We should be days away from race day and examining the grid after qualifying lifted the spirits of many and bumping broke a few hearts. The festivities should be receiving their final touches. People should be in transits or packing a suitcase. Drivers should be returning to Indianapolis after a national media tour. Some of that stuff will have to wait another three months.
With this open time, I revisited something done at the end of the Centennial Era celebrations and that is The Greatest 33, a selection of the top 33 drivers in Indianapolis 500 history. A new decade is starting so I figured it would be fitting to revisit this list and toy with what it would look like with 104 Indianapolis 500s completed.
The original list had its critics. There is no correct answer to any collection of the top 33 drivers. People are going to have different criteria; some eras will be overlooked and there is not going to be a consensus on all 33 spots. There are probably 15 drivers that everyone can agree on. That leaves over half the spots up for debate.
I don't recall being upset about any of original drivers. I know there are a few names I would have included but two or three names aren't that many. Looking at the list now, we do not have the 100th anniversary looming over head and I think that drove some of the decisions. Revisiting the list and combing over the numbers allows you to see some inconsistencies in the selection process and the positioning of the drivers that made it. Without turning it into an event you do not have certain parties lobbying for certain drivers to be included over others. After all, 777 drivers have contested the Indianapolis 500, a great number of those drivers are no longer with us to vouch for themselves, while some that are alive can draw attention to their accomplishments.
Nine years after the initial list, change is expected. Anyone thinking in 2011 that these would be the same 33 greatest drivers in 2020 is foolish. This list was going to have a few changes because it is a living event. We had nine more races, nine more chances to pile up statistics. Fifty-five more drivers have started the Indianapolis 500 since the release of the original Greatest 33. It couldn't be the same.
I will say that I did set up criteria for myself when selecting this 2020 edition of The Greatest 33. For starters, I felt like there had to be a minimum number of starts because it is hard to weigh a driver that made only two starts versus a driver with seven, eight or nine starts. Two is too limited of a sample size. You can have two great races, and there are a handful of drivers who did, but it is hard to definitively say those drivers are in the top 33 in Indianapolis 500 history. With that minimum starts in place, two drivers from the original list were automatically bumped.
When it came to statistics, I made sure to really look at drivers and see who has similar numbers and factor in the number of starts. It is one thing to have a victory, three top fives and five top tens in six starts but to have the same numbers in 14 starts is not as impressive.
An Indianapolis 500 victory is not necessary for inclusion into The Greatest 33 but with 73 winners it is becoming hard to justify any driver being included without a victory. If you didn't win the Indianapolis 500 then you better have had a runner-up finish or a handful of races that got away because of mechanical problems.
I was probably more critical than you are going to like, and some drivers are going to be lower than you would expect. There are a handful of drivers you would not consider that made my top 33 but this is an event with over 100 years of history. Some of the greatest of all-time competed in the early days of the race, when riding mechanics were mandatory and the average speed was below 100 MPH. The event has evolved but that does not mean we should forget its origins.
I could not put out a list of The Greatest 33 drivers without posting something about the drivers that failed to make it. It is important to put out the thought process and reasons why a driver was bumped and why a driver missed out this time around.
To be as fair as I could, this list of did not qualify drivers includes 49 names, the six drivers bumped from the original list, the 38 other race winners that were not on the original list and did not make my 2020 list and five other drivers who were not on the original list, are not on the 2020 lists and do not have an Indianapolis 500 victory to their name.
We are going to start with the six bumped drivers, then proceed to go through all the Indianapolis 500 winners in chronological order before ending with the five non-winners. This was not easy and what you read below might make you angry. Don't let it bother you too much.
The full grid of The Greatest 33 will be posted tomorrow.
Bumped
Bobby Rahal
2011 Position: 21st
Starts: 13
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 5
Top Tens: 7
Races Led: 6
Laps Led: 124
Laps Completed: 2,007
Average Finish: 12
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Though retiring from driving after the 1998 season, Rahal has remained active in IndyCar and being present certainly helps your case.
When looking at the numbers compared to other drivers it was hard to keep Rahal in the field, let alone at 21st.
