List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders

All-time lap leaders

The Leaders Circle Award Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
  • Two hundred thirty-nine drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in 107 races.
  • Career lap leader percentage rounded to hundredths of a percent.
  • Green indicates drivers active as of most recent race.
RankDriverLaps
Led
Career
Laps Run
Career
Lap Leader
Percentage
Race
Wins
Years Won
1 Scott Dixon677Active driver12008 
2 Al Unser6444,35614.78%41970197119781987
3 Ralph DePalma6121,59438.39%11915 
4 Mario Andretti5563,04018.29%11969 
5 A. J. Foyt5554,90911.31%41961196419671977
6 Wilbur Shaw5082,01925.16%3193719391940 
7 Emerson Fittipaldi5051,78528.29%219891993 
8 Parnelli Jones4921,13043.54%11963 
9 Bill Vukovich48567671.75%219531954 
10 Bobby Unser4402,61116.85%3196819751981 
11 Michael Andretti4312,65316.25% 
12 Rick Mears4292,34218.32%41979198419881991
13 Billy Arnold41082149.94%11930 
14 Tony Kanaan3523,9518.91%12013 
15 Gordon Johncock3393,15810.73%219731982 
16 Louis Meyer3321,91617.33%3192819331936 
17 Dario Franchitti3291,94016.96%3200720102012 
18 Hélio Castroneves326Active driver42001200220092021
19 Jim Clark29868243.69%11965 
20 Bill Holland29791432.49%11949 
21 Johnny Rutherford2962,79210.60%3197419761980 
22 Rex Mays2661,38519.21% 
23 Rodger Ward2612,16012.08%219591962 
24 Mauri Rose2562,32611.01%3194119471948 
25 Dan Wheldon2351,72913.59%220052011 
26 Jimmy Murphy22090724.26%11922 
27 Tommy Milton2181,20418.11%219211923 
28 Jimmy Bryan2161,41115.31%11958 
29 Tom Sneva2082,1809.54%11983 
30 Frank Lockhart20528073.21%11926 
31 Juan Pablo Montoya1931,26315.28%220002015 
32 Arie Luyendyk1862,9576.29%219901997 
33 Jimmy Snyder18149536.57% 
34 Lee Wallard17859130.12%11951 
35 Ryan Hunter-Reay171Active driver12014 
36 Simon Pagenaud1692,3897.07%12019 
37 Danny Sullivan1621,52310.64%11985 
38 Howdy Wilcox1551,33511.61%11919 
39 Tomas Scheckter1531,6919.05% 
40 Jim Rathmann1502,3206.47%11960 
41 Ed Carpenter149Active driver 
42 Peter DePaolo14873820.05%11925 
43 Will Power145Active driver12018 
44 Marco Andretti144Active driver 
45 Dario Resta14040834.31%11916 
46 Sam Hanks1401,5668.94%11957 
47 Jules Goux13977317.98%11913 
48 George Robson13833341.44%11946 
49 Pat Flaherty13881217.00%11956 
50 Gary Bettenhausen1382,3725.82% 
51 Johnnie Parsons1311,5048.71%11950 
52 Lloyd Ruby1262,3575.35% 
53 Bobby Rahal1262,0076.28%11986 
54 Earl Cooper12393913.10% 
55 Tony Stewart12270017.43% 
56 Joe Boyer11955521.44%11924 
57 Álex Palou119Active driver 
58 Greg Ray11692012.61% 
59 René Thomas11474415.32%11914 
60 Al Unser Jr.1103,1733.47%219921994 
61 Kelly Petillo1081,2838.42%11935 
62 Wally Dallenbach Sr.1081,4487.46% 
63 Sam Hornish Jr.1071,3467.95%12006 
