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| Finally! |
Race day is upon us. The 104th Indianapolis 500 has arrived, and 25 drivers hope to join an exclusive club while seven drivers look to increase their standing and one could make a beloved trinity a glorious quartet with a chance to ascend to a higher level in 2021. This year has been different and today will be unprecedented. Engines will ring off aluminum grandstands, absent of long-time regulars and new blood soaking in UV rays during a summer afternoon. Breaded tenderloins will not be consumed in mass. This race is not occurring on a holiday weekend with backyards full of children cannonballing into swimming pools and fathers rotating hot dogs and flipping hamburgers. All the celebration, the pomp and circumstance, has been stripped away and we are left with a race, 500 miles and a bottle of milk in victory lane for the winner.
Starting Grid
Row 1:
Marco Andretti
This will be Andretti’s 15th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2006).
Car #98 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times, most recently Alexander Rossi 2016.
Twenty-one times has the pole-sitter won the race with Simon Pagenaud’s victory last year being the first time the pole-sitter had won the race in a decade.
The last time the pole-sitter won consecutive Indianapolis 500s was 2008 and 2009.
This is Andretti’s first pole position since Belle Isle I in 2018. This is his first oval pole position since Pocono 2013.
In Andretti’s first five starts from pole position, he has finished 21st, eighth, 20th, tenth and fourth.
This is the first time an Andretti family member has started on pole position for the Indianapolis 500 since his grandfather Mario did in 1987.
Andretti could break Sam Hanks’ record for most starts before first Indianapolis 500 victory. Hanks won the 1957 Indianapolis 500, his 13th start in the race.
Andretti needs to lead 59 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Andretti has the sixth most laps led among drivers not to win the Indianapolis 500 behind his father Michael, Rex Mays, Jimmy Snyder, Tomas Scheckter and Ed Carpenter.
He has not finished in the top five of his last five Indianapolis 500 starts after having five top five finishes in his first ten Indianapolis 500 starts. He has also not led a lap in any of the last five races after leading a lap in seven of his first ten Indianapolis 500s.
Andretti could become the sixth Pennsylvania-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Bill Holland in 1949.
Scott Dixon
This will be Dixon’s 18th Indianapolis 500 start.
2008 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #9 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times with Dixon’s 2008 victory being the most recent.
Eleven times has the winner started second, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000.
Dixon has 49 career victories. He could join A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti as the only drivers to reach the 50-victory milestone.
Dixon leads all active drivers with 452 laps led in the Indianapolis 500, tenth al-time. He is one lap behind Bobby Unser for ninth, 33 laps behind Bill Vukovich for eighth and 40 laps behind Parnelli Jones for seventh. If Dixon leads 48 laps, he will become the seventh driver to lead 500 laps in the Indianapolis 500 joining Al Unser, Ralph DePalma, Mario Andretti, Wilbur Shaw and Emerson Fittipaldi.
Dixon needs to lead one lap to surpass Al Unser for fifth all-time in laps led in IndyCar history.
This is the 12th Indianapolis 500 since Dixon’s lone victory in 2008. The only driver with more races between Indianapolis 500 victories is Juan Pablo Montoya, though Montoya did not start every race between 2000 and 2015.
Dixon could become the third consecutive driver to win the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis 500 in the same year.
If Dixon completes 131 laps, he could become the fourth driver to complete 8,000 miles in an Indianapolis 500 career.
Marco Andretti
This will be Andretti’s 15th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2006).
Car #98 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times, most recently Alexander Rossi 2016.
Twenty-one times has the pole-sitter won the race with Simon Pagenaud’s victory last year being the first time the pole-sitter had won the race in a decade.
The last time the pole-sitter won consecutive Indianapolis 500s was 2008 and 2009.
This is Andretti’s first pole position since Belle Isle I in 2018. This is his first oval pole position since Pocono 2013.
In Andretti’s first five starts from pole position, he has finished 21st, eighth, 20th, tenth and fourth.
This is the first time an Andretti family member has started on pole position for the Indianapolis 500 since his grandfather Mario did in 1987.
Andretti could break Sam Hanks’ record for most starts before first Indianapolis 500 victory. Hanks won the 1957 Indianapolis 500, his 13th start in the race.
Andretti needs to lead 59 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Andretti has the sixth most laps led among drivers not to win the Indianapolis 500 behind his father Michael, Rex Mays, Jimmy Snyder, Tomas Scheckter and Ed Carpenter.
He has not finished in the top five of his last five Indianapolis 500 starts after having five top five finishes in his first ten Indianapolis 500 starts. He has also not led a lap in any of the last five races after leading a lap in seven of his first ten Indianapolis 500s.
Andretti could become the sixth Pennsylvania-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Bill Holland in 1949.
Scott Dixon
This will be Dixon’s 18th Indianapolis 500 start.
2008 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #9 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times with Dixon’s 2008 victory being the most recent.
Eleven times has the winner started second, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000.
Dixon has 49 career victories. He could join A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti as the only drivers to reach the 50-victory milestone.
