Who are the 10 best Indy 500 drivers of all time?

The 2025 INDYCAR season has already delivered some stellar moments. That stated, the season’s greatest race occurs Sunday with the extremely anticipated Indianapolis 500. 

No race is larger, and as a deal with, Indiana followers are going to have a chance to partake in a number of large occasions with the NBA‘s Indiana Pacers taking part in the third sport of the Japanese Convention Finals at residence later that day. 

The primary occasion takes place on the storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway (coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET on FOX and streaming on the FOX Sports app). Forward of all of the motion, we have rounded up the very best drivers to grace the course.

Listed here are the ten greatest Indianapolis 500 drivers of all time.

10 greatest Indy 500 drivers of all time

10. Dario Franchitti

One of many shorter Indy 500 careers on this record, Franchitti managed to compile some spectacular outcomes. He earned three victories on the observe between 2007-2012. Furthermore, he added three different high 10 finishes to his title regardless of simply 10 races during which he participated. His most spectacular stretch was when he claimed six high seven finishes in seven makes an attempt from 2005 and 2012.

9. Arie Luyendyk

Luyendyk noticed some particular success in Indy, successful there twice, but it surely was a combined bag general. He raced within the occasion yearly from 1985 to 2002 and withdrew in 2023 however completed outdoors the highest 10 in 10 totally different races. Nonetheless, few can match the success he discovered, ending within the high 10 seven totally different occasions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

8. Louis Meyer

The primary three-time winner within the race’s historical past, Meyer is without doubt one of the high racers who is not talked about practically sufficient. He had a very exceptional race in 1936, turning into simply the second racer in historical past — and final — to win the race from a beginning place of twenty eighth or decrease. Meyer grabbed first and second, respectively, in his first two tries in Indianapolis.

7. Bobby Unser 

It is not the way you begin, it is the way you end. By no means has that been extra true than with Unser, who had only one high 10 end in his first 4 tries at Indy. Nevertheless, in his final 4 begins, he had three high six finishes, together with successful the occasion on his final time on the observe in 1981. Unser would ultimately win the Indy 500 thrice (1968, 1975 and 1981).

6. Johnny Rutherford

One other racer with three victories, Rutherford claimed three wins between 1974 and 1980. Rutherford had a little bit of a sluggish begin to this race, ending 18th or decrease in every of his first 9 occasions on the observe. He then turned in 4 high 10 finishes, together with successful in 1974 and 1976 and grabbing second in 1975. 

5. Wilbur Shaw

Pretty much as good as Rutherford’s three-year stretch was, Shaw one-ups him with a bonkers four-year run. From 1937 to 1940, he positioned first, second, first and first. A run like that routinely vaults you into the highest 5 within the historical past of this race. Exterior that four-year stretch, it was very a lot a combined bag for Shaw, however you can not overlook simply how dominant he was early on, incomes three first-place finishes.

The primary of three drivers tied for probably the most wins (4) on the Indy 500, Castroneves earned his most up-to-date victory in 2021, whereas his earlier three victories got here between 2001 and 2009. He is additionally considered one of simply 5 drivers to say back-to-back Indy 500 victories, doing so in 2001 and 2002. Maybe probably the most exceptional a part of his driving profession at IMS is the truth that he owns the document for the longest span between his first and final win — 20 years.

3. Al Unser Sr.

Some of the fascinating racers on the record, Unser earned two wins on the Indy 500 inside three years, successful in 1992 and 1994. Most spectacular, although, he positioned eighth in between. A really incredible stretch. Earlier than 1992, he had completed fourth in back-to-back years in 1990 and 1991. Stretch it out extra and Unser claimed seven high 5 finishes in 9 years.

2. A.J. Foyt

The second driver to have 4 Indy 500 victories, Foyt is undoubtedly deserving of one of many high spots within the course’s historical past. Furthermore, Foyt’s historical past is etched in stone as the primary four-time winner within the race’s historical past. Most spectacular about his profession in Indy, although, is that Foyt has probably the most begins there of any driver (35), together with racing in each single one from 1958 to 1992.

1. Rick Mears

The third driver tied for probably the most wins at IMS, Mears has dominated in Indy. He has earned a document six pole positions on the occasion, beginning 11 occasions on the entrance row, with six of these occasions coming consecutively — each of the latter two a document on the observe. He’s additionally considered one of simply 12 racers to earn back-to-back pole positions. 

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