64 Babe Stapp10696011.04% 
65 Fred Frame1061,2818.27%11932 
66 Buddy Rice991,0479.46%12004 
67 Ted Horn941,9444.84% 
68 Pato O'Ward93Active driver 
69 Dave Lewis9338324.28% 
70 Bill Cummings931,2297.57%11934 
71 Alexander Rossi93Active driver12016 
72 Floyd Roberts9288310.42%11938 
73 Kenny Bräck8988510.06%11999 
74 Eddie Cheever Jr.892,1224.19%11998 
75 Ray Harroun8820044.00%11911 
76 Takuma Sato87Active driver220172020 
77 Bob Sweikert8682510.42%11955 
78 David Bruce-Brown8122536.00% 
79 Danny Ongais791,5275.17% 
80 Arthur Duray7720038.50% 
81 Troy Ruttman721,4724.89%11952 
82 Gil de Ferran7160111.81%12003 
83 Jack McGrath701,0946.40% 
84 Mark Donohue707489.36%11972 
85 Buddy Lazier703,0152.32%11996 
86 Josef Newgarden69Active driver120232024 
87 Frank Brisko691,3305.19% 
88 Conor Daly69Active driver 
89 Leon Duray686939.81% 
90 Ralph Hepburn681,8643.65% 
91 George Souders6740016.75%11927 
92 Eddie Sachs661,0696.17% 
93 Scott McLaughlin66Active driver 
94 Rinus VeeKay65Active driver 
95 Felix Rosenqvist61Active driver 
96 Maurício Gugelmin5939614.90% 
97 Harry Hartz579965.72% 
98 Roberto Guerrero561,7353.23% 
99 Johnny Thomson551,0445.27% 
100 James Hinchcliffe541,6563.26% 
101 Robby Gordon531,5643.39% 
102 Joe Leonard521,2654.11% 
103 Jeff Ward521,2544.15% 
104 Bruno Junqueira527347.08% 
105 Max Chilton509975.02% 
106 Deacon Litz491,5603.14% 
107 Scott Goodyear491,4603.35% 
108 Ray Keech4640011.50%11929 
109 Pat O'Connor467685.98% 
110 Davy Jones467845.86% 
111 Gil Anderson447845.61% 
112 Jimmy Gleason436176.97% 
113 Marcus Ericsson43Active driver12022 
114 Bob Burman417185.71% 
115 Jackie Stewart4035811.17% 
116 Louis Schneider398634.51%11931 
117 John Paul Jr.398834.42% 
118 Alex Tagliani391,5432.52% 
119 Teo Fabi379633.84% 
120 Bob Carey3620018% 
121 Jim Hurtubise368944.03% 
122 Cliff Bergere352,4251.44% 
123 Paul Russo351,4822.36% 
124 Bob Swanson3426712.73% 
125 Nigel Mansell3429211.64% 
126 Oriol Servià341,9921.70% 
127 Bobby Marshman336355.20% 
128 Tony Gulotta331,9891.66% 
129 Art Cross327684.17% 
130 Duke Nalon321,2842.49% 
131 Ryan Briscoe311,8401.68% 
132 Phil Shafer291,2232.37% 
133 Mark Dismore298203.54% 
134 Danica Patrick291,4042.07% 
135 Carlos Muñoz291,2002.41% 
136 Graham Rahal28Active driver 
137 Fernando Alonso273787.14% 
138 Jimmy Vasser261,2492.08% 
139 Jimmy Davies256313.96% 
140 Tony Bettenhausen241,9751.22% 
141 Lou Moore231,3041.76% 
142 A. J. Allmendinger2320011.50% 
143 Sting Ray Robb23Active driver 
144 Jacques Villeneuve226003.67%11995 
145 Raul Boesel212,2130.95% 
146 Alessandro Zampedri2019910.05% 
147 George Amick182009.00% 
148 Johnny Boyd181,4271.26% 
149 Charlie Kimball181,9100.94% 
150 Kevin Cogan171,5561.09% 
151 Johnny Aitken161948.25% 
152 Jerry Grant161,2751.25% 
153 Robbie Buhl161,2791.25% 