Dixon leads all active drivers with 452 laps led in the Indianapolis 500, tenth al-time. He is one lap behind Bobby Unser for ninth, 33 laps behind Bill Vukovich for eighth and 40 laps behind Parnelli Jones for seventh. If Dixon leads 48 laps, he will become the seventh driver to lead 500 laps in the Indianapolis 500 joining Al Unser, Ralph DePalma, Mario Andretti, Wilbur Shaw and Emerson Fittipaldi.
Dixon needs to lead one lap to surpass Al Unser for fifth all-time in laps led in IndyCar history.
This is the 12th Indianapolis 500 since Dixon’s lone victory in 2008. The only driver with more races between Indianapolis 500 victories is Juan Pablo Montoya, though Montoya did not start every race between 2000 and 2015.
Dixon could become the third consecutive driver to win the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis 500 in the same year.
If Dixon completes 131 laps, he could become the fourth driver to complete 8,000 miles in an Indianapolis 500 career.
Dixon could become the first driver to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and Indianapolis 500 in the same year.
Takuma Sato
This will be Sato’s 11th Indianapolis 500 start.
2018 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #30 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Arie Luyendyk 1990.
Twelve times has the Indianapolis 500 winner started third, most recently Will Power in 2018.
This is Sato’s best Indianapolis 500 starting position.
Four of Sato’s five career victories have come from a top five starting position, but the best he has won from on the grid is fourth.
Sato could become the sixth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 43 years, six months and 27 days old. He would fall 40 days shy of tying Arie Luyendyk for being the fifth oldest winner.
Sato’s best finish through six races is eighth. This is the first time since 2015 that Sato did not have a top five finish in one of the first six races of a season.
He has led a lap in three of his Indianapolis 500 starts, 2012, 2017 and 2019. He has 51 laps led in his Indianapolis 500 career, ranked 97th all-time.
Row 2:
Rinus VeeKay
This will be VeeKay’s first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #21 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Seven times has the winner started fourth, most recently Takuma Sato in 2017.
This is the third time in the last four years a rookie has qualified in the top five for the Indianapolis 500. Those other two rookies were Fernando Alonso and Colton Herta, both retired from the race.
VeeKay could become the first driver born in the 21st century to start the Indianapolis 500. He would be the youngest winner at 19 years, 11 months and 13 days old.
VeeKay could become the fourth Dutchman to start the Indianapolis 500.
Arie Luyendyk won the 1985 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing seventh from 20th on the grid.
He has not finished on the lead lap in any of his first three oval starts and his best oval finish was 17th in the second Iowa race.
Ryan Hunter-Reay
This will be Hunter-Reay’s 13th Indianapolis 500 start.
2014 Indianapolis 500 winner.
His 2014 victory is the only Indianapolis 500 victory for car #28.
Seven times has the winner started fifth, most recently Buddy Lazier in 1996.
Hunter-Reay needs to lead 37 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Hunter-Reay has three consecutive finishes outside the top fifteen, his worst rut since 2014 when he had finishes of 16th, 19th and 19th between the Belle Isle doubleheader and Texas.
The only time he has had four consecutive finishes outside the top fifteen was in 2011 when he had finishes of 23rd, 18th, 23rd and 19th at Long Beach, São Paulo, Indianapolis and Texas respectively.
Takuma Sato
This will be Sato’s 11th Indianapolis 500 start.
2018 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #30 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Arie Luyendyk 1990.
Twelve times has the Indianapolis 500 winner started third, most recently Will Power in 2018.
This is Sato’s best Indianapolis 500 starting position.
Four of Sato’s five career victories have come from a top five starting position, but the best he has won from on the grid is fourth.
Sato could become the sixth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 43 years, six months and 27 days old. He would fall 40 days shy of tying Arie Luyendyk for being the fifth oldest winner.
Sato’s best finish through six races is eighth. This is the first time since 2015 that Sato did not have a top five finish in one of the first six races of a season.
He has led a lap in three of his Indianapolis 500 starts, 2012, 2017 and 2019. He has 51 laps led in his Indianapolis 500 career, ranked 97th all-time.
Row 2:
Rinus VeeKay
This will be VeeKay’s first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #21 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Seven times has the winner started fourth, most recently Takuma Sato in 2017.
This is the third time in the last four years a rookie has qualified in the top five for the Indianapolis 500. Those other two rookies were Fernando Alonso and Colton Herta, both retired from the race.
VeeKay could become the first driver born in the 21st century to start the Indianapolis 500. He would be the youngest winner at 19 years, 11 months and 13 days old.
VeeKay could become the fourth Dutchman to start the Indianapolis 500.
Arie Luyendyk won the 1985 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing seventh from 20th on the grid.
He has not finished on the lead lap in any of his first three oval starts and his best oval finish was 17th in the second Iowa race.
Ryan Hunter-Reay
This will be Hunter-Reay’s 13th Indianapolis 500 start.
2014 Indianapolis 500 winner.
His 2014 victory is the only Indianapolis 500 victory for car #28.
Seven times has the winner started fifth, most recently Buddy Lazier in 1996.
Hunter-Reay needs to lead 37 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Hunter-Reay has three consecutive finishes outside the top fifteen, his worst rut since 2014 when he had finishes of 16th, 19th and 19th between the Belle Isle doubleheader and Texas.
The only time he has had four consecutive finishes outside the top fifteen was in 2011 when he had finishes of 23rd, 18th, 23rd and 19th at Long Beach, São Paulo, Indianapolis and Texas respectively.