Giving you a peek behind the curtain, the battle for the final spots were between Rahal, Jim Rathmann and Mark Donohue.
Rahal and Rathmann are virtually identical. Both had one victory, five top five finishes, seven top ten finishes and led six times. Rathmann led 31 more laps and made one more start. In the original list, Rathmann was 30th. What separated these drivers by nine spots nine years ago is unclear, especially when taking into consideration Rathmann completed all 500 miles in seven of 14 starts to Rahal's three times.
In fairness, Rathmann competed when drivers were allowed to complete the 500 miles up to an hour after the winner had taken the checkered flag. This time was reduced to five minutes starting with the 1964 race and continued through 1974. From 1975 onward, once the winner took the checkered flag, every other competitor's race also ended. While Rahal completed 500 miles three times, he did finish a lap down three times and three laps down once. If he had the same provisions as Rathmann, he likely would have been equal on 500-mile races completed.
Where do we separate the drivers? Rathmann had three runner-up finishes. He is one of seven drivers tied for most runner-up finishes in Indianapolis 500 history. Rahal's lone runner-up finish was in 1990, though he finished third in his final two starts.
That set up Rahal vs. Donohue and it was hard to split the drivers. Donohue was 22nd on the original list and only made five starts. Donohue led only 70 laps, but he led 9.36% of the laps he completed compared to Rahal's 6.17%. He started on the front row three times and never started worse than fifth. His average finish was two spots better than Rahal.
I gave Donohue the edge, but Rahal's exclusion does not mean he is a bad driver. Rahal is arguably the 34th best driver in Indianapolis 500 history out of 777 drivers. Even if you knock him down to 40th, he is still almost in the top five percent. That is still great.
Most surprising statistic?
Rahal started 17th or worse in five of 13 starts.
Ray Harroun
2011 Position: 25th
Starts: 1
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 88
Laps Completed: 200
Average Finish: 1
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Harroun is one of the two drivers not to meet the minimum start criteria.
That doesn't mean his performance in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 is not impressive but how can you weigh one Indianapolis 500 start, albeit it a victory, against a driver with five starts or nine starts or 17 starts?
I remember back in 2011 some people not including Harroun with the thought process being winning the inaugural Indianapolis 500 alone does not mean he is one of the greatest 33 drivers to run the race. Harroun did have a great career at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his eight victories at the track is still second most all-time but being the first Indianapolis 500 winner does not mean one is among the greatest in the event's 103 races.
Harroun has his place in history and leading 88 laps on way to victory is a great performance in any year. I am not sure it falls into the top 33 spots. Does it fall into the top 100? It might! Top 75? Perhaps. For any driver to make it based on one race, it has to be something monumentally historic.
Most surprising statistic?
Harroun led 88 laps from 28th on the grid, still tied for the record of furthest starting position in Indianapolis 500 history.
Starts: 1
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 88
Laps Completed: 200
Average Finish: 1
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Harroun is one of the two drivers not to meet the minimum start criteria.
That doesn't mean his performance in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 is not impressive but how can you weigh one Indianapolis 500 start, albeit it a victory, against a driver with five starts or nine starts or 17 starts?
I remember back in 2011 some people not including Harroun with the thought process being winning the inaugural Indianapolis 500 alone does not mean he is one of the greatest 33 drivers to run the race. Harroun did have a great career at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his eight victories at the track is still second most all-time but being the first Indianapolis 500 winner does not mean one is among the greatest in the event's 103 races.
Harroun has his place in history and leading 88 laps on way to victory is a great performance in any year. I am not sure it falls into the top 33 spots. Does it fall into the top 100? It might! Top 75? Perhaps. For any driver to make it based on one race, it has to be something monumentally historic.
Most surprising statistic?
Harroun led 88 laps from 28th on the grid, still tied for the record of furthest starting position in Indianapolis 500 history.
Danny Sullivan
2011 Position: 27th
Starts: 12
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 162
Laps Completed: 1,523
Average Finish: 17.1667
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Is Sullivan's career boasted because of one moment? If Sullivan does not have his spin exiting turn one in 1985 and won that race, would we celebrate him as much as we do?