154 Santino Ferrucci16Active driver 
155 Vítor Meira151,6220.92% 
156 Mike Conway154763.15% 
157 Zach Veach157291.92% 
158 Colton Herta15Active driver 
159 Gaston Chevrolet144003.50%11920 
160 Ernie Triplett145592.50% 
161 Russ Snowberger131,6330.80% 
162 Josele Garza137071.84% 
163 Billy Boat131,1121.17% 
164 Justin Wilson131,4880.87% 
165 Townsend Bell131,8980.68% 
166 J. R. Hildebrand132,2020.59% 
167 Swede Savage126219.35% 
168 Felipe Giaffone129551.26% 
169 Bertrand Baguette113832.87% 
170 Ralph Mulford101,6190.62% 
171 Graham Hill103333.00%11966 
172 Alex Barron109421.06% 
173 Eddie Rickenbacker93552.53% 
174 Albert Guyot98081.11% 
175 Josef Christiaens93202.81% 
176 Louis Chevrolet94521.99% 
177 Dutch Baumann99010.00% 
178 Len Sutton97081.27% 
179 Jimmy Daywalt89990.80% 
180 Pancho Carter82,1410.37% 
181 Jim Crawford81,0430.77% 
182 Scott Pruett85921.35% 
183 Don Freeland71,3110.53% 
184 Roger McCluskey72,1550.32% 
185 Zachary Claman DeMelo71993.52% 
186 Spencer Pigot79810.71% 
187 Ira Hall64851.24% 
188 Callum Ilott6Active driver 
189 Cecil Green52172.30% 
190 Jimmy Jackson58450.59% 
191 Spencer Wishart56040.83% 
192 Steve Krisiloff51,3870.36% 
193 E. J. Viso58430.59% 
194 James Jakes55990.83% 
195 Christian Lundgaard5Active driver 
196 Fred Belcher42002.00% 
197 Cliff Durant48880.45% 
198 Mike Mosley41,6150.25% 
199 Buzz Calkins41,0560.38% 
200 Sam Schmidt41103.64% 
201 Sébastien Bourdais41,6870.24% 
202 Oliver Askew4914.40% 
203 Sage Karam41,3680.29% 
204 Kyle Larson4Active driver 
205 George Snider31,8320.16% 
206 Davey Hamilton31,7830.17% 
207 Scott Sharp32,1800.14% 
208 Bryan Herta39650.31% 
209 Adrian Fernández35830.51% 
210 Mario Moraes32111.42% 
211 Bryan Clauson33050.98% 
212 Stefan Wilson35490.55% 
213 Kyffin Simpson3Active driver 
214 Caleb Bragg22690.74% 
215 Teddy Tetzlaff23710.54% 
216 Joe Dawson24450.45%11912 
217 Robert Evans21581.27% 
218 Paul Bost2663.03% 
219 Herb Ardinger28840.23% 
220 Dan Gurney21,2040.17% 
221 Roger Rager2553.64% 
222 Don Whittington25470.37% 
223 John Andretti21,8520.11% 
224 Robby McGehee28870.23% 
225 Tora Takagi23790.53% 
226 Jaques Lazier29790.20% 
227 Rubens Barrichello22001.00% 
228 James Davison27480.27% 
229 Robert Wickens22001.00% 
230 Jimmie Johnson21931.04% 
231 Kyle Kirkwood2Active driver 
232 Jean Chassagne12850.35% 
233 Art Klein14130.24% 
234 Roscoe Sarles13540.28% 
235 Howdy Wilcox II12000.50% 
236 Fred Agabashian11,2730.08% 
237 Jack Brabham15100.20% 
238 Bobby Allison11130.88% 
239 Bill Vukovich II11,5270.07% 
240 Tim Richmond13880.26% 
241 Gordon Smiley11880.53% 
242 Scott Brayton11,9050.05% 
243 Stéphan Grégoire17600.13% 
244 Jeff Simmons16090.16% 
245 Mikhail Aleshin15240.19% 
Note Lora L. Corum*0 11924 
Floyd Davis*0 11941 
  • 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%.

