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-nine drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in 103 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 Al Unser6444,35614.78%41970197119781987
2Ralph DePalma6121,59438.39%11915 
3Mario Andretti5563,04018.29%11969 
4 A. J. Foyt5554,90911.31%41961196419671977
5 Wilbur Shaw5082,01925.16%3193719391940 
6 Emerson Fittipaldi5051,78528.29%219891993 
7 Parnelli Jones4921,13043.54%11963 
8 Bill Vukovich48567671.75%219531954 
9 Scott Dixon452Active driver12008 
10 Bobby Unser4402,61116.85%3196819751981 
11 Michael Andretti4312,65316.25% 
12 Rick Mears4292,34218.32%41979198419881991
13 Billy Arnold41082149.94%11930 
14 Tony Kanaan346Active driver12013 
15 Gordon Johncock3393,15810.73%219731982 
16 Louis Meyer3321,91617.33%3192819331936 
17 Dario Franchitti3291,94016.96%3200720102012 
18 Hélio Castroneves305Active driver3200120022009 
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 Montoya19386322.36%220002015 
32 Arie Luyendyk1862,9576.29%219901997 
33 Jimmy Snyder18149536.57% 
34 Lee Wallard17859130.12%11951 
35 Ryan Hunter-Reay163Active driver12014 
36 Danny Sullivan1621,52310.64%11985 
37 Howdy Wilcox1551,33511.61%11919 
38 Tomas Scheckter1531,6919.05% 
39 Simon Pagenaud152Active driver12019 
40 Jim Rathmann1502,3206.47%11960 
41 Peter DePaolo14873820.05%11925 
42 Ed Carpenter146Active driver 
43 Will Power142Active driver12018 
44 Marco Andretti141Active driver 
45Dario Resta14040834.31%11916 
46 Sam Hanks1401,5668.94%11957 
47 Jules Goux13977317.98%11913 
482 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 Greg Ray11692012.61% 
58 René Thomas11474415.32%11914 
59 Al Unser Jr.1103,1733.47%219921994 
60 Kelly Petillo1081,2838.42%11935 
61 Wally Dallenbach Sr.1081,4487.46% 
62 Sam Hornish Jr.1071,3467.95%12006 
63 Babe Stapp10696011.04% 
64 Fred Frame1061,2818.27%11932 
65 Buddy Rice991,0479.46%12004 
66 Ted Horn941,9444.84% 
67 Dave Lewis9338324.28% 
68 Bill Cummings931,2297.57%11934 
69 Floyd Roberts9288310.42%11938 
70 Kenny Bräck8988510.06%11999 
71 Eddie Cheever, Jr.892,1224.19%11998 
72 Ray Harroun8820044.00%11911 
73 Bob Sweikert8682510.42%11955 
74 David L. Bruce-Brown8122536.00% 
75 Danny Ongais791,5275.17% 
76 Arthur Duray7720038.50% 
77 Troy Ruttman721,4724.89%11952 
783 Gil de Ferran7160111.81%12003 
79 Jack McGrath701,0946.40% 
80 Mark Donohue707489.36%11972 
81 Buddy Lazier703,0152.32%11996 
82 Frank Brisko691,3305.19% 
83 Leon Duray686939.81% ;
84 Ralph Hepburn681,8643.65% 
85 George Souders6740016.75%11927 
86 Eddie Sachs661,0696.17% 
87 Alexander Rossi60Active driver12016 
88 Maurício Gugelmin5939614.90% 
89 Harry Hartz579965.72% 
90 Roberto Guerrero561,7353.23% 
91 Johnny Thomson551,0445.27% 
92 Robby Gordon531,5643.39% 
93 James Hinchcliffe53Active driver 
94 Joe Leonard521,2654.11% 
95 Jeff Ward521,2544.15% ;
96 Bruno Junqueira527347.08% 
97 Takuma Sato51Active driver12017 
98 Max Chilton50Active driver 
99 Deacon Litz491,5603.14% 
100 Scott Goodyear491,4603.35% 
101 Ray Keech4640011.50%11929 
102 Pat O'Connor467685.98% 
103 Davy Jones467845.86% 
104 Gil Anderson447845.61% 
105 Jimmy Gleason436176.97% 
106 Bob Burman417185.71% 
107 Jackie Stewart4035811.17% 
108 Louis Schneider398634.51%11931 
109 John Paul, Jr.398834.42% 
110 Alex Tagliani391,5432.52% 
111 Josef Newgarden38Active driver 
112 Teo Fabi379633.84% 
113 Bob Carey3620018% 
114 Jim Hurtubise368944.03% 
115 Cliff Bergere352,4251.44% 
116 Paul Russo351,4822.36% 
117 Bob Swanson3426712.73% 
118 Nigel Mansell3429211.64% 
119 Oriol Servià34Active driver 
120 Bobby Marshman336355.20% 
121 Tony Gulotta331,9891.66% 
122 Art Cross327684.17% 
123 Duke Nalon321,2842.49% 
124 Ryan Briscoe311,8401.68% 
125 Phil Shafer291,2232.37% 
126 Mark Dismore298203.54% 
127 Danica Patrick291,4042.07% 
128 Carlos Muñoz29Active driver 
129 Fernando Alonso27Active driver 
130 Jimmy Vasser261,2492.08% 
131 Jimmy Davies256313.96% 
132 Tony Bettenhausen241,9751.22% 
133 Lou Moore231,3041.76% 
134 A. J. Allmendinger2320011.50% 
135 Jacques Villeneuve226003.67%11995 
136 Raul Boesel212,2130.95% 
137 Alessandro Zampedri2019910.05% 
138 Graham Rahal20Active driver 
139 George Amick182009.00% 
140 Johnny Boyd181,4271.26% 
141 Charlie Kimball18Active driver 
142 Kevin Cogan171,5561.09% 
143 Johnny Aitken161948.25% 
144 Jerry Grant161,2751.25% 
145 Robbie Buhl161,2791.25% 
146 Vítor Meira151,6220.92% 
147 Mike Conway154763.15% 
1483 Gaston Chevrolet144003.50%11920 
149 Ernie Triplett145592.50% 
150 Russ Snowberger131,6330.80% 
151 Josele Garza137071.84% 
152 Billy Boat131,1121.17% 
153 Justin Wilson131,4880.87% 
154 Townsend Bell131,8980.68% 
155 J. R. Hildebrand13Active driver 
156 Swede Savage126219.35% 
157 Felipe Giaffone129551.26% 
158 Bertrand Baguette113832.87% 
159 Ralph Mulford101,6190.62% 
160 Graham Hill103333.00%11966 
161 Alex Barron109421.06% 
162 Eddie Rickenbacker93552.53% 
163 Albert Guyot98081.11% 
164 Josef Christiaens93202.81% 
1654 Louis Chevrolet94521.99% 
166 Dutch Bauman99010.00% 
167 Len Sutton97081.27% 
168 Jimmy Daywalt89990.80% 
169 Pancho Carter82,1410.37% 
170 Jim Crawford81,0430.77% 
171 Scott Pruett85921.35% 
172 Don Freeland71,3110.53% 
173 Roger McCluskey72,1550.32% 
174 Zachary Claman DeMelo7Active driver 
175 Spencer Pigot7Active driver 
176 Ira Hall64851.24% 
177 Felix Rosenqvist6Active driver 
178 Cecil Green52172.30% 
179 Jimmy Jackson58450.59% 
180 Spencer Wishart56040.83% 
181 Steve Krisiloff51,3870.36% 
182 E. J. Viso58430.59% 
183 James Jakes55990.83% 
184 Fred Belcher42002.00% 
185 Cliff Durant48880.45% 
186 Mike Mosley41,6150.25% 
187 Buzz Calkins41,0560.38% 
188 Sam Schmidt41103.64% 
189 Sebastien Bourdais4Active driver 
190 George Snider31,8320.16% 
191 Davey Hamilton31,7830.17% 
192 Scott Sharp32,1800.14% 
193 Bryan Herta39650.31% 
194 Adrian Fernández35830.51% 
195 Mario Moraes32111.42% 
196 Bryan Clauson33050.98% 
197 Stefan Wilson3Active driver 
198 Caleb Bragg22690.74% 
199 Teddy Tetzlaff23710.54% 
200 Joe Dawson24450.45%11912 
201 Robert Evans2   
202 Paul Bost2   
203 Herb Ardinger2   
204 Dan Gurney2   
205 Roger Rager2   
206 Don Whittington2   
207 John Andretti2   
208 Robby McGehee2   
209 Tora Takagi2   
210 Jaques Lazier2   
211 Rubens Barrichello2   
212 Sage Karam2   
213 James Davison2   
214 Robert Wickens2   
215 Jean Chassagne1   
216 Art Klein1   
217 Roscoe Sarles1   
218 Howdy Wilcox II1   
219 Fred Agabashian1   
220 Jack Brabham1   
221 Bobby Allison1   
222 Bill Vukovich II1   
223 Tim Richmond1   
224 Gordon Smiley1   
225 Scott Brayton1   
226 Stephan Gregoire1   
227 Jeff Simmons1   
228 Mikhail Aleshin1   
229 Santino Ferrucci1   
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 three Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by the driver leading the most laps, 55.34%.