Sullivan was 27th on the original list, but when looking at the numbers it is difficult to keep him on there because I am not sure you can argue he is better than Ryan Hunter-Reay.
The two drivers both have made 12 starts and both have an Indianapolis 500 victory. The difference is Hunter-Reay has three top-five finishes to Sullivan's two, both drivers have five top ten finishes, but Hunter-Reay has led one more lap and completed 548 more laps. Hunter-Reay has finished all 500 miles six times while Sullivan went the distance once, his 1985 victory. Add to it Hunter-Reay has an average finish of 15.75 to Sullivan's 17.1667.
We are going to discuss Hunter-Reay later on, but I can't put Sullivan ahead of Hunter-Reay and if I do not have Hunter-Reay making it, then Sullivan is out.
Most surprising statistic?
It is one-time completing all 500 miles.
Graham Hill
2011 Position: 28th
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 10
Laps Completed: 333
Average Finish: 17.333
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Hill is the second of two original Greatest 33 drivers to not meet the minimum starts requirement.
Similar to Harroun, I recall some push back to Hill making it because his victory really was a race that fell into his lap, so much so that despite winning the race as a rookie, Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors went to Jackie Stewart, who lost the lead with ten laps to go when his lost oil pressure and he had a lap on Hill at the time.
I think the fact that Hill is the only driver to complete the Triple Crown of Motorsports, whether that is Indianapolis, Monaco or Le Mans or the World Drivers' Championship substituted for Monaco, led to his inclusion. The other three World Drivers' Champions to win the Indianapolis 500 were shoe-ins and I feel like people felt obligated to include Hill.
To give Hill credit, he was going to finish all 500 miles as a rookie. His victory was not completely down to fortune, but I think even Hill himself would recognize he is not in the top 33.
Most surprising statistic?
There is really nothing about Hill's Indianapolis 500 career that is surprising.
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 10
Laps Completed: 333
Average Finish: 17.333
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Hill is the second of two original Greatest 33 drivers to not meet the minimum starts requirement.
Similar to Harroun, I recall some push back to Hill making it because his victory really was a race that fell into his lap, so much so that despite winning the race as a rookie, Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors went to Jackie Stewart, who lost the lead with ten laps to go when his lost oil pressure and he had a lap on Hill at the time.
I think the fact that Hill is the only driver to complete the Triple Crown of Motorsports, whether that is Indianapolis, Monaco or Le Mans or the World Drivers' Championship substituted for Monaco, led to his inclusion. The other three World Drivers' Champions to win the Indianapolis 500 were shoe-ins and I feel like people felt obligated to include Hill.
To give Hill credit, he was going to finish all 500 miles as a rookie. His victory was not completely down to fortune, but I think even Hill himself would recognize he is not in the top 33.
Most surprising statistic?
There is really nothing about Hill's Indianapolis 500 career that is surprising.
Dan Gurney
2011 Position: 29th
Starts: 9
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 2
Laps Completed: 1,204
Average Finish: 13.8889
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Gurney is an American legend and while he is remembered for his grand prix success and his 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans victory, the American behemoth put together a remarkable Indianapolis 500 career.
Debuting in 1962 with a Mickey Thompson-built machine, Gurney was a part of the Lotus contingent that stormed into the Speedway in 1963 before switching to his own Eagle chassis in 1966.
Gurney was one of three non-winners included in the original list, but I have to admit even in 2011, Gurney was not in the top three greatest drivers not to win the race. He had a fine Indianapolis 500 career, saving the best for last with finishes of second, second and third in his final three starts. However, he retired from five of nine starts and he led only two laps!
While being one of the greatest American drivers of all-time, he just is not quite good enough for the top 33. Maybe he cracks the top 100.
Most surprising statistic?
It is two laps led! Zachary Claman De Melo, James Jakes, E.J Viso, Buzz Calkins, Mario Moraes and Stefan Wilson have all led more laps in Indianapolis 500 history than Daniel Sexton Gurney. Drivers level with Gurney include John Andretti, Robby McGehee, Roger Rager, Tora Takagi, Jaques Lazier, Sage Karam, James Davison and Robert Wickens.