The only time Hunter-Reay has won from fifth on the grid in his IndyCar career was at Loudon in 2011. On three occasions he has finished second from fifth starting position.
James Hinchcliffe
This will be Hinchcliffe’s eighth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 6th (2012).
Car #29 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Five times has the winner started sixth, most recently Dan Wheldon in 2011.
Hinchcliffe’s average finish in the Indianapolis 500 is 17.714. He has finished outside the top twenty in four of seven Indianapolis 500 starts.
Only once has Hinchcliffe finished better than his starting position in the Indianapolis 500. That was last year when he started 32nd and finished 11th.
Hinchcliffe has one top five finish in his last 24 starts. That was third at Iowa last year.
Row 3:
Álex Palou
This will be Palou’s first Indianapolis 500 start
Car #55 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
This is the first time car #55 has been used in the Indianapolis 500 since Tristan Vautier used it in 2013.
Five times has the winner started seventh, most recently A.J. Foyt in 1961.
Palou could become the fourth youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 23 years, four months and 23 days old.
Palou could become the fifth Spaniard to start the Indianapolis 500. The best finish for a Spanish rookie was Oriol Servià in 11th in 2008. The first Spaniard to start the Indianapolis 500, Pierre de Viscaya, was 12th in his only “500” start in 1923. Fermín Velez was 21st as a rookie in 1996 and Fernando Alonso was 24th as a rookie in 2017.
Graham Rahal
This will be Rahal’s 13th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2011).
Car #15 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times, most recently with Buddy Rice in 2004.
Twice has the winner started eighth, most recently Kenny Bräck in 1999.
Rahal could match Sam Hanks’ record for most starts before first Indianapolis 500 victory.
Rahal enters Indianapolis fifth in the championship. It is only the third time Rahal has gone into the Indianapolis 500 in the top five of the championship. He was fourth heading into the 2015 race and fifth going in 2016.
Rahal has led 20 laps in his Indianapolis 500 career. His father Bobby led 126 laps in his 13 Indianapolis 500 starts.
Rahal could tie Salt Walther and George Snider for most 33rd-place finishes in Indianapolis 500 at three times.
Rahal could become the sixth Ohioan to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2006.
Alexander Rossi
This will be Rossi’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
2016 Indianapolis 500 Winner.
Car #27 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times, most recently with Dario Franchitti in 2007.
Only once has the winner started ninth and that was Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993.
This is the second consecutive year Rossi has started ninth in this race.
Rossi has finished in the top ten in all four of his Indianapolis 500 starts and has an average finish of 3.5.
Rossi could become the 15th driver to win the Indianapolis 500 the year after finishing second in the race. The last driver to do it was Dan Wheldon in 2011.
Rossi has not led a lap since Road America last year, 13 races ago. He had led his first lap of a season by the sixth race in his first four IndyCar seasons.
In four Indianapolis 500 starts, Rossi has led 60 laps, good for 87th all-time in Indianapolis 500 history. He has led in all four of his starts, but the most laps he has led in a single race was 23 in 2017.
He enters Indianapolis tenth in the championship, his worst championship position entering the Indianapolis 500 since he was 17th entering the 2016 race. He has jumped from 21st to tenth in the championship over the last three races. Despite that jump, he has gone from 124 points behind Dixon after the first Road America race to 126 points back after Iowa and after Dixon scored eight points for qualifying second, the gap is now 133 points.
Row 4:
Colton Herta
This will be Herta’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 33rd (2019)
Car #88 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started tenth, most recently Gil de Ferran in 2003.
Herta could become the first driver born in the 21st century to start the Indianapolis 500. He would be the youngest winner at 20 years, four months and 25 days old.
Herta could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Last year, Herta completed only three laps before a gearbox ended his debut Indianapolis 500 and he finished 33rd.
On two occasions has a driver finished 33rd in the Indianapolis 500 and won the race the following year. First was Louis Meyer, who was 33rd in 1932, but Meyer was not last because 40 cars started that race. Meyer then won the race in 1933. Mario Andretti was last, 33rd, in 1968 and then won in 1969. Andretti is the only driver to go from last to first is successive Indianapolis 500s.
The only drivers to finish 33rd in consecutive Indianapolis 500s were Andy Linden in 1952 and 1953 and Salt Walther in 1972 and 1973.
A top ten finish for Herta would make him and his father Bryan the 13th father/son combination to each have top ten finishes in the Indianapolis 500. A top five finish for Colton would make him and Bryan the tenth father/son duo to each have a top five finishers.
Herta could become the eighth Californian to win the Indianapolis 500. California is currently tied with Indiana for start with the most Indianapolis 500 winners born there on seven drivers.
Marcus Ericsson
This will be Ericsson’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 23rd (2019)
Car #8 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times but not since Bob Sweikert in 1956.
Three times has the winner started 11th, most recently Alexander Rossi in 2016.
Ericsson has five consecutive top five finishes and it is the 41st time in Chip Ganassi Racing history one of its drivers is on such a streak.
He is the tenth different driver to have at least five consecutive top ten finishes joining Eddie Cheever, Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Bruno Junqueira, Scott Dixon, Tomas Scheckter, Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan.
