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| History is 500 miles away |
We find ourselves back at Memorial Day weekend and Indianapolis Motor Speedway becomes the focal point of the motorsports universe. The Indianapolis 500 returns to its customary weekend and after running behind closed doors in 2020, this year's race will see around 135,000 spectators at the facility. On track, the number of drivers remain the same, 33 are here representing a record 15 different countries. For nine men, they look to add to their legacies. Six look to become two-time winners, two look for a third triumph and one has another chance at a monumental fourth victory. While this year's race features the second most past winners, there are still 24 drivers who seek their own glory. Some are youngsters, ready to usurp the title of most notable IndyCar driver for the next decade. Others are seasoned veterans, looking to cement their careers with a sip of milk.
Starting Grid
Row 1:
Scott Dixon
This will be Dixon’s 19th 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.
Twenty-one times has the pole-sitter won the race, including Simon Pagenaud’s victory two years ago.
Dixon could become the third driver to win multiple Indianapolis 500s from pole position, joining Rick Mears who won three times from pole position, and Johnny Rutherford who won from pole position twice. Dixon has not won a race from pole position since Watkins Glen in 2016. He has not won a race from pole position on an oval since Motegi in 2009. Twelve of his 51 victories have come from pole position.
Dixon could become the first defending IndyCar champion to win the Indianapolis 500 since Dario Franchitti in 2012.
Dixon is third all-time in Indianapolis 500 laps led with 563. If he leads 47 laps, he will become the third driver to reach the 600 laps led milestone. If he leads 50 laps, he will pass Ralph DePalma for second most all-time. If he leads 82 laps, Dixon will surpass Al Unser for the most laps led in the history of the Indianapolis 500.
If Dixon leads a lap, he will tie Tony Kanaan for most Indianapolis 500s led with 14.
Last year, Dixon led the most laps for a record fifth time in the Indianapolis 500.
This is the 13th 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 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.
Colton Herta
This will be Herta’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 8th (2020)
Car #26 has won the Indianapolis 500 twice, Dan Wheldon in 2005 and Takuma Sato 2017.
Eleven times has the winner started second, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000.
This is Herta’s first front row start for the Indianapolis 500.
This is the first time Herta is starting on the front row for an oval race in his IndyCar career.
Herta could become the first driver born in the 21st century to start the Indianapolis 500.
Herta could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
A top five finish for Colton would make him and Bryan the tenth father/son duo to each have a top five finish in the Indianapolis 500.
Herta led his first Indianapolis 500 lap last year. His father Bryan led three laps in five Indianapolis 500 starts, all coming in 2004.
Herta could become the first driver born in the 21st century to win the Indianapolis 500. He would also be the youngest winner at 21 years and two months old.
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.
Rinus VeeKay
This will be VeeKay’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 20th (2020)
Car #21 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Thirteen times has the Indianapolis 500 winner started third, most recently Takuma Sato last year.
VeeKay is the youngest front row starter in Indianapolis 500 history.
VeeKay could become the third driver in the last four seasons to win the race before the Indianapolis 500 and the Indianapolis 500.
VeeKay is looking to snap a trend for first-time winners. Nine of the last ten first-time winners finished outside the top ten in their next start. The lone top ten finish was Alexander Rossi, who was tenth at Belle Isle after winning the 2016 Indianapolis 500.
The last drive to finish in the top five in the race after a first career victory was Takuma Sato, who was second in São Paulo after winning at Long Beach in 2013.
VeeKay could become the first driver born in the 21st century to win the Indianapolis 500. He would also be the youngest winner at 20 years, eight months and 19 days old.
Row 2:
Ed Carpenter
This will be Carpenter’s 18th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2018).
Car #20 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times but not since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1989.
Seven times has the winner started fourth, most recently Takuma Sato in 2017.
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.
Tony Kanaan
This will be Kanaan’s 20th Indianapolis 500 start.
2013 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #48 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Bobby Unser 1975.
Seven times has the winner started fifth, most recently Buddy Lazier in 1996.
Kanaan will become the tenth driver with at least 20 Indianapolis 500 starts.
Kanaan has led a lap in 14 Indianapolis 500s, more than any other driver.
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.
This is the first time Kanaan is starting in the top five since he started fourth at Pocono in 2017.
The only time Kanaan has won from fifth on the grid was at Nashville in 2004.
Chip Ganassi Racing has never had three different winners in an IndyCar season.
Kanaan could become the fourth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 46 years, four months and 30 days old.
Álex Palou
This will be Palou’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 28th (2020)
Car #10 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Dario Franchitti 2010.
Five times has the winner started sixth, most recently Dan Wheldon in 2011.
Carpenter could become the third Illinois-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and first since Floyd Davis in 1941.
Tony Kanaan
This will be Kanaan’s 20th Indianapolis 500 start.