Starts: 9
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 2
Laps Completed: 1,204
Average Finish: 13.8889
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Gurney is an American legend and while he is remembered for his grand prix success and his 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans victory, the American behemoth put together a remarkable Indianapolis 500 career.
Debuting in 1962 with a Mickey Thompson-built machine, Gurney was a part of the Lotus contingent that stormed into the Speedway in 1963 before switching to his own Eagle chassis in 1966.
Gurney was one of three non-winners included in the original list, but I have to admit even in 2011, Gurney was not in the top three greatest drivers not to win the race. He had a fine Indianapolis 500 career, saving the best for last with finishes of second, second and third in his final three starts. However, he retired from five of nine starts and he led only two laps!
While being one of the greatest American drivers of all-time, he just is not quite good enough for the top 33. Maybe he cracks the top 100.
Most surprising statistic?
It is two laps led! Zachary Claman De Melo, James Jakes, E.J Viso, Buzz Calkins, Mario Moraes and Stefan Wilson have all led more laps in Indianapolis 500 history than Daniel Sexton Gurney. Drivers level with Gurney include John Andretti, Robby McGehee, Roger Rager, Tora Takagi, Jaques Lazier, Sage Karam, James Davison and Robert Wickens.
Tony Bettenhausen
2011 Position: 32nd
Starts: 14
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 24
Laps Completed: 1,975
Average Finish: 16.2667
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Similar to Gurney, Bettenhausen wasn't even in the top three best drivers not to win the Indianapolis 500 in 2011.
The Bettenhausen name is stuff of legend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in IndyCar history, as he is a two-time champion. It almost felt like he was included because the Bettenhausen name could not be left out. He was runner-up in 1955 and fourth in 1958 and 1959. Those were the only three years he completed all 500 miles. He retired from ten of 14 starts. It is good but not great.
Most surprising statistic?
Bettenhausen led only 24 laps in his Indianapolis 500 career, all came in 1958.
Starts: 14
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 24
Laps Completed: 1,975
Average Finish: 16.2667
Pole Positions: 0
Why the change?
Similar to Gurney, Bettenhausen wasn't even in the top three best drivers not to win the Indianapolis 500 in 2011.
The Bettenhausen name is stuff of legend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in IndyCar history, as he is a two-time champion. It almost felt like he was included because the Bettenhausen name could not be left out. He was runner-up in 1955 and fourth in 1958 and 1959. Those were the only three years he completed all 500 miles. He retired from ten of 14 starts. It is good but not great.
Most surprising statistic?
Bettenhausen led only 24 laps in his Indianapolis 500 career, all came in 1958.
Did Not Qualify
Joe Dawson
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 2
Laps Completed: 445
Average Finish: 10.333
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Dawson does not meet the minimum starts requirement, also, he was Graham Hill before Graham Hill.
The second Indianapolis 500 winner was five-and-a-half laps behind Ralph DePalma when DePalma's Mercedes starting misfiring and eventually ground to a halt. DePalma was two laps from victory and had led 196 of the first 198 laps. Dawson kept powering around and took the victory over ten minutes clear of Teddy Tetzlaff.
Just like Hill, Dawson had to keep the car running for 500 miles and he had finished fifth the year prior. His final start was 1914, where a crash after 45 laps ended his race. The two laps Dawson led at the end of the 1912 race were the only two laps he led in his Indianapolis 500 career.
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 2
Laps Completed: 445
Average Finish: 10.333
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Dawson does not meet the minimum starts requirement, also, he was Graham Hill before Graham Hill.
The second Indianapolis 500 winner was five-and-a-half laps behind Ralph DePalma when DePalma's Mercedes starting misfiring and eventually ground to a halt. DePalma was two laps from victory and had led 196 of the first 198 laps. Dawson kept powering around and took the victory over ten minutes clear of Teddy Tetzlaff.