Dixon is responsible for 19 of those 41 streaks.
The team record for longest top ten streak is 13 races, which Wheldon did in 2006-07 and Franchitti did in 2010-11.
Sweden could become the sixth nation with multiple drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 joining the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France and Italy.
Spencer Pigot
This will be Pigot’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 14th (2019).
Car #45 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started 12th, most recently Tony Kanaan in 2013.
This is the first time car #45 has been used in the Indianapolis 500 since Lyn St. James used it in 1996.
Pigot has taken the checkered flag in all four Indianapolis 500 starts but last year was the first time he completed all 500 miles.
He has led laps in the last two Indianapolis 500s, three laps and four laps respectively.
Pigot could become the eighth Californian to win the Indianapolis 500. California is currently tied with Indiana for start with the most Indianapolis 500 winners born there on seven drivers.
James Hinchcliffe
This will be Hinchcliffe’s eighth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 6th (2012).
Car #29 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Five times has the winner started sixth, most recently Dan Wheldon in 2011.
Hinchcliffe’s average finish in the Indianapolis 500 is 17.714. He has finished outside the top twenty in four of seven Indianapolis 500 starts.
Only once has Hinchcliffe finished better than his starting position in the Indianapolis 500. That was last year when he started 32nd and finished 11th.
Hinchcliffe has one top five finish in his last 24 starts. That was third at Iowa last year.
Row 3:
Álex Palou
This will be Palou’s first Indianapolis 500 start
Car #55 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
This is the first time car #55 has been used in the Indianapolis 500 since Tristan Vautier used it in 2013.
Five times has the winner started seventh, most recently A.J. Foyt in 1961.
Palou could become the fourth youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 23 years, four months and 23 days old.
Palou could become the fifth Spaniard to start the Indianapolis 500. The best finish for a Spanish rookie was Oriol Servià in 11th in 2008. The first Spaniard to start the Indianapolis 500, Pierre de Viscaya, was 12th in his only “500” start in 1923. Fermín Velez was 21st as a rookie in 1996 and Fernando Alonso was 24th as a rookie in 2017.
Graham Rahal
This will be Rahal’s 13th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2011).
Car #15 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times, most recently with Buddy Rice in 2004.
Twice has the winner started eighth, most recently Kenny Bräck in 1999.
Rahal could match Sam Hanks’ record for most starts before first Indianapolis 500 victory.
Rahal enters Indianapolis fifth in the championship. It is only the third time Rahal has gone into the Indianapolis 500 in the top five of the championship. He was fourth heading into the 2015 race and fifth going in 2016.
Rahal has led 20 laps in his Indianapolis 500 career. His father Bobby led 126 laps in his 13 Indianapolis 500 starts.
Rahal could tie Salt Walther and George Snider for most 33rd-place finishes in Indianapolis 500 at three times.
Rahal could become the sixth Ohioan to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2006.
Alexander Rossi
This will be Rossi’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
2016 Indianapolis 500 Winner.
Car #27 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times, most recently with Dario Franchitti in 2007.
Only once has the winner started ninth and that was Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993.
This is the second consecutive year Rossi has started ninth in this race.
Rossi has finished in the top ten in all four of his Indianapolis 500 starts and has an average finish of 3.5.
Rossi could become the 15th driver to win the Indianapolis 500 the year after finishing second in the race. The last driver to do it was Dan Wheldon in 2011.
Rossi has not led a lap since Road America last year, 13 races ago. He had led his first lap of a season by the sixth race in his first four IndyCar seasons.
In four Indianapolis 500 starts, Rossi has led 60 laps, good for 87th all-time in Indianapolis 500 history. He has led in all four of his starts, but the most laps he has led in a single race was 23 in 2017.
He enters Indianapolis tenth in the championship, his worst championship position entering the Indianapolis 500 since he was 17th entering the 2016 race. He has jumped from 21st to tenth in the championship over the last three races. Despite that jump, he has gone from 124 points behind Dixon after the first Road America race to 126 points back after Iowa and after Dixon scored eight points for qualifying second, the gap is now 133 points.
Row 4:
Colton Herta
This will be Herta’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 33rd (2019)
Car #88 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started tenth, most recently Gil de Ferran in 2003.
Herta could become the first driver born in the 21st century to start the Indianapolis 500. He would be the youngest winner at 20 years, four months and 25 days old.
Herta could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Last year, Herta completed only three laps before a gearbox ended his debut Indianapolis 500 and he finished 33rd.
On two occasions has a driver finished 33rd in the Indianapolis 500 and won the race the following year. First was Louis Meyer, who was 33rd in 1932, but Meyer was not last because 40 cars started that race. Meyer then won the race in 1933. Mario Andretti was last, 33rd, in 1968 and then won in 1969. Andretti is the only driver to go from last to first is successive Indianapolis 500s.
The only drivers to finish 33rd in consecutive Indianapolis 500s were Andy Linden in 1952 and 1953 and Salt Walther in 1972 and 1973.
A top ten finish for Herta would make him and his father Bryan the 13th father/son combination to each have top ten finishes in the Indianapolis 500. A top five finish for Colton would make him and Bryan the tenth father/son duo to each have a top five finishers.