2013 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #48 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Bobby Unser 1975.
Seven times has the winner started fifth, most recently Buddy Lazier in 1996.
Kanaan will become the tenth driver with at least 20 Indianapolis 500 starts.
Kanaan has led a lap in 14 Indianapolis 500s, more than any other driver.
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.
This is the first time Kanaan is starting in the top five since he started fourth at Pocono in 2017.
The only time Kanaan has won from fifth on the grid was at Nashville in 2004.
Chip Ganassi Racing has never had three different winners in an IndyCar season.
Kanaan could become the fourth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 46 years, four months and 30 days old.
Álex Palou
This will be Palou’s second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 28th (2020)
Car #10 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Dario Franchitti 2010.
Five times has the winner started sixth, most recently Dan Wheldon in 2011.
This is Palou's best qualifying result on an oval. He started on the front row for both Texas races earlier this month, but both those grids were set via entrants' points.
This is his 11th time starting in the top ten and this will be his 20th career start.
Palou could become the first Spaniard to win the Indianapolis 500.
It has been 15 years, nine months and two days since Oriol Servià won at Montreal, the only IndyCar victory for a Spaniard.
Palou could become the sixth youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 24 months, one month and 29 days old.
Row 3:
Ryan Hunter-Reay
This will be Hunter-Reay’s 14th Indianapolis 500 start.
2014 Indianapolis 500 winner.
His 2014 victory is the only Indianapolis 500 victory for car #28.
Five times has the winner started seventh, most recently A.J. Foyt in 1961.
Hunter-Reay has the 100th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 15.3076. He is just behind Billy Boat and just ahead of Tony Stewart.
Hunter-Reay needs to lead 37 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Hunter-Reay does not have a top five finish through the first five races of the season. It is his worst start since 2011 when it took him ten races to get his first top five result.
Palou could become the first Spaniard to win the Indianapolis 500.
It has been 15 years, nine months and two days since Oriol Servià won at Montreal, the only IndyCar victory for a Spaniard.
Palou could become the sixth youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 24 months, one month and 29 days old.
Row 3:
Ryan Hunter-Reay
This will be Hunter-Reay’s 14th Indianapolis 500 start.
2014 Indianapolis 500 winner.
His 2014 victory is the only Indianapolis 500 victory for car #28.
Five times has the winner started seventh, most recently A.J. Foyt in 1961.
Hunter-Reay has the 100th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 15.3076. He is just behind Billy Boat and just ahead of Tony Stewart.
Hunter-Reay needs to lead 37 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Hunter-Reay does not have a top five finish through the first five races of the season. It is his worst start since 2011 when it took him ten races to get his first top five result.
The only time Hunter-Reay has won from seventh on the grid was at Iowa in 2012.
Hunter-Reay could become the first American driver to win a second Indianapolis 500 since Al Unser, Jr. in 1994.
Hélio Castroneves
This will be Castroneves’ 21st Indianapolis 500 start.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner (2001, 2002, 2009).
Car #06 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started eighth, most recently Kenny Bräck in 1999.
The only time Castroneves has won from eighth in his career was at Kentucky in 2010.
Hélio Castroneves
This will be Castroneves’ 21st Indianapolis 500 start.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner (2001, 2002, 2009).
Car #06 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started eighth, most recently Kenny Bräck in 1999.
The only time Castroneves has won from eighth in his career was at Kentucky in 2010.
Car #06 has started four Indianapolis 500s, from 2008 to 2011 with Newman-Haas Racing. All four starts came with a different driver: Graham Rahal, Robert Doornbos, Hideki Mutoh and James Hinchliffe. It was the first Indianapolis 500 start or final Indianapolis 500 start for all four drivers.
Castroneves has the eighth best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 8.75.
Castroneves could also set the record for most Indianapolis 500s between first and last victories as it has been 20 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 was A.J. Foyt, whose fourth victory was in his 20th start and Al Unser, whose fourth victory was in his 22nd start.
This is Castroneves’ first Indianapolis 500 start with a team other than Team Penske.
Castroneves could set the record for most Indianapolis 500s finished if he takes the checkered flag. He is currently tied with A.J. Foyt and Al Unser for most all-time on 18 finishes.
Castroneves has led 305 laps in the Indianapolis, which has him ranked 18th all-time. If he leads 95 laps, he will become the 14th driver to lead 400 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Castroneves could become the fourth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 46 years and 20 days old.
Marcus Ericsson
This will be Ericsson’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 23rd (2019)
Car #8 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times but not since Bob Sweikert in 1956.
Only once has the winner started ninth and that was Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993.
Ericsson could become the second Swede to win the Indianapolis 500.
This will be the eighth time Ericsson has started a race in the top ten of an IndyCar race. In his previous seven top ten starts, he has not finished better than his starting position and only once has he finished equal to his starting position. He started and finished ninth at the second Iowa race last year.
