List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders

Indianapolis 500-Mile Race all-time lap leaders

The Leaders Circle Award Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Two hundred twenty-seven drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in 102 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
1United States Al Unser6444,35614.78%41970197119781987
2United StatesRalph DePalma6121,59438.39%11915 
3United StatesMario Andretti5563,04018.29%11969 
4United States A. J. Foyt5554,90911.31%41961196419671977
5United States Wilbur Shaw5082,01925.16%3193719391940 
6Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi5051,78528.29%219891993 
7United States Parnelli Jones4921,13043.54%11963 
8United States Bill Vukovich48567671.75%219531954 
9United States Bobby Unser4402,61116.85%3196819751981 
10New Zealand Scott Dixon439Active driver12008 
11United States Michael Andretti4312,65316.25% 
12United States Rick Mears4292,34218.32%41979198419881991
13United States Billy Arnold41082149.94%11930 
14Brazil Tony Kanaan346Active driver12013 
15United States Gordon Johncock3393,15810.73%219731982 
16United States Louis Meyer3321,91617.33%3192819331936 
17United Kingdom Dario Franchitti3291,94016.96%3200720102012 
18Brazil Hélio Castroneves305Active driver3200120022009 
19United Kingdom Jim Clark29868243.69%11965 
20United States Bill Holland29791432.49%11949 
21United States Johnny Rutherford2962,77010.69%3197419761980 
22United States Rex Mays2661,38519.21% 
23United States Rodger Ward2612,16012.08%219591962 
24United States Mauri Rose2562,32611.01%3194119471948 
25United Kingdom Dan Wheldon2351,12920.73%220052011 
26United States Jimmy Murphy22090724.26%11922 
27United States Tommy Milton2181,20418.11%219211923 
28United States Jimmy Bryan2161,41115.31%11958 
29United States Tom Sneva2082,1809.54%11983 
30United States Frank Lockhart20528073.21%11926 
31Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya193Active driver220002015 
32Netherlands Arie Luyendyk1862,9576.29%219901997 
33United States Jimmy Snyder18149536.57% 
34United States Lee Wallard17859130.12%11951 
35United States Ryan Hunter-Reay163Active driver12014 
36United States Danny Sullivan1621,52310.64%11985 
37United States Howdy Wilcox1551,33511.61%11919 
38South Africa Tomas Scheckter1531,6919.05% 
39United States Jim Rathmann1502,3206.47%11960 
40United States Peter DePaolo14873820.05%11925 
41United States Marco Andretti141Active driver 
42United KingdomDario Resta14040734.40%11916 
43United States Sam Hanks1401,5668.94%11957 
44France Jules Goux13977317.98%11913 
45United States Ed Carpenter139Active driver 
46United States2 George Robson13833341.44%11946 
47United States Pat Flaherty13881217.00%11956 
48United States Gary Bettenhausen1382,3725.82% 
49Australia Will Power135Active driver12018 
50United States Johnnie Parsons1311,5048.71%11950 
51United States Lloyd Ruby1262,3575.35% 
52United States Bobby Rahal1262,0076.28%11986 
53United States Earl Cooper12394113.07% 
54United States Tony Stewart12270017.43% 
55United States Joe Boyer11953622.20%11924 
56United States Greg Ray11692012.61% 
57France René Thomas11474415.32%11914 
58United States Al Unser Jr.1103,1733.47%219921994 
59United States Kelly Petillo1081,2838.42%11935 
60United States Wally Dallenbach Sr.1081,4487.46% 
61United States Sam Hornish Jr.1071,3467.95%12006 
62United States Babe Stapp10696011.04% 
63United States Fred Frame1061,2818.27%11932 
64United States Buddy Rice991,0479.46%12004 
65United States Ted Horn941,9444.84% 