Just like Hill, Dawson had to keep the car running for 500 miles and he had finished fifth the year prior. His final start was 1914, where a crash after 45 laps ended his race. The two laps Dawson led at the end of the 1912 race were the only two laps he led in his Indianapolis 500 career.
Jules Goux
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 139
Laps Completed: 773
Average Finish: 9.6
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Goux makes a strong case for himself. Won on debut, was in the top three of his first three starts, suffered two retirements in his final two starts. The first international winner dominated the 1913 race with 138 laps led.
It is hard to be picky but Goux just doesn't fit The Greatest 33 though he was notably successful in the first decade of the race.
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 139
Laps Completed: 773
Average Finish: 9.6
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Goux makes a strong case for himself. Won on debut, was in the top three of his first three starts, suffered two retirements in his final two starts. The first international winner dominated the 1913 race with 138 laps led.
It is hard to be picky but Goux just doesn't fit The Greatest 33 though he was notably successful in the first decade of the race.
René Thomas
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 4
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 114
Laps Completed: 744
Average Finish: 6
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Like his fellow Frenchman Goux, Thomas was not a slouch, winning on debut after leading 102 laps and finishing second in 1920. His other two finishes were 11th and tenth.
Unfortunately, Thomas is one start shy of the minimum requirement.
By the way, Thomas was involved in the world's first mid-air collision in October 1910 and survived to become an Indianapolis 500 winner. Incredible.
Starts: 4
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 114
Laps Completed: 744
Average Finish: 6
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Like his fellow Frenchman Goux, Thomas was not a slouch, winning on debut after leading 102 laps and finishing second in 1920. His other two finishes were 11th and tenth.
Unfortunately, Thomas is one start shy of the minimum requirement.
By the way, Thomas was involved in the world's first mid-air collision in October 1910 and survived to become an Indianapolis 500 winner. Incredible.
Dario Resta
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 140
Laps Completed: 407
Average Finish: 5.6667
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Resta is another with not enough starts and he does have the unfortunate distinction of being the lone Indianapolis 500 to win a race that was not scheduled for 500 miles. While a few drivers scored their one and only Indianapolis 500 in a rain-shortened race, Resta won the 1916 race, which was scheduled for 300 miles.
The distance is not Resta's fault and he was runner-up the year prior. He would not return to Indianapolis until the 1923 race, where he completed only 88 laps.
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 140
Laps Completed: 407
Average Finish: 5.6667
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Resta is another with not enough starts and he does have the unfortunate distinction of being the lone Indianapolis 500 to win a race that was not scheduled for 500 miles. While a few drivers scored their one and only Indianapolis 500 in a rain-shortened race, Resta won the 1916 race, which was scheduled for 300 miles.
The distance is not Resta's fault and he was runner-up the year prior. He would not return to Indianapolis until the 1923 race, where he completed only 88 laps.
Howdy Wilcox
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 11
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 4
Laps Led: 155
Laps Completed: 1,335
Average Finish: 13.818
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Wilcox made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts but his lone top five finish was his 1919 victory. He did go the distance on five occasions. He also failed to complete at least 70 laps on five occasions.
Starts: 11
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 4
Laps Led: 155
Laps Completed: 1,335
Average Finish: 13.818
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Wilcox made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts but his lone top five finish was his 1919 victory. He did go the distance on five occasions. He also failed to complete at least 70 laps on five occasions.
Gaston Chevrolet
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 14
Laps Completed: 400
Average Finish: 5.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Chevrolet is another case of not having enough starts and in his two appearances he finished tenth and first, completing all 200 laps both times.
He won the 1920 race after DePalma stalled with 14 laps to go. Chevrolet was two laps down when DePalma stopped but took the lead only to run out of fuel with three laps to go. He was able to make it back to the pits and refuel without surrendering the top spot. Those 14 laps led were his only laps led in his Indianapolis 500 career.
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 14
Laps Completed: 400
Average Finish: 5.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Chevrolet is another case of not having enough starts and in his two appearances he finished tenth and first, completing all 200 laps both times.