Herta could become the eighth Californian to win the Indianapolis 500. California is currently tied with Indiana for start with the most Indianapolis 500 winners born there on seven drivers.
Marcus Ericsson
This will be Ericsson’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 23rd (2019)
Car #8 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times but not since Bob Sweikert in 1956.
Three times has the winner started 11th, most recently Alexander Rossi in 2016.
Ericsson has five consecutive top five finishes and it is the 41st time in Chip Ganassi Racing history one of its drivers is on such a streak.
He is the tenth different driver to have at least five consecutive top ten finishes joining Eddie Cheever, Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Bruno Junqueira, Scott Dixon, Tomas Scheckter, Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan.
Dixon is responsible for 19 of those 41 streaks.
The team record for longest top ten streak is 13 races, which Wheldon did in 2006-07 and Franchitti did in 2010-11.
Sweden could become the sixth nation with multiple drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 joining the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France and Italy.
Spencer Pigot
This will be Pigot’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 14th (2019).
Car #45 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started 12th, most recently Tony Kanaan in 2013.
This is the first time car #45 has been used in the Indianapolis 500 since Lyn St. James used it in 1996.
Pigot has taken the checkered flag in all four Indianapolis 500 starts but last year was the first time he completed all 500 miles.
He has led laps in the last two Indianapolis 500s, three laps and four laps respectively.
Pigot could become the eighth Californian to win the Indianapolis 500. California is currently tied with Indiana for start with the most Indianapolis 500 winners born there on seven drivers.
Pigot picked up his first career IMSA victory last month, winning in the LMP2 class at Sebring with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and co-driver Patrick Kelly.
Row 5:
Josef Newgarden
This will be Newgarden’s ninth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2016).
Car #1 has won the Indianapolis 500 seven times but not since Al Unser in 1971.
Four times has the winner started 13th, most recently Hélio Castroneves in 2002.
Newgarden could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Newgarden could become the first defending IndyCar champion to win the Indianapolis 500 since Dario Franchitti in 2012.
The last American defending champion to win the Indianapolis 500 the following year was Bobby Unser, who won the title in 1974 and the “500” in 1975.
The only other defending champions to win the Indianapolis 500 the following year since Unser are 1998 IRL champion Kenny Bräck winning the “500” in 1999 and Franchitti taking the title in 2009 and his second “500” victory in 2010.
Newgarden is the most recent winner in the NTT IndyCar Series. The only time he has won consecutive races in his career was in 2017 when he won at Toronto and Mid-Ohio.
The last two years has seen the winner of the race before the “500” gone on to win the “500.” The last time that occurred in three consecutive years was from 1968 through 1971 when Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti and Al Unser, in consecutive seasons, each won the race before the “500” and then won the “500.” It was the first victory for all three drivers. The last two Indianapolis 500 winners were also first-time winners.
Newgarden could become the first Tennessean to win the Indianapolis 500. Tennessee would be the 22nd state to produce an Indianapolis 500 winner.
Felix Rosenqvist
This will be Rosenqvist’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 28th (2019)
Car #10 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Dario Franchitti 2010.
Only once has the winner started 14th and that was Bob Sweikert in 1955.
It has been a year of firsts for Rosenqvist. He picked up his first career victory at Road America, but he also had his first streak of three consecutive finishes outside the top ten and he finished outside of the top ten at both Iowa races.
The last Indianapolis 500 winner to have won a race prior that season but have no other top ten finishes entering the Indianapolis 500 was Johnny Rutherford in 1976.
Sweden could become the sixth nation with multiple drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 joining the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France and Italy.
Patricio O’Ward
This will be O’Ward first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #5 has won the Indianapolis 500 six times but not since Arie Luyendyk in 1997.
Four times has the winner started 15th, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya in 2015.
O’Ward could become the seventh Mexican driver to start the Indianapolis 500 and first since Michel Jourdain, Jr. in 2012.
O’Ward could become the third Mexican driver to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year joining 1981 Rookie of the Year Josele Garza and 1989 co-Rookie of the Year Bernard Jourdain, who shared the honor with Scott Pruett.
O’Ward could become the youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 21 years, three months and 18 days old.
O’ward has led a lap in three consecutive races. Only two of six Mexican drivers have led an Indianapolis 500 and they combined for 16 laps led. Josele Garza led 13 laps as a rookie in 1981. Adrian Fernández led three laps in 2004.
O’Ward could be the first Mexican driver to win the Indianapolis 500. Mexico would be the 13th country to produce an Indianapolis 500 winner.
Row 6:
Ed Carpenter
This will be Carpenter’s 17th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2018).
Car #20 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times but not since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1989.
Twice has the winner started 16th, most recently Dario Franchitti in 2012.
Carpenter could break Sam Hanks’ record for most starts before first Indianapolis 500 victory. Hanks won the 1957 Indianapolis 500, his 13th start in the race.
Carpenter needs to lead 54 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Carpenter could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Carpenter could become the third Illinois-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and first since Floyd Davis in 1941.
Zach Veach
This will be Veach’s fourth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 23rd (2018).
Car #26 has won the Indianapolis 500 twice including last year with Takuma Sato.
Twice has the winner started 17th, most recently Eddie Cheever in 1998.