This will be Ericsson’s 36th IndyCar start. Two drivers have picked up a first career victory in a 36th career start, Emil Andres at Milwaukee on June 6, 1948, and Michael Andretti at Long Beach on April 12, 1986.
Chip Ganassi Racing has never had three different drivers win a race in an IndyCar season.
Row 4:
Alexander Rossi
This will be Rossi’s sixth Indianapolis 500 start.
2016 Indianapolis 500 Winner.
Car #27 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times, most recently with Dario Franchitti in 2007.
Twice has the winner started tenth, most recently Gil de Ferran in 2003.
Rossi has the seventh best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 8.2. It is the best average finish among the drivers with at least five starts in this year’s race.
This will be Ericsson’s 36th IndyCar start. Two drivers have picked up a first career victory in a 36th career start, Emil Andres at Milwaukee on June 6, 1948, and Michael Andretti at Long Beach on April 12, 1986.
Chip Ganassi Racing has never had three different drivers win a race in an IndyCar season.
Row 4:
Alexander Rossi
This will be Rossi’s sixth Indianapolis 500 start.
2016 Indianapolis 500 Winner.
Car #27 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times, most recently with Dario Franchitti in 2007.
Twice has the winner started tenth, most recently Gil de Ferran in 2003.
Rossi has the seventh best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 8.2. It is the best average finish among the drivers with at least five starts in this year’s race.
Rossi has not won in his last 26 IndyCar starts and he has not led a lap this season.
Rossi needs to lead 23 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500. Sixty-four drivers have led 100 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Rossi has led a lap in all five of his Indianapolis 500 stats, but the most laps he has led in this race is 23, which he did in 2017.
Rossi needs to lead 23 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500. Sixty-four drivers have led 100 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Rossi has led a lap in all five of his Indianapolis 500 stats, but the most laps he has led in this race is 23, which he did in 2017.
Rossi could become the first American driver to win a second Indianapolis 500 since Al Unser, Jr. in 1994.
Ed Jones
This will be Jones’ fourth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2017)
Car #18 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Three times has the winner started 11th, most recently Alexander Rossi in 2016.
Jones started 11th for his Indianapolis 500 debut in 2017 with Dale Coyne Racing and he finished third. It is Dale Coyne Racing’s best finish in the Indianapolis 500.
Ed Jones
This will be Jones’ fourth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2017)
Car #18 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Three times has the winner started 11th, most recently Alexander Rossi in 2016.
Jones started 11th for his Indianapolis 500 debut in 2017 with Dale Coyne Racing and he finished third. It is Dale Coyne Racing’s best finish in the Indianapolis 500.
Jones has led only one lap in his IndyCar career. It was lap 129 at Texas in 2018.
This will be Jones’ 54th IndyCar start. Only 25 drivers have taken more than 54 starts to get a first career victory, including Josef Newgarden, whose first victory was his 55th start, and Jimmy Vasser, whose first victory was his 56th start.
Patricio O’Ward
This will be O’Ward second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 7th (2020)
Car #5 has won the Indianapolis 500 six times but not since Arie Luyendyk in 1997.
Twice has the winner started 12th, most recently Tony Kanaan in 2013.
O’Ward was Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year last year.
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.
O’Ward could become the first Mexican driver to win the Indianapolis 500.
O’Ward could become the youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 22 years and 24 days old. He would break the record by 56 days.
Row 5:
Pietro Fittipaldi
This will be Fittipaldi’s first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #51 won the 1998 Indianapolis 500 with Eddie Cheever.
Four times has the winner started 13th, most recently Hélio Castroneves in 2002.
Fittipaldi could become the first Florida-born driver to not only win the Indianapolis 500 but to also win an IndyCar race!
Fittipaldi could become the fourth Brazilian to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. His cousin Christian Fittipaldi won it with a runner-up finish in 1995, Christian’s only Indianapolis 500 start. Hélio Castroneves won it with his victory in 2001. Rubens Barrichello won it with an 11th-place finish in 2012.
A victory for Fittipaldi would make him and his grandfather Emerson the first grandfather-grandson duo to win the Indianapolis 500.
Fiittipaldi could become the ninth youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 24 years, 11 months and five days old.
Felix Rosenqvist
This will be Rosenqvist’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 12th (2020)
Car #7 has won the Indianapolis 500 twice but not since Bill Holland in 1949.
Only once has the winner started 14th and that was Bob Sweikert in 1955.
This is the second consecutive year Rosenqvist has started 14th in the Indianapolis 500.
Rosenqvist has led a lap in each of his first two Indianapolis 500 starts, six laps in 2019 and eight laps in 2020.
Rosenqvist could become the second Swede to win the Indianapolis 500.