He won the 1920 race after DePalma stalled with 14 laps to go. Chevrolet was two laps down when DePalma stopped but took the lead only to run out of fuel with three laps to go. He was able to make it back to the pits and refuel without surrendering the top spot. Those 14 laps led were his only laps led in his Indianapolis 500 career.
L.L. Corum
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 6
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 0
Laps Led: 0
Laps Completed: 902
Average Finish: 10.8333
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
The first half of the 1924 winning duo, Corum holds the distinction of being an Indianapolis 500 winner without even having led a lap. He did finish fifth the year prior and would go on to complete all 500 miles in 1930 and 1933, finishing tenth and 12th in those years respectively. If you didn't lead a lap, you are not getting into The Greatest 33.
Starts: 6
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 0
Laps Led: 0
Laps Completed: 902
Average Finish: 10.8333
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
The first half of the 1924 winning duo, Corum holds the distinction of being an Indianapolis 500 winner without even having led a lap. He did finish fifth the year prior and would go on to complete all 500 miles in 1930 and 1933, finishing tenth and 12th in those years respectively. If you didn't lead a lap, you are not getting into The Greatest 33.
Joe Boyer
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 119
Laps Completed: 622
Average Finish: 19.2
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
While Boyer is remembered for being part of the first of two pairs to share an Indianapolis 500 victory, he did have a strong run in the 1920 race, leading 93 laps but suffered an accident and failed to complete eight laps. He was also in the top five fastest qualifying times in four of his first starts with his worst qualifying ranking being seventh.
The only problem for Boyer is the only time he finished the Indianapolis 500 was when he won the race, as a relief driver, completing only the final 88 laps in that car.
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 119
Laps Completed: 622
Average Finish: 19.2
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
While Boyer is remembered for being part of the first of two pairs to share an Indianapolis 500 victory, he did have a strong run in the 1920 race, leading 93 laps but suffered an accident and failed to complete eight laps. He was also in the top five fastest qualifying times in four of his first starts with his worst qualifying ranking being seventh.
The only problem for Boyer is the only time he finished the Indianapolis 500 was when he won the race, as a relief driver, completing only the final 88 laps in that car.
Peter DePaolo
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 7
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 148
Laps Completed: 738
Average Finish: 17.285
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
DePaolo won the 1925 Indianapolis 500 and it was one of only two times he went the distance. On three occasions the Philadelphia native failed to complete 100 miles.
Starts: 7
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 148
Laps Completed: 738
Average Finish: 17.285
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
DePaolo won the 1925 Indianapolis 500 and it was one of only two times he went the distance. On three occasions the Philadelphia native failed to complete 100 miles.
Frank Lockhart
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 205
Laps Completed: 280
Average Finish: 9.5
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Lockhart has the most impressive numbers of someone never to complete 500 miles. He won the 1926 race, which was shortened to 400 miles due to rain. He led 95 of 160 laps on his way to victory. The following year, Lockhart won pole position with a track record of 120.100 MPH. He led more laps than the year prior but after leading 110 of 120 laps, he retired due to a mechanical failure.
Lockhart perished in a land speed record attempt in Daytona Beach, Florida on April 25, 1928. In his two Indianapolis 500 starts, he led 205 of 280 laps. He led 73.21% of the laps he ran in the Indianapolis 500, no driver has a higher percentage.
It is only two starts and it is an incredible record. It is hard to measure these results and make a case for The Greatest 33. It is an incomplete career, sadly.
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 205
Laps Completed: 280
Average Finish: 9.5
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Lockhart has the most impressive numbers of someone never to complete 500 miles. He won the 1926 race, which was shortened to 400 miles due to rain. He led 95 of 160 laps on his way to victory. The following year, Lockhart won pole position with a track record of 120.100 MPH. He led more laps than the year prior but after leading 110 of 120 laps, he retired due to a mechanical failure.
Lockhart perished in a land speed record attempt in Daytona Beach, Florida on April 25, 1928. In his two Indianapolis 500 starts, he led 205 of 280 laps. He led 73.21% of the laps he ran in the Indianapolis 500, no driver has a higher percentage.
