1963 167 83.5% Yes
1964 United States A.J. Foyt 146 73.0% Yes
1965 United Kingdom Jim Clark 190 95.0% Yes
1966 United States Lloyd Ruby 68 34.0% No
1967 United States Parnelli Jones 171 85.5% No
1968 United States Bobby Unser 127 63.5% Yes
1969 United States1 Mario Andretti 116 58.0% Yes
1970 United States Al Unser 190 95.0% Yes
1971 103 51.5% Yes
1972 United States Gary Bettenhausen 138 69.0% No
1973 United States Gordon Johncock 64 48.1% Yes
1974 United States Johnny Rutherford 122 47.0% Yes
1975 United States Wally Dallenbach 96 48.0% No
1976 United States Johnny Rutherford 48 73.0% Yes
1977 United States Gordon Johncock 129 64.5% No
1978 United States Al Unser 121 60.5% Yes
1979 United States Bobby Unser 89 44.5% No
1980 United States Johnny Rutherford 118 59.0% Yes
1981 United States Bobby Unser 89 44.5% Yes
1982 United States Rick Mears 77 38.5% No
1983 United States Tom Sneva 98 49.0% Yes
1984 United States Rick Mears 119 59.5% Yes
1985 United States1 Mario Andretti 107 53.5% No
1986 United States Rick Mears 76 38.0% No
1987 United States1 Mario Andretti 170 85.0% No
1988 United States Danny Sullivan 91 45.5% No
1989 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 158 79.0% Yes
1990 128 64.0% No
1991 United States Michael Andretti 97 48.5% No
1992 160 80.0% No
1993 United States1 Mario Andretti 72 36.0% No
1994 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 145 72.5% No
1995 Brazil Maurício Gugelmin 59 29.5% No
1996 Colombia Roberto Guerrero 47 23.5% No
1997 United States Tony Stewart 64 32.0% No
1998 United States Eddie Cheever 76 38.0% Yes
1999 Sweden Kenny Bräck 66 33.0% Yes
2000 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 167 83.5% Yes
2001 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 52 26.0% Yes
2002 South Africa Tomas Scheckter 85 42.5% No
2003 63 31.5% No
2004 United States Buddy Rice 91 50.5% Yes
2005 United States Sam Hornish, Jr. 77 38.5% No
2006 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon 148 74.0% No
2007 Brazil Tony Kanaan 83 41.5% No
2008 New Zealand Scott Dixon 115 57.5% Yes
2009 73 36.5% No
2010 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti 155 77.5% Yes
2011 New Zealand Scott Dixon 73 36.5% No
2012 United States Marco Andretti 59 29.5% No
2013 United States Ed Carpenter 37 18.5% No
2014 United States Ryan Hunter-Reay 56 28.0% Yes
2015 New Zealand Scott Dixon 84 42.0% No

50%+ Race Laps Led, non-winning entries

Nineteen separate entries in equal years, driven by fifteen drivers, have failed to win despite leading over half a given race's completed laps.

Rank Year Driver Laps
Led
Race
Percentage
Final
Pos
1 1912 Italy 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 1927 United States Frank Lockhart 110 55.0% 10
16 1921 United States Ralph DePalma 108 54.0% 12
17 1941 United States Wilbur Shaw 107 53.5% 18
1985 United States Mario Andretti 2
19 1975 United States Wally Dallenbach 96 55.2% 9

Notes

1 Italy Italian-born
2 United Kingdom British-born
3 France French-born
4 Switzerland Swiss-born

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 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
199 1912 United States Joe Dawson Italy* 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
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 Helio Castroneves
2015 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Australia Will Power
196 1995 Canada Jacques Villeneuve** Canada Scott Goodyear**
* DePalma became a U.S. citizen in 1920.
** Scoring for lead position changed, without
on-track overtake occurring, due to official
disqualification of Goodyear after lap 195.

Autolite Pacemakers 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, and driver who had led at least one lap during 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.

References