The last IndyCar race won from 14th on the grid was the 2018 season opener at St. Petersburg with Sébastien Bourdais.
Takuma Sato
This will be Sato’s 12th Indianapolis 500 start.
Two-time and defending Indianapolis 500 winner.
Sato’s victory last year was the second time car #30 won the Indianapolis 500.
Four times has the winner started 15th, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya in 2015.
Sato 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).
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.
Sato needs to lead 22 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500. Sato is the only multi-time Indianapolis 500 winner to have led fewer than 100 laps. Sixty-four drivers have led 100 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing could become the first time not named Team Penske to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing in 1970-71.
Team Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 on consecutive occasions five times since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing won in 1970-71, including three straight victories from 2001-03.
Sato could become the fifth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 44 years, four months and two days old.
Sato could become the first driver to win three Indianapolis 500s after turning 40 years old.
Row 6:
James Hinchcliffe
This will be Hinchcliffe’s ninth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 6th (2012).
Car #29 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started 16th, most recently Dario Franchitti in 2012.
Hinchcliffe’s average finish in the Indianapolis 500 is 16.375, ranked 120th out of 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts.
Hinchcliffe needs to lead 46 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
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 33 starts. That was third at Iowa in 2019.
Scott McLaughlin
This will be McLaughlin’s first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #3 has won the Indianapolis 500 eleven times, the most victories for a car number. Its most recent victory was in 2009 with Hélio Castroneves.
Twice has the winner started 17th, most recently Eddie Cheever in 1998.
This will be Jones’ 54th IndyCar start. Only 25 drivers have taken more than 54 starts to get a first career victory, including Josef Newgarden, whose first victory was his 55th start, and Jimmy Vasser, whose first victory was his 56th start.
Patricio O’Ward
This will be O’Ward second Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 7th (2020)
Car #5 has won the Indianapolis 500 six times but not since Arie Luyendyk in 1997.
Twice has the winner started 12th, most recently Tony Kanaan in 2013.
O’Ward was Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year last year.
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.
O’Ward could become the first Mexican driver to win the Indianapolis 500.
O’Ward could become the youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 22 years and 24 days old. He would break the record by 56 days.
Row 5:
Pietro Fittipaldi
This will be Fittipaldi’s first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #51 won the 1998 Indianapolis 500 with Eddie Cheever.
Four times has the winner started 13th, most recently Hélio Castroneves in 2002.
Fittipaldi could become the first Florida-born driver to not only win the Indianapolis 500 but to also win an IndyCar race!
Fittipaldi could become the fourth Brazilian to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. His cousin Christian Fittipaldi won it with a runner-up finish in 1995, Christian’s only Indianapolis 500 start. Hélio Castroneves won it with his victory in 2001. Rubens Barrichello won it with an 11th-place finish in 2012.
A victory for Fittipaldi would make him and his grandfather Emerson the first grandfather-grandson duo to win the Indianapolis 500.
Fiittipaldi could become the ninth youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 24 years, 11 months and five days old.
Felix Rosenqvist
This will be Rosenqvist’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 12th (2020)
Car #7 has won the Indianapolis 500 twice but not since Bill Holland in 1949.
Only once has the winner started 14th and that was Bob Sweikert in 1955.
This is the second consecutive year Rosenqvist has started 14th in the Indianapolis 500.
Rosenqvist has led a lap in each of his first two Indianapolis 500 starts, six laps in 2019 and eight laps in 2020.
Rosenqvist could become the second Swede to win the Indianapolis 500.
The last IndyCar race won from 14th on the grid was the 2018 season opener at St. Petersburg with Sébastien Bourdais.
Takuma Sato
This will be Sato’s 12th Indianapolis 500 start.
Two-time and defending Indianapolis 500 winner.
Sato’s victory last year was the second time car #30 won the Indianapolis 500.
Four times has the winner started 15th, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya in 2015.
Sato 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).
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.
Sato needs to lead 22 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500. Sato is the only multi-time Indianapolis 500 winner to have led fewer than 100 laps. Sixty-four drivers have led 100 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing could become the first time not named Team Penske to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing in 1970-71.
Team Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 on consecutive occasions five times since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing won in 1970-71, including three straight victories from 2001-03.
Sato could become the fifth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 44 years, four months and two days old.
Sato could become the first driver to win three Indianapolis 500s after turning 40 years old.
Row 6:
James Hinchcliffe
This will be Hinchcliffe’s ninth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 6th (2012).
Car #29 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started 16th, most recently Dario Franchitti in 2012.
Hinchcliffe’s average finish in the Indianapolis 500 is 16.375, ranked 120th out of 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts.
Hinchcliffe needs to lead 46 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
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 33 starts. That was third at Iowa in 2019.