It is only two starts and it is an incredible record. It is hard to measure these results and make a case for The Greatest 33. It is an incomplete career, sadly.
George Souders
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 67
Laps Completed: 400
Average Finish: 2
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Like Lockhart, Souders made only two starts and won as a rookie, leading 51 laps after Lockhart's mechanical failure. Souders completed 400 of 400 laps in two his starts and he finished third 1928 after leading 16 laps early in the race.
Once again, impressive numbers but with only two starts it is an incomplete career. The good news is Souders walked away from racing after 1928 and lived to the age of 75.
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 67
Laps Completed: 400
Average Finish: 2
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Like Lockhart, Souders made only two starts and won as a rookie, leading 51 laps after Lockhart's mechanical failure. Souders completed 400 of 400 laps in two his starts and he finished third 1928 after leading 16 laps early in the race.
Once again, impressive numbers but with only two starts it is an incomplete career. The good news is Souders walked away from racing after 1928 and lived to the age of 75.
Ray Keech
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 46
Laps Completed: 400
Average Finish: 2.5
Why he isn't in the field?
There was something in the water in the late 1920s because Keech is the third Indianapolis 500 winner to put up outstanding numbers despite making only two starts. Keech was fourth as a rookie in 1928, the third best rookie that year.
Keech won the 1929 race, inheriting the lead with 46 laps to go after Louis Meyer stalled on a pit stop. He completed 400 of 400 laps in his two starts, qualified tenth and sixth in those races respectively. Sadly, Keech lost his life at a race in Altoona, Pennsylvania only 16 days after his Indianapolis 500 victory.
Billy Arnold
Starts: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 46
Laps Completed: 400
Average Finish: 2.5
Why he isn't in the field?
There was something in the water in the late 1920s because Keech is the third Indianapolis 500 winner to put up outstanding numbers despite making only two starts. Keech was fourth as a rookie in 1928, the third best rookie that year.
Keech won the 1929 race, inheriting the lead with 46 laps to go after Louis Meyer stalled on a pit stop. He completed 400 of 400 laps in his two starts, qualified tenth and sixth in those races respectively. Sadly, Keech lost his life at a race in Altoona, Pennsylvania only 16 days after his Indianapolis 500 victory.
Billy Arnold
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 410
Laps Completed: 821
Average Finish: 13.2
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Another name with staggering numbers, Arnold holds the record for most laps led in a single Indianapolis 500, leading 198 laps on his way to victory in 1930 from pole position. How did he follow it up? With another 155 laps led in 1931 before an accident on lap 162 ended his race. In 1932, he led 57 of the first 59 laps before a horrendous crash in turn three broke his shoulder and ended his driving career.
Arnold led 44.4% of the laps he ran at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the third highest percentage. He is right there but he falls just shy of making The Greatest 33.
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 410
Laps Completed: 821
Average Finish: 13.2
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Another name with staggering numbers, Arnold holds the record for most laps led in a single Indianapolis 500, leading 198 laps on his way to victory in 1930 from pole position. How did he follow it up? With another 155 laps led in 1931 before an accident on lap 162 ended his race. In 1932, he led 57 of the first 59 laps before a horrendous crash in turn three broke his shoulder and ended his driving career.
Arnold led 44.4% of the laps he ran at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the third highest percentage. He is right there but he falls just shy of making The Greatest 33.
Louis Schneider
2011 Position: Did Not QualifyStarts: 6
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 39
Laps Completed: 863
Average Finish: 16
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Schneider inherited the lead after Arnold's accident in 1931 and led the final 39 laps on his way to victory, after finishing third the year before. He does hold the dubious honor of having the worst finishing position in Indianapolis 500 history, having finished 42nd out of 42 cars in the 1933 race after he completed only one lap.
The 1933 result alone does not keep him out of the top 33 but there is not enough else there to make it.
Fred Frame
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 8
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 106
Laps Completed: 1,281
Average Finish: 13
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Frame battled with Wilbur Shaw in the closing half of the 1932 race before Shaw broke down with an axle failure, allowing Frame to take the checkered flag. This came a year after finishing second.