66United States Dave Lewis9338424.22% 
67United States Bill Cummings931,2297.57%11934 
68United States Floyd Roberts9288310.42%11938 
69Sweden Kenny Bräck8988510.06%11999 
70United States Eddie Cheever, Jr.892,1224.19%11998 
71United States Ray Harroun8820044.00%11911 
72United States Bob Sweikert8682510.42%11955 
73United States David L. Bruce-Brown8122436.16% 
74United States Danny Ongais791,5275.17% 
75Belgium Arthur Duray7720038.50% 
76United States Troy Ruttman721,4724.89%11952 
77Brazil3 Gil de Ferran7160111.81%12003 
78United States Jack McGrath701,0946.40% 
79United States Mark Donohue707489.36%11972 
80United States Buddy Lazier70Active driver11996 
81United States Frank Brisko691,3305.19% 
82United States Leon Duray686939.81% 
83United States Ralph Hepburn681,8643.65% 
84United States George Souders6740016.75%11927 
85United States Eddie Sachs661,0696.17% 
86Brazil Maurício Gugelmin5939614.90% 
87United States Harry Hartz579965.72% 
88Colombia Roberto Guerrero561,7353.23% 
89United States Johnny Thomson551,0445.27% 
90United States Robby Gordon531,5643.39% 
91Canada James Hinchcliffe53Active driver 
92United States Joe Leonard521,0724.85% 
93United States Jeff Ward521,2544.15% 
94Brazil Bruno Junqueira527347.08% 
95United Kingdom Max Chilton50Active driver 
96United States Deacon Litz491,5603.14% 
97Canada Scott Goodyear491,4603.35% 
98Japan Takuma Sato48Active driver12017 
99United States Ray Keech4640011.5%11929 
100United States Pat O'Connor467685.98% 
101United States Davy Jones467845.86% 
102Norway Gil Anderson447845.61% 
103United States Jimmy Gleason436137.01% 
104United States Bob Burman417185.71% 
105United Kingdom Jackie Stewart4035811.17% 
106United States Louis Schneider398634.51%11931 
107United States John Paul, Jr.3920718.84% 
108Canada Alex Tagliani391,5432.52% 
109United States Alexander Rossi38Active driver12016 
110Italy Teo Fabi379633.84% 
111United States Bob Carey3620018% 
112United States Jim Hurtubise36   
113France Simon Pagenaud36Active driver 
114United States Cliff Bergere35   
115United States Paul Russo35   
116United States Bob Swanson34   
117United Kingdom Nigel Mansell34   
118Spain Oriol Servià34Active driver 
119United States Bobby Marshman33   
120United States Tony Gulotta33   
121United States Art Cross32   
122United States Duke Nalon32   
123Australia Ryan Briscoe31   
124United States Phil Shafer29   
125United States Mark Dismore29   
126United States Danica Patrick29   
127Colombia Carlos Muñoz29   
128Spain Fernando Alonso27   
129United States Jimmy Vasser26   
130United States Jimmy Davies25   
131United States Tony Bettenhausen24   
132United States Lou Moore23   
133United States A. J. Allmendinger23   
134Canada Jacques Villeneuve22  11995 
135Brazil Raul Boesel21   
136Italy Alessandro Zampedri20   
137United States Graham Rahal20   
138United States George Amick18   
139United States Johnny Boyd18   
140United States Charlie Kimball18   
141United States Kevin Cogan17   
142United States Josef Newgarden17   
143United States Johnny Aitken16   
144United States Jerry Grant16   
145United States Robbie Buhl16   
146Brazil Vitor Meira15   
147United Kingdom Mike Conway15   
148United States3 Gaston Chevrolet14  11920 
149United States Ernie Triplett14   
150United States Russ Snowberger13   
151Mexico Josele Garza13   
152United States Billy Boat13   
153United Kingdom Justin Wilson13   
154United States Townsend Bell13   
155United States J. R. Hildebrand13   
156United States Swede Savage12   
157Brazil Felipe Giaffone12   