Year Leader, Most Laps Laps
Led
Percentage
Race Led
Won
Race
1911 Ray Harroun8844.0%Yes
19121 Ralph DePalma19698.0%No
1913 Jules Goux13869.0%Yes
1914 René Thomas10251.0%Yes
19151 Ralph DePalma13266.0%Yes
19161 Dario Resta10385.8%Yes
1919 Howdy Wilcox9849.0%Yes
1920 Joe Boyer9346.5%No
19211 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
19462 George Robson13869.0%Yes
1947 Bill Holland14371.5%No
1948 Mauri Rose8140.5%Yes
1949 Bill Holland14683.0%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
19691 Mario Andretti11658.0%Yes
1970 Al Unser19095.0%Yes
197110351.5%Yes
1972 Gary Bettenhausen13869.0%No
1973 Gordon Johncock6448.1%Yes
1974 Johnny Rutherford12247.0%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
19851 Mario Andretti10753.5%No
1986 Rick Mears7638.0%No
19871 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
19931 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

[1] 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 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 1927 Frank Lockhart 110 55.0% 10
16 1921 Ralph DePalma 108 54.0% 12
17 1941 Wilbur Shaw 107 53.5% 18
1985 Mario Andretti 2
19 1975 Wally Dallenbach 96 55.2% 9

Notes

1 Italian-born
2 British-born
3 French-born
4 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 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
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
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 Munoz
196 1995 Jacques Villeneuve** Scott Goodyear**
2018 Will Power 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.

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.

References

  1. Zucker, Joseph. "Indy 500 Results 2019: Simon Pagenaud Earns 1st Career Win at Iconic Race". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
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