Veach has averaged a 17.8 finish over his last five starts. Texas was the third time Veach had a top five finish in his career. After his first two top five finishes, Veach followed it with eight consecutive finishes outside the top ten.
The last driver to score an Indianapolis 500 victory in his fourth start in the race was Gil de Ferran in 2003.
Veach could become the sixth Ohioan to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2006.
Row 5:
Josef Newgarden
This will be Newgarden’s ninth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2016).
Car #1 has won the Indianapolis 500 seven times but not since Al Unser in 1971.
Four times has the winner started 13th, most recently Hélio Castroneves in 2002.
Newgarden could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Newgarden could become the first defending IndyCar champion to win the Indianapolis 500 since Dario Franchitti in 2012.
The last American defending champion to win the Indianapolis 500 the following year was Bobby Unser, who won the title in 1974 and the “500” in 1975.
The only other defending champions to win the Indianapolis 500 the following year since Unser are 1998 IRL champion Kenny Bräck winning the “500” in 1999 and Franchitti taking the title in 2009 and his second “500” victory in 2010.
Newgarden is the most recent winner in the NTT IndyCar Series. The only time he has won consecutive races in his career was in 2017 when he won at Toronto and Mid-Ohio.
The last two years has seen the winner of the race before the “500” gone on to win the “500.” The last time that occurred in three consecutive years was from 1968 through 1971 when Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti and Al Unser, in consecutive seasons, each won the race before the “500” and then won the “500.” It was the first victory for all three drivers. The last two Indianapolis 500 winners were also first-time winners.
Newgarden could become the first Tennessean to win the Indianapolis 500. Tennessee would be the 22nd state to produce an Indianapolis 500 winner.
Felix Rosenqvist
This will be Rosenqvist’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 28th (2019)
Car #10 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Dario Franchitti 2010.
Only once has the winner started 14th and that was Bob Sweikert in 1955.
It has been a year of firsts for Rosenqvist. He picked up his first career victory at Road America, but he also had his first streak of three consecutive finishes outside the top ten and he finished outside of the top ten at both Iowa races.
The last Indianapolis 500 winner to have won a race prior that season but have no other top ten finishes entering the Indianapolis 500 was Johnny Rutherford in 1976.
Sweden could become the sixth nation with multiple drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 joining the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France and Italy.
Patricio O’Ward
This will be O’Ward first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #5 has won the Indianapolis 500 six times but not since Arie Luyendyk in 1997.
Four times has the winner started 15th, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya in 2015.
O’Ward could become the seventh Mexican driver to start the Indianapolis 500 and first since Michel Jourdain, Jr. in 2012.
O’Ward could become the third Mexican driver to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year joining 1981 Rookie of the Year Josele Garza and 1989 co-Rookie of the Year Bernard Jourdain, who shared the honor with Scott Pruett.
O’Ward could become the youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 21 years, three months and 18 days old.
O’ward has led a lap in three consecutive races. Only two of six Mexican drivers have led an Indianapolis 500 and they combined for 16 laps led. Josele Garza led 13 laps as a rookie in 1981. Adrian Fernández led three laps in 2004.
O’Ward could be the first Mexican driver to win the Indianapolis 500. Mexico would be the 13th country to produce an Indianapolis 500 winner.
Row 6:
Ed Carpenter
This will be Carpenter’s 17th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2018).
Car #20 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times but not since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1989.
Twice has the winner started 16th, most recently Dario Franchitti in 2012.
Carpenter could break Sam Hanks’ record for most starts before first Indianapolis 500 victory. Hanks won the 1957 Indianapolis 500, his 13th start in the race.
Carpenter needs to lead 54 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Carpenter could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Carpenter could become the third Illinois-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and first since Floyd Davis in 1941.
Zach Veach
This will be Veach’s fourth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 23rd (2018).
Car #26 has won the Indianapolis 500 twice including last year with Takuma Sato.
Twice has the winner started 17th, most recently Eddie Cheever in 1998.
Veach has averaged a 17.8 finish over his last five starts. Texas was the third time Veach had a top five finish in his career. After his first two top five finishes, Veach followed it with eight consecutive finishes outside the top ten.
The last driver to score an Indianapolis 500 victory in his fourth start in the race was Gil de Ferran in 2003.
Veach could become the sixth Ohioan to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2006.
Conor Daly
This will be Daly’s seventh Indianapolis 500 and hopefully sixth start.
Best Finish: 10th (2019)
Car #47 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 18th-starter is second, which occurred in 1920 by René Thomas and in 2009 and 2010 by Dan Wheldon.
This is the first time car #47 has been used in the Indianapolis 500 since Jimmy Vasser used it in 1992, Vasser’s rookie year.
Daly has never used the same number twice in the Indianapolis 500.
Last year was the first time Daly completed all 500 miles.
Daly could become the eighth Hoosier to win the Indianapolis 500 and first since Wilbur Shaw in 1940.
Row 7:
Santino Ferrucci
This will be Ferrucci’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 7th (2019)
Car #18 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started 19th, most recently Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2014.
Ferrucci was Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year last year.
Ferrucci could become the second youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 22 years and 85 days old, five days older than Troy Ruttman’s record for youngest winner.