158Belgium Bertrand Baguette11   
159United States Ralph Mulford10   
160United Kingdom Graham Hill10  11966 
161United States Alex Barron10   
162United States Eddie Rickenbacker9   
163France Albert Guyot9   
164Belgium Josef Christiaens9   
165United States4 Louis Chevrolet9   
166United States Dutch Bauman9   
167United States Len Sutton9   
168United States Jimmy Daywalt8   
169United States Pancho Carter8   
170United Kingdom Jim Crawford8   
171United States Scott Pruett8   
172United States Don Freeland7   
173United States Roger McCluskey7   
174Canada Zachary Claman DeMelo7   
175United States Ira Hall6   
176United States Cecil Green5   
177United States Jimmy Jackson5   
178United States Spencer Wishart5   
179United States Steve Krisiloff5   
180Venezuela E. J. Viso5   
181United Kingdom James Jakes5   
182United States Fred Belcher4   
183United States Cliff Durant4   
184United States Mike Mosley4   
185United States Buzz Calkins4   
186United States Sam Schmidt4   
187France Sebastien Bourdais4   
188United States George Snider3   
189United States Davey Hamilton3   
190United States Scott Sharp3   
191United States Bryan Herta3   
192Mexico Adrian Fernández3   
193Brazil Mario Moraes3   
194United States Bryan Clauson3   
195United States Spencer Pigot3   
196United Kingdom Stefan Wilson3   
197United States Caleb Bragg2   
198United States Teddy Tetzlaff2   
199United States Joe Dawson2  11912 
200United States Robert Evans2   
201United States Paul Bost2   
202United States Herb Ardinger2   
203United States Dan Gurney2   
204United States Roger Rager2   
205United States Don Whittington2   
206United States John Andretti2   
207United States Robby McGehee2   
208Japan Tora Takagi2   
209United States Jaques Lazier2   
210Brazil Rubens Barrichello2   
211United States Sage Karam2   
212Australia James Davison2   
213Canada Robert Wickens2   
214France Jean Chassagne1   
215United States Art Klein1   
216United States Roscoe Sarles1   
217United States Howdy Wilcox II1   
218United States Fred Agabashian1   
219Australia Jack Brabham1   
220United States Bobby Allison1   
221United States Bill Vukovich II1   
222United States Tim Richmond1   
223United States Gordon Smiley1   
224United States Scott Brayton1   
225France Stephan Gregoire1   
226United States Jeff Simmons1   
227Russia Mikhail Aleshin1   
NoteUnited States Lora L. Corum*0 11924 
United States Floyd Davis*0 11941 
* 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 one hundred two Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by the driver leading the most laps, 54.90%.

Year Leader, Most Laps Laps
Led
Percentage
Race Led
Won
Race
1911United States Ray Harroun8844.0%Yes
1912United States1 Ralph DePalma19698.0%No
1913France Jules Goux13869.0%Yes
1914France René Thomas10251.0%Yes
1915United States1 Ralph DePalma13266.0%Yes
1916United Kingdom1 Dario Resta10385.8%Yes
1919United States Howdy Wilcox9849.0%Yes
1920United States Joe Boyer9346.5%No
1921United States1 Ralph DePalma10854.0%No
1922United States Jimmy Murphy15376.5%Yes
1923United States Tommy Milton12864.0%Yes
1924United States Earl Cooper11959.5%No
1925United States Peter DePaolo11557.5%Yes
1926United States Frank Lockhart9559.4%Yes
192711055.0%No
1928United States Leon Duray6432.0%No
1929United States Louis Meyer6532.5%No
1930United States Billy Arnold19899.0%Yes
193115577.5%No
1932United States Fred Frame5829.0%Yes
1933United States Louis Meyer7135.5%Yes
1934United States Frank Brisko6929.5%No
1935United States Kelly Petillo10251.0%Yes