Scott McLaughlin
This will be McLaughlin’s first Indianapolis 500 start.
Car #3 has won the Indianapolis 500 eleven times, the most victories for a car number. Its most recent victory was in 2009 with Hélio Castroneves.
Twice has the winner started 17th, most recently Eddie Cheever in 1998.
The last driver to use the #3 in the Indianapolis 500 not named Hélio Castroneves was Al Unser, Jr. in 2001.
McLaughlin will be the fifth New Zealander to start the Indianapolis 500 joining Denny Hulme, Graham McRae, Scott Dixon and Wade Cunningham.
McLaughlin could join Hulme as the only New Zealanders to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.
This will be McLaughlin’s seventh IndyCar start. Nine drivers have picked up a first career victory in a seventh career start, but not since Art Bisch at Milwaukee on June 8, 1958.
Two drivers have picked up their first career IndyCar victory in their seventh career start, which happened to be the Indianapolis 500. Louis Schneider did it in 1931 and Floyd Roberts did it in 1938. Both Schneider and Roberts won in car #23 and those two victories remain the only victories for car #23 in IndyCar history.
Graham Rahal
This will be Rahal’s 14th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2011, 2020).
Car #15 has won the Indianapolis 500 three times, most recently with Buddy Rice in 2004.
The best finish for the 18th-starter is second, which occurred in 1920 by René Thomas and in 2009 and 2010 by Dan Wheldon.
Rahal could break Sam Hanks’ record for most starts before first Indianapolis 500 victory. Hanks’ first victory was in his 13th start.
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 the Indianapolis 500 at three times.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing could become the first time not named Team Penske to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing in 1970-71.
Team Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 on consecutive occasions five times since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing won in 1970-71, including three straight victories from 2001-03.
Rahal could become the sixth Ohioan to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2006.
Row 7:
Conor Daly
This will be Daly’s eighth Indianapolis 500 and hopefully seventh start.
Best Finish: 10th (2019)
Car #47 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Twice has the winner started 19th, most recently Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2014.
Car #47 is the first number Daly has run in multiple Indianapolis 500s.
Daly has the 250th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 24.85714. It is the worst average finish among the drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts in this year’s race.
Daly's best finish this season is 16th at Barber and St. Petersburg. He has finished outside the top twenty in the last three races and he has finished outside the top ten in his last ten starts.
Daly has not had a top five finish this he was fifth at Gateway in 2017, 32 starts ago.
Daly could become the eighth Hoosier to win the Indianapolis 500 and first since Wilbur Shaw in 1940.
Jack Harvey
This will be Harvey’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 9th (2020).
Car #60 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Three times has the winner started 20th, most recently Al Unser in 1987.
This is the second consecutive year Harvey has started 20th in the Indianapolis 500. This is Harvey's worst starting position of the season. Harvey has finished worse than his starting position in the last four races and he has not finished better than his starting position this season. He opened 2021 starting and finishing 11th at Barber.
Daly could become the eighth Hoosier to win the Indianapolis 500 and first since Wilbur Shaw in 1940.
Jack Harvey
This will be Harvey’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 9th (2020).
Car #60 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Three times has the winner started 20th, most recently Al Unser in 1987.
This is the second consecutive year Harvey has started 20th in the Indianapolis 500. This is Harvey's worst starting position of the season. Harvey has finished worse than his starting position in the last four races and he has not finished better than his starting position this season. He opened 2021 starting and finishing 11th at Barber.
Harvey could become the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
This will be Harvey’s 39th IndyCar start. Four drivers have picked up a first career victory in a 39th career start. Manny Ayulo did it at Darlington on July 5, 1954, Jim McElreath did it at Trenton on April 25, 1965, John Andretti did it at Surfers Paradise on March 17, 1991, and Simon Pagenaud did it on June 2, 2013 at Belle Isle.
Josef Newgarden
This will be Newgarden’s tenth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 3rd (2016).
Car #2 has won the Indianapolis 500 nine times, most recently Juan Pablo Montoya 2015.
Only once has the winner started 21st and that was L.L. Corum and Joe Boyer in 1924.
This 21st starting position snaps a streak of 12 consecutive top ten starts for Newgarden. The last time he started outside the top ten was 13th in last year's Indianapolis 500.
This is Newgarden's worst starting position since he started 22nd in the 2017 Indianapolis 500, his first Indianapolis 500 with Team Penske.
Four times has an Indianapolis 500 winner won in their tenth Indianapolis 500 start (A.J. Foyt 1967, Tom Sneva 1983, Al Unser, Jr. 1992 and Emerson Fittipaldi 1993).
The worst starting position for a Team Penske Indianapolis 500 winner is 20th with Al Unser in 1987.
Newgarden could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Newgarden could become the first Tennessee-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500.