The last reigning Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year to win the following Indianapolis 500 was Hélio Castroneves in 2002, who won the race in 2001. The previous time it happened was in 1995, when Jacques Villeneuve won the race after finishing runner-up as a rookie in 1994. The only other reigning Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year to win the race the following year was Rick Mears, who shared the 1978 rookie of the year honor with Larry Rice, and won the 1979.
Ferrucci could become the first Connecticut-born winner. Connecticut would be the 22nd state to produce an Indianapolis 500 winner.
Jack Harvey
This will be Harvey’s fourth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 16th (2018).
Car #60 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Three times has the winner started 20th, most recently Al Unser in 1987.
The best finish for car #60 in the Indianapolis 500 is fifth at the hands of Johnny Parsons in 1977.
Harvey could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Harvey scored a pair of seventh-place finishes at Iowa last month. It is the second time Harvey has had consecutive top ten finishes in his IndyCar career. He was tenth at both St. Petersburg and Austin last year. He has never had three consecutive top ten finishes.
Oliver Askew
This will be Askew’s first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #7 has won the Indianapolis 500 twice but not since Bill Holland in 1949.
Only once has the winner started 21st and that was L.L. Corum and Joe Boyer in 1924.
Askew could become the fourth youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 23 years, eight months and 12 days old.
Askew could become the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500 and if he does he would win the races in successive years.
Askew could not only become the first Florida-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500, he could also become the first Florida-born driver to ever win an IndyCar race! Florida would become the 22nd state to produce an Indianapolis 500 winner.
Row 8:
Will Power
This will be Power’s 13th Indianapolis 500 start.
2018 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #12 has won the Indianapolis 500 twice, most recently with Power in 2019. The other was Peter DePaolo in 1925 driving the #12 Miller.
Twice has the winner started 22nd but not since Kelly Petillo in 1935.
This is Power’s worst starting position in the Indianapolis 500 since he started 23rd in his rookie year in 2008. He had started in the top nine in 11 consecutive Indianapolis 500s.
Power has led a lap in seven consecutive Indianapolis 500s. He is tied with Tony Kanaan’s record for most consecutive Indianapolis 500s led. Kanaan did it from 2002 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2018.
Power needs to lead 58 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Power has led only 44 laps this season. His fewest through the first six races since he led only eight laps in the first six races of the 2016 season. The only season where he led fewer was his rookie year in 2006, where he did not lead until the 13th race.
Tony Kanaan
This will be Kanaan’s 19th Indianapolis 500 start.
2013 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #14 has won the Indianapolis 500 six times, most recently with Kenny Bräck in 1999.
The best finish for the 23rd-starter is second by Wilbur Shaw in 1933.
Kanaan has led 346 laps, the second most amongst active drivers. If Kanaan leads 54 laps, he will become the 14th driver to lead 400 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Kanaan has led a lap in 14 Indianapolis 500s, more than any other driver.
Kanaan could become the fifth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 45 years, seven months and 24 days.
If Kanaan completes seven laps, he will surpass Gordon Johncock for fifth most miles completed in an Indianapolis 500 career. If Kanaan completes 22 laps, he will surpass Al Unser, Jr. for fourth most miles completed in an Indianapolis 500 career.
If Kanaan completes 48 laps, he will be the fourth driver to reach 8,000 miles completed in an Indianapolis 500 career.
Dalton Kellett
This will be Kellett’s first Indianapolis 500 start
Car #41 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 24th-starter is fourth on five occasions (Denny Hulme in 1967, Mel Kenyon i 1969, Sammy Sessions in 1972, Eliseo Salazar in 1995 and Townsend Bell in 2009).
This is the second consecutive year a Foyt car has started 24th.
Kellett made four starts in the Freedom 100 and he finished in the top five all four times. He was third in each of his first three starts and fifth last year. He started on pole position for the 2018 Freedom 100.
Row 9:
Simon Pagenaud
This will be Pagenaud’s seventh Indianapolis 500 start.
2019 Indianapolis 500 winner
Pagenaud’s victory last year was car #22’s first Indianapolis 500 victory.
Only once has the winner started 25th and that was Johnny Rutherford in 1974.
This is the third consecutive race Pagenaud has started outside the top twenty and sixth consecutive race he has started outside the top fifteen. Despite his qualifying record, Pagenaud has four top five finishes from six races.
Pagenaud could become the sixth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 in consecutive years joining Wilbur Shaw (1939-40), Mauri Rose (1947-48), Bill Vukovich (1953-54), Al Unser (1970-71) and Hélio Castroneves (2001-02).
Pagenaud needs to lead 48 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Pagenaud has finished 37 consecutive races and he has finished on the lead lap in 15 consecutive races.
No European driver has ever won consecutive Indianapolis 500s. The only international driver to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s was Hélio Castroneves.
Of the five drivers to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s, only one did with the same number in each race. That was Bill Vukovich with car #14 in 1953 and 1954.
Fernando Alonso
This will be Alonso’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 24st (2017).
Car #66 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Mark Donohue 1972.
The best finish for the 26th-starter is third by Don Freeland in 1956 and by Paul Goldsmith in 1960.
Alonso was the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in 2017. Alonso could become the 13th Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year to win the Indianapolis 500.
Alonso could join Graham Hill as the only driver to complete the Triple Crown of Motorsports with victories in the Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Alonso could become the sixth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and the World Drivers’ Championship joining Jim Clark, Hill, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi and Jacques Villeneuve.