1936United States Louis Meyer9648.0%Yes
1937United States Wilbur Shaw13165.5%Yes
1938United States Floyd Roberts9246.0%Yes
United States Jimmy SnyderNo
1939United States Louis Meyer7939.5%No
1940United States Wilbur Shaw13668.0%Yes
194110753.5%No
1946United States2 George Robson13869.0%Yes
1947United States Bill Holland14371.5%No
1948United States Mauri Rose8140.5%Yes
1949United States Bill Holland14683.0%Yes
1950United States Johnnie Parsons11583.3%Yes
1951United States Lee Wallard15979.5%Yes
1952United States Bill Vukovich15075.0%No
195319597.5%Yes
19549045.0%Yes
1955United States Bob Sweikert8643.0%Yes
1956United States Pat Flaherty12763.5%Yes
1957United States Sam Hanks13668.0%Yes
1958United States Jimmy Bryan13969.5%Yes
1959United States Rodger Ward13065.0%Yes
1960United States Jim Rathmann10050.0%Yes
1961United States A.J. Foyt7135.5%Yes
1962United States Parnelli Jones12060.0%No
196316783.5%Yes
1964United States A.J. Foyt14673.0%Yes
1965United Kingdom Jim Clark19095.0%Yes
1966United States Lloyd Ruby6834.0%No
1967United States Parnelli Jones17185.5%No
1968United States Bobby Unser12763.5%Yes
1969United States1 Mario Andretti11658.0%Yes
1970United States Al Unser19095.0%Yes
197110351.5%Yes
1972United States Gary Bettenhausen13869.0%No
1973United States Gordon Johncock6448.1%Yes
1974United States Johnny Rutherford12247.0%Yes
1975United States Wally Dallenbach9655.2%No
1976United States Johnny Rutherford4847.1%Yes
1977United States Gordon Johncock12964.5%No
1978United States Al Unser12160.5%Yes
1979United States Bobby Unser8944.5%No
1980United States Johnny Rutherford11859.0%Yes
1981United States Bobby Unser8944.5%Yes
1982United States Rick Mears7738.5%No
1983United States Tom Sneva9849.0%Yes
1984United States Rick Mears11959.5%Yes
1985United States1 Mario Andretti10753.5%No
1986United States Rick Mears7638.0%No
1987United States1 Mario Andretti17085.0%No
1988United States Danny Sullivan9145.5%No
1989Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi15879.0%Yes
199012864.0%No
1991United States Michael Andretti9748.5%No
199216080.0%No
1993United States1 Mario Andretti7236.0%No
1994Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi14572.5%No
1995Brazil Maurício Gugelmin5929.5%No
1996Colombia Roberto Guerrero4723.5%No
1997United States Tony Stewart6432.0%No
1998United States Eddie Cheever7638.0%Yes
1999Sweden Kenny Bräck6633.0%Yes
2000Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya16783.5%Yes
2001Brazil Hélio Castroneves5226.0%Yes
2002South Africa Tomas Scheckter8542.5%No
20036331.5%No
2004United States Buddy Rice9150.5%Yes
2005United States Sam Hornish, Jr.7738.5%No
2006United Kingdom Dan Wheldon14874.0%No
2007Brazil Tony Kanaan8350.0%No
2008New Zealand Scott Dixon11557.5%Yes
20097336.5%No
2010United Kingdom Dario Franchitti15577.5%Yes
2011New Zealand Scott Dixon7336.5%No
2012United States Marco Andretti5929.5%No
2013United States Ed Carpenter3718.5%No
2014United States Ryan Hunter-Reay5628.0%Yes
2015New Zealand Scott Dixon8442.0%No
2016United States Ryan Hunter-Reay5226.0%No
2017United Kingdom Max Chilton5025.0%No
2018United States Ed Carpenter6532.5%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 Hélio Castroneves
2015 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Australia Will Power
2016 United States Alexander Rossi Colombia Carlos Munoz
196 1995 Canada Jacques Villeneuve** Canada Scott Goodyear**
2018 Australia Will Power United Kingdom Stefan Wilson
* 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

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