Row 8:
J.R. Hildebrand
This will be Hildebrand’s 11th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2011).
Car #1 has won the Indianapolis 500 seven times but not since Al Unser in 1971.
Twice has the winner started 22nd but not since Kelly Petillo in 1935.
Hildebrand is the first non-reigning champion to use the #1 in the Indianapolis 500 since Michael Andretti in 2006.
Hildebrand has the 69th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 13.6.
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.
Santino Ferrucci
This will be Ferrucci’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 4th (2020)
Car #45 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 23rd-starter is second by Wilbur Shaw in 1933.
Ferrucci could become the first Connecticut-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and he would be just the second Nutmugger to win an IndyCar race, joining Scott Sharp.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing could become the first time not named Team Penske to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing in 1970-71.
Team Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 on consecutive occasions five times since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing won in 1970-71, including three straight victories from 2001-03.
Ferrucci could become the third youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 22 years, 11 months and 30 days old. This year’s race is a day before his 23rd birthday.
Juan Pablo Montoya
This will be Montoya’s sixth Indianapolis 500 start.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #86 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 24th-starter is fourth on five occasions (Denny Hulme in 1967, Mel Kenyon in 1969, Sammy Sessions in 1972, Eliseo Salazar in 1995 and Townsend Bell in 2009).
This is Montoya’s worst starting position in the Indianapolis 500.
It is the second consecutive race Montoya has started outside the top twenty. Prior to the start of this month, he had only started outside the top twenty in two of his first 93 IndyCar starts.
Montoya has the 13th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 9.2.
This is the first time car #86 has made the Indianapolis 500 since Jeff Andretti used it in 1991.
Montoya needs to lead seven laps to become the 31st driver to lead 200 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Montoya could join Bobby Unser and Rick Mears as the only drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 in three different decades.
Montoya could become the fifth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 45 years, eight months and ten days old.
Row 9:
Marco Andretti
This will be Andretti’s 16th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2006).
Car #98 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times, most recently Alexander Rossi 2016.
Only once has the winner started 25th and that was Johnny Rutherford in 1974.
Rutherford won that 1974 race after starting on pole position the year before without leading a lap. Last year, Andretti started on pole position and did not lead a lap. That 1974 race is one of seven rain-shortened Indianapolis 500s.
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 not finished in the top five of his last six 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 six races after leading a lap in seven of his first nine Indianapolis 500s.
Four times has an Indianapolis 500 winner won in their tenth Indianapolis 500 start (A.J. Foyt 1967, Tom Sneva 1983, Al Unser, Jr. 1992 and Emerson Fittipaldi 1993).
The worst starting position for a Team Penske Indianapolis 500 winner is 20th with Al Unser in 1987.
Newgarden could be the first driver to win the Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500.
Newgarden could become the first Tennessee-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500.
Row 8:
J.R. Hildebrand
This will be Hildebrand’s 11th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2011).
Car #1 has won the Indianapolis 500 seven times but not since Al Unser in 1971.
Twice has the winner started 22nd but not since Kelly Petillo in 1935.
Hildebrand is the first non-reigning champion to use the #1 in the Indianapolis 500 since Michael Andretti in 2006.
Hildebrand has the 69th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 13.6.
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.
Santino Ferrucci
This will be Ferrucci’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 4th (2020)
Car #45 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 23rd-starter is second by Wilbur Shaw in 1933.
Ferrucci could become the first Connecticut-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and he would be just the second Nutmugger to win an IndyCar race, joining Scott Sharp.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing could become the first time not named Team Penske to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing in 1970-71.
Team Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 on consecutive occasions five times since Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing won in 1970-71, including three straight victories from 2001-03.
Ferrucci could become the third youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 22 years, 11 months and 30 days old. This year’s race is a day before his 23rd birthday.
Juan Pablo Montoya
This will be Montoya’s sixth Indianapolis 500 start.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
Car #86 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 24th-starter is fourth on five occasions (Denny Hulme in 1967, Mel Kenyon in 1969, Sammy Sessions in 1972, Eliseo Salazar in 1995 and Townsend Bell in 2009).
This is Montoya’s worst starting position in the Indianapolis 500.
It is the second consecutive race Montoya has started outside the top twenty. Prior to the start of this month, he had only started outside the top twenty in two of his first 93 IndyCar starts.
Montoya has the 13th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 9.2.
This is the first time car #86 has made the Indianapolis 500 since Jeff Andretti used it in 1991.
Montoya needs to lead seven laps to become the 31st driver to lead 200 laps in the Indianapolis 500.
Montoya could join Bobby Unser and Rick Mears as the only drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 in three different decades.
Montoya could become the fifth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 45 years, eight months and ten days old.
Row 9:
Marco Andretti
This will be Andretti’s 16th Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 2nd (2006).