Alonso could become the second driver to be the incumbent Indianapolis 500 winner and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner joining A.J. Foyt, who won both races in 1967.
This could be Alonso’s final Indianapolis 500 start for an indefinite period of time, as he has signed to race for Renault in Formula One in 2021 and 2022.
James Davison
This will be Davison sixth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 12th (2019).
Car #51 has won the 1998 Indianapolis 500 with Eddie Cheever. It is the only victory for car #51.
Only once has the winner started 27th and that was by Fred Frame in 1932.
Cheever was the last driver to use car #51 in the Indianapolis 500 in 2006.
Davison will be the first foreign driver to use car #51 in Indianapolis 500 history.
Since last year’s Indianapolis 500, Davison made two USAC Silver Crown starts with finishes of ninth at Salem and fifth at Indianapolis Raceway Park. In January, he made his Chili Bowl debut, but only ran an M-main feature. He has made five NASCAR Cup Series starts this year.
Row 10:
Hélio Castroneves
This will be Castroneves’ 20th Indianapolis 500 start.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner (2001, 2002, 2009).
Car #3 has won the Indianapolis 500 eleven times, the most victories for a car number. Castroneves’ 2009 victory is the most recent victory for car #3.
Twice has the winner started 28th, inaugural winner Ray Harroun in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936.
Besides those two Indianapolis 500s, the only other IndyCar race won from 28th position was Castroneves at Chicagoland in 2008.
This is the worst starting position in Castroneves’ Indianapolis 500 career.
Castroneves could also set the record for most Indianapolis 500s between first and last victories as it has been 19 years since he won in 2001. Al Unser currently holds the record at 17 races between his first victory in 1970 and his fourth victory in 1987.
The only drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 in a 20th Indianapolis 500 start or later are A.J. Foyt, whose fourth victory was in his 20th start, and Al Unser, whose fourth victory was in his 22nd start.
Castroneves could become the fifth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 45 years, three months and 14 days old.
Castroneves could tie A.J. Foyt and Al Unser for most Indianapolis 500s finished at 18 if Castroneves takes the checkered flag.
Castroneves has said this will be his final Indianapolis 500 with Team Penske. No driver has made more Indianapolis 500 starts with Team Penske than Castroneves.
Charlie Kimball
This will be Kimball’s tenth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2015)
Car #4 has won the Indianapolis 500 five times but not since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993.
The best finish for the 29th-starter is second in 1911 by Ralph Mulford and in 2002 by Paul Tracy.
This is the worst starting position in Kimball’s IndyCar career. His previous worst was 28th in the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
Kimball has never started better than 14th in this race.
Kimball has finished outside the top fifteen in the last three Indianapolis 500s after having four top ten finishes in the previous five Indianapolis 500s, including a pair of top five finishes.
Max Chilton
This will be Chilton’s fourth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 4th (2017)
Car #59 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 30th-starter was fourth in 1936 by Mauri Rose.
This is the worst finish of Chilton’s IndyCar career.
Chilton’s top ten drought is up to 33 races. This will be Chilton’s 66th start. The only driver to score a first career victory in the 66th start of a career was Don Branson on August 26, 1962 at Langhorne.
Row 11:
Sage Karam
This will be Karam’s seventh Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 9th (2014).
Car #24 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Graham Hill 1966.
The best finish for the 31st-starter is fourth in 1951 by Andy Linden.
Since Karam finished ninth on his Indianapolis 500 debut in 2014, his average finish in the race is 27.4 and he has averaged 114.2 laps completed.
Karam ran the Grand Prix of Indianapolis last month and finished 23rd, one lap down. It is the first time he has run a race before the Indianapolis 500 since 2015. He has finished a lap down in nine consecutive starts. His most recent lead lap finish was Iowa 2015, where he finished third.
Karam could become the sixth Pennsylvania-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Bill Holland in 1949.
J.R. Hildebrand
This will be Hildebrand’s tenth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2011).
Car #67 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 32nd-starter is second in 1957 by Jim Rathmann and 1981 by Mario Andretti.
This is the first time car #67 has been used in the Indianapolis 500 since Josef Newgarden used it in 2014.
This is the fifth different number Hildebrand has used in the last five Indianapolis 500s.
The last driver to win the Indianapolis 500 in his tenth Indianapolis 500 start was Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993.
Hildebrand could become the eighth Californian to win the Indianapolis 500. California is currently tied with Indiana for start with the most Indianapolis 500 winners born there on seven drivers.
Ben Hanley
This will be Hanley’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 32nd (2019)
Car #81 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 33rd-starter is second in 1980 by Tom Sneva and 1992 by Scott Goodyear.
Last year, Hanley retired after 54 laps in this race due to a driveshaft failure.
Hanley has won in both of his IMSA starts this year with DragonSpeed. He was a part of the 24 Hours of Daytona LMP2 class winners with Colin Braun, Henrik Hedman and Harrison Newey. Hanley and Hedman won at Road America in the LMP2 class earlier this month.
NBC's coverage of the 104th Indianapolis 500 begins at 1:00 p.m. ET with green flag scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET. The race is scheduled for 200 laps.