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

RankYearDriverLaps
Led
Race
Percentage
Final
Pos
11912 Ralph DePalma19698.0%11
21967 Parnelli Jones17185.5%6
31987 Mario Andretti17085.0%9
41992 Michael Andretti16080.0%13
51931 Billy Arnold15577.5%19
61952 Bill Vukovich15075.0%17
72006 Dan Wheldon14874.0%4
81994 Emerson Fittipaldi14572.5%17
91947 Bill Holland14371.5%2
101972 Gary Bettenhausen13869.0%14
111977 Gordon Johncock12964.5%11
121990 Emerson Fittipaldi12864.0%3
131962 Parnelli Jones12060.0%7
141924 Earl Cooper11959.5%2
152020 Scott Dixon11155.5%2
161927 Frank Lockhart11055.0%10
171921 Ralph DePalma10854.0%12
181941 Wilbur Shaw10753.5%18
1985 Mario Andretti2
201975 Wally Dallenbach9655.2%9

Lap leader records

Most consecutive races led
Ten drivers have led in five or more consecutive* races.
YearsDriver
820132020 Will Power
720022008 Tony Kanaan
20122018 Tony Kanaan
619791984 Rick Mears
20112016 Alex Tagliani
519381946 Rex Mays
19401948 Mauri Rose
19711975 Bobby Unser
19801984 Tom Sneva
20112015 Scott Dixon
20132017 Helio Castroneves
* Rex Mays and 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 1942—1945, due to World War II

Fewest race laps led by winning entry
Seventeen entries have won despite leading only ten
percent (20 laps / 50 miles) or less of a given race.
Laps
Led
Percent
Race Led
YearDriverStart
Pos
10.5%2011 Dan Wheldon6
21.0%1912 Joe Dawson7
52.5%2023 Josef Newgarden17
94.5%2015 Juan-Pablo Montoya15
105.0%1966 Graham Hill15
116.3%1975 Bobby Unser3
136.5%1972 Mark Donohue3
2022 Marcus Ericsson5
147.0%1920 Gaston Chevrolet6
2016 Alexander Rossi11
157.5%1995 Jacques Villeneuve5
168.0%1993 Emerson Fittipaldi9
178.5%2017 Takuma Sato4
189.0%1987 Al Unser20
199.5%1928 Louis Meyer13
2006 Sam Hornish Jr.1
2010.0%2021 Hélio Castroneves8
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
YearDriverStart
Pos
Final
Pos
19698.0%1912 Ralph DePalma711
17185.5%1967 Parnelli Jones66
17085.0%1987 Mario Andretti19
16080.0%1992 Michael Andretti613
15577.5%1931 Billy Arnold1819
15075.0%1952 Bill Vukovich817

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.
YearsDriver
219221923 Jimmy Murphy
19281929 Leon Duray
19351936 Rex Mays
19401941
19541955 Jack McGrath
19641965 Jim Clark
19721973 Bobby Unser
19891990 Emerson Fittipaldi
19961997 Tony Stewart
20222023 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.
LapsPercent
Race Led
YearDriverStart
Pos
Final
Pos
16783.5%2000 Juan Pablo Montoya21
14371.5%1947 Bill Holland82
13869.0%1913 Jules Goux71
10251.0%1914 René Thomas151
9559.4%1926 Frank Lockhart201
8542.5%2002 Tomas Scheckter1026
7738.5%1914 Arthur Duray102
5226.0%2001 Hélio Castroneves111
5125.5%1927 George Souders221
Latest lead change
Races with final lead change taking
place at or within five laps of finish
LapYearWinnerPassed
2002006 Sam Hornish Jr. Marco Andretti
2011 Dan Wheldon J. R. Hildebrand
2023 Josef Newgarden Marcus Ericsson
2024 Josef Newgarden Pato O'Ward
1991912 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
1981961 A. J. Foyt Eddie Sachs
1986 Bobby Rahal Kevin Cogan
2013 Tony Kanaan Ryan Hunter-Reay
1971960 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
1961995 Jacques Villeneuve [a] Scott Goodyear
2018 Will Power Stefan Wilson
Fewest Leaders in Race
Races with three or fewer race leaders
LeadersYearWinner
21930 Billy Arnold
1965 Jim Clark
31912 Joe Dawson
1916 Dario Resta
1919 Howdy Wilcox
1938 Floyd Roberts
1940 Wilbur Shaw
1947 Mauri Rose
1950 Johnnie Parsons
1952 Troy Ruttman
1967 A. J. Foyt
1968 Bobby Unser
1990 Arie Luyendyk
1994 Al Unser Jr.
Most Lead Changes in Race
Races with twenty-five or more lead changes
Lead
Changes
YearWinner
682013 Tony Kanaan
542016 Alexander Rossi
522023 Josef Newgarden
482024 Josef Newgarden
382022 Marcus Ericsson
372015 Juan Pablo Montoya
352017 Takuma Sato
2021 Hélio Castroneves
342012 Dario Franchitti
2014 Ryan Hunter-Reay
302018 Will Power
291960 Jim Rathmann
2019 Simon Pagenaud
281923 Tommy Milton
272005 Dan Wheldon
Fewest Lead Changes in Race
Races with three or fewer lead changes
Lead
Changes
YearWinner
11930 Billy Arnold
21912 Joe Dawson
1916 Dario Resta
31919 Howdy Wilcox
1931 Louis Schneider
1949 Bill Holland

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

References

See also