Car #98 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times, most recently Alexander Rossi 2016.
Only once has the winner started 25th and that was Johnny Rutherford in 1974.
Rutherford won that 1974 race after starting on pole position the year before without leading a lap. Last year, Andretti started on pole position and did not lead a lap. That 1974 race is one of seven rain-shortened Indianapolis 500s.
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 not finished in the top five of his last six 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 six races after leading a lap in seven of his first nine Indianapolis 500s.
Andretti has an average finish of 12th in 15 Indianapolis 500 starts. He is tied with Jim Clark, Earl DeVore, Simon Pagenaud, Bobby Rahal and Floyd Roberts for 46th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts.
Andretti’s father Michael ranks 44th at 11.75. His grandfather Mario ranks 168th at 18.25 and his uncle John ranks 166that 18.08333.
Andretti could become the first Pennsylvania-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 since Bill Holland in 1949.
A victory for Andretti would make him and his grandfather Mario the first grandfather-grandson duo to win the Indianapolis 500.
Simon Pagenaud
This will be Pagenaud’s tenth Indianapolis 500 start.
2019 Indianapolis 500 winner
Pagenaud’s 2019 victory was car #22’s first Indianapolis 500 victory.
The best finish for the 26th-starter is third by Don Freeland in 1956 and by Paul Goldsmith in 1960.
This is the worst starting position of Pagenaud’s IndyCar career. His previous worst was 25th at last year’s Indianapolis 500.
This is the 12th time Pagenaud has started outside the top ten in the last 20 races.
Pagenaud needs to lead 34 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Pagenaud has only led 15 laps over his last 19 starts. Fourteen of those laps led were in last year's Indianapolis 500.
Pagenaud could become only the third driver with multiple Indianapolis 500 victories driving for Team Penske. Rick Mears and Hélio Castroneves are the only drivers to have done it.
Sébastien Bourdais
This will be Bourdais’ ninth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 7th (2014)
Car #14 has won the Indianapolis 500 six times, most recently with Kenny Bräck in 1999.
Only once has the winner started 27th and that was by Fred Frame in 1932.
This is Bourdais’ worst Indianapolis 500 starting position and the worst starting position in his career. His previous worst Indianapolis 500 starting position was 25th in 2012. His previous worst career starting position was 26th at the 2012 St. Petersburg race driving a Lotus-powered Dragon Racing entry.
Sébastien Bourdais
This will be Bourdais’ ninth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 7th (2014)
Car #14 has won the Indianapolis 500 six times, most recently with Kenny Bräck in 1999.
Only once has the winner started 27th and that was by Fred Frame in 1932.
This is Bourdais’ worst Indianapolis 500 starting position and the worst starting position in his career. His previous worst Indianapolis 500 starting position was 25th in 2012. His previous worst career starting position was 26th at the 2012 St. Petersburg race driving a Lotus-powered Dragon Racing entry.
Bourdais has 37 IndyCar victories and he is one of three drivers with at least 30 IndyCar victories but zero Indianapolis 500 victories. Michael Andretti has the most with 42 victories and Paul Tracy has 31 victories.
Bourdais' four championships is the most for a driver without an Indianapolis 500 victory. Only six other drivers have multiple IndyCar championships and zero Indianapolis 500 victories. Ted Horn is the only other driver with at least three championships to never win the Indianapolis 500 while Rex Mays, Tony Bettenhausen, Joe Leonard, Alex Zanardi and Josef Newgarden all have two championships and zero Indianapolis 500 victories.
Bourdais could become the tenth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 42 years, three months and two days old.
Row 10:
Stefan Wilson
This will be Wilson’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 15th (2018)
Car #25 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Al Unser’s fourth victory in 1987.
Twice has the winner started 28th, inaugural winner Ray Harroun in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936.
Wilson led three laps in his last Indianapolis 500 before he had to make his final stop with five laps to go. It is one of 17 Indianapolis 500s where the final lead change has come in the final five laps of the race.
Stefan’s brother Justin led 13 laps in eight Indianapolis 500 starts.
Max Chilton
This will be Chilton’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 4th (2017)
Car #59 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 29th-starter is second in 1911 by Ralph Mulford and in 2002 by Paul Tracy.
Chilton needs to lead 50 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Chilton has not led a lap since he led ten at Portland in 2018.
Chilton has not had a top ten finish in his last 42 starts.
This will be Chilton’s 75th IndyCar start. Only 11 drivers took greater than 75 starts to get a first career victory, including Arie Luyendyk, whose first career victory was the 1990 Indianapolis 500, Luyendyk’s 76th start.
Dalton Kellett
This will be Kellett’s second Indianapolis 500 start
Best Finish: 31st (2020)
Car #4 has won the Indianapolis 500 five times but not since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993.
The best finish for the 30th-starter was fourth in 1936 by Mauri Rose.
Kellett has finished better than his starting position in four of five races this season with the only exception being starting and finished 23rd for the second Texas race.
This is the worst starting position of Kellet’s career. His previous worst was 26th in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis last year, his IndyCar debut.
Row 11:
Sage Karam
This will be Karam’s eighth 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.
This is the fourth time Karam is starting 31st in the Indianapolis 500. He went from 31st to ninth on debut in 2014.
Karam could become the first Pennsylvania-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 since Bill Holland in 1949.
Bourdais could become the tenth oldest Indianapolis 500 winner at 42 years, three months and two days old.
Row 10:
Stefan Wilson
This will be Wilson’s third Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 15th (2018)
Car #25 has won the Indianapolis 500 once, Al Unser’s fourth victory in 1987.
Twice has the winner started 28th, inaugural winner Ray Harroun in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936.
Wilson led three laps in his last Indianapolis 500 before he had to make his final stop with five laps to go. It is one of 17 Indianapolis 500s where the final lead change has come in the final five laps of the race.
Stefan’s brother Justin led 13 laps in eight Indianapolis 500 starts.
Max Chilton
This will be Chilton’s fifth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 4th (2017)
Car #59 has never won the Indianapolis 500.
The best finish for the 29th-starter is second in 1911 by Ralph Mulford and in 2002 by Paul Tracy.
Chilton needs to lead 50 laps to reach the 100 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Chilton has not led a lap since he led ten at Portland in 2018.
Chilton has not had a top ten finish in his last 42 starts.
This will be Chilton’s 75th IndyCar start. Only 11 drivers took greater than 75 starts to get a first career victory, including Arie Luyendyk, whose first career victory was the 1990 Indianapolis 500, Luyendyk’s 76th start.
Dalton Kellett
This will be Kellett’s second Indianapolis 500 start
Best Finish: 31st (2020)
Car #4 has won the Indianapolis 500 five times but not since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993.
The best finish for the 30th-starter was fourth in 1936 by Mauri Rose.
Kellett has finished better than his starting position in four of five races this season with the only exception being starting and finished 23rd for the second Texas race.
This is the worst starting position of Kellet’s career. His previous worst was 26th in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis last year, his IndyCar debut.
Row 11:
Sage Karam
This will be Karam’s eighth 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.
This is the fourth time Karam is starting 31st in the Indianapolis 500. He went from 31st to ninth on debut in 2014.
Karam could become the first Pennsylvania-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 since Bill Holland in 1949.
Karam has the 249th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 24.2857.
Will Power
This will be Power’s 14th 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.
The best finish for the 32nd-starter is second in 1957 by Jim Rathmann and 1981 by Mario Andretti.
This is the first time a Team Penske car is starting on the final row of the Indianapolis 500 since 1978 when Mario Andretti started 33rd. Andretti started 33rd because he replaced Mike Hiss, who qualified the car eighth while Andretti drove won the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder.
Last year, Power broke the record for most consecutive Indianapolis 500s led as it was his eighth consecutive year leading the race.
Power needs to lead 56 laps to reach the 200 laps led milestone in the Indianapolis 500.
Power has the 36th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 11.5384.
The only time an Indianapolis 500 winner won the race in a 14th Indianapolis 500 start was Rick Mears in 1991.
Power could become only the third driver with multiple Indianapolis 500 victories driving for Team Penske. Rick Mears and Hélio Castroneves are the only drivers to have done it.
The last time the 32nd starter finished in the top five was when Alexander Rossi finished fourth in 2018.
Simona de Silvestro
This will be de Silvestro’s sixth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 14th (2010).
Car #16 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times, but not since George Robson in 1946.
The best finish for the 33rd-starter is second in 1980 by Tom Sneva and 1992 by Scott Goodyear.
De Silvestro has the 237th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 22.6
This is de Silvestro’s first Indianapolis 500 start since 2015.
The last time the 32nd starter finished in the top five was when Alexander Rossi finished fourth in 2018.
Simona de Silvestro
This will be de Silvestro’s sixth Indianapolis 500 start.
Best Finish: 14th (2010).
Car #16 has won the Indianapolis 500 four times, but not since George Robson in 1946.
The best finish for the 33rd-starter is second in 1980 by Tom Sneva and 1992 by Scott Goodyear.
De Silvestro has the 237th best average finish among the 256 drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts at 22.6
This is de Silvestro’s first Indianapolis 500 start since 2015.
The last time the 33rd starter finished in the top ten was in 2001 when Felipe Giaffone finished tenth.
The last time the 33rd starter finished in the top five was Goodyear’s runner-up finish in 1992.
Pre-race coverage for the 105th Indianapolis 500 will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC's pre-race coverage will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET. Green flag is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. The race is scheduled for 200 laps.