While having a good record, it takes more than good to make The Greatest 33.
Bill Cummings
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 9
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 93
Laps Completed: 1,229
Average Finish: 16
Pole Positions: 2
Why he isn't in the field?
Cummings is another case of good but not great. He did win the 1934 race, in an intense battle for the time, with Cummings completing 500 miles a little more than 27 seconds ahead of Mauri Rose. He did finish fifth as a rookie and twice started from pole position, but it is not a career that leaves you in amazement.
Kelly Petillo
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 9
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 108
Laps Completed: 1,283
Average Finish: 16.7778
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Nine starts and the only time Petillo finished in the top ten was his 1935 victory. The only other time he went the distance was 1934, where he finished 11th after staring on pole position, the only time he started in the top ten in his Indianapolis 500 career. It is all underwhelming.
Floyd Roberts
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 92
Laps Completed: 883
Average Finish: 12
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Roberts won the 1938 race after leading 92 laps from pole position. Tragically, Roberts' Indianapolis 500 defense ended with a fatal accident on lap 106 of the 1939 race. In his first four starts, Roberts had completed at least 450 miles each year. He was fourth as a rookie in 1935. His career was always going to be interrupted because of World War II but Roberts was bound to leave a greater impression on Indianapolis 500 history.
Floyd Davis
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 4
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 0
Laps Led: 0
Laps Completed: 462
Average Finish: 15.75
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Like L.L. Corum, Floyd Davis handed off his automobile and saw another man take it to the checkered flag. Davis was convinced he was going to take the lead himself before Lou Moore called him in to have Mauri Rose take over his car. It was Davis' final Indianapolis 500 start. He never started better than 17th, never completed all 500 miles and never led a lap.
George Robson
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 138
Laps Completed: 333
Average Finish: 16.333
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Third time was the charm for Robson, taking victory from 15th on the grid in the 1946 race. It was the only time he led in the race and it was the only time he completed more than 67 laps. Sadly, Robson lost his life on Labor Day 1946 at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta.
Johnnie Parsons
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 10
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 131
Laps Completed: 1,504
Average Finish: 14.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Parsons' career started out tremendously at Indianapolis, runner-up on debut in 1949 and then he led 115 of 138 laps on his way to victory in the rain-shortened 1950 race. He would suffer a retirement in four of his next five starts. The only other time he would lead the race was for 16 laps in 1956.
Lee Wallard
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 4
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 178
Laps Completed: 591
Average Finish: 9.25
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Wallard is one start below the requirement but he put up some strong numbers and ended on a high note with a dominant victory in 1951, leading 159 of 200 laps. One week after his Indianapolis victory, he suffered a serious accident at Reading that effectively ended his career. He attempted a comeback at the 1954 race but did not qualify.
Troy Ruttman
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 12
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 4
Laps Led: 69
Laps Completed: 1,472
Average Finish: 17.0833
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Ruttman's claim to fame is being the youngest Indianapolis 500 winner at 22 years and 80 days old. Ruttman had a long career at Indianapolis but his only other top ten finish was fourth in 1954 and he finished outside the top 15 in eight of his 12 starts. After leading 44 laps in his victory year, he led only 25 laps the remainder of his Indianapolis career.
Bob Sweikert
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 86
Laps Completed: 825
Average Finish: 13.4
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Sweikert went the distance in his 1955 victory and when he finished sixth the following year but in his other three starts, he failed to lead a lap and his best finish was 14th.
Pat Flaherty
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 138
Laps Completed: 812
Average Finish: 12.4
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Flaherty won the 1956 race from pole position after leading 127 of 200 laps. His next best finish was tenth, in his rookie year in 1950 and in 1955. He did run in relief of Jim Rathmann in the scorching 1954 race.
Sam Hanks
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 13
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 140
Laps Completed: 1,566
Average Finish: 17.153
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Hanks has a streaky career. Four times he finished 30th or worse but he had four finishes in the top three, including his 1957 victory with 136 laps led. Hanks holds the record for most starts before a first Indianapolis 500 victory at 13. He won that race from 13th on the grid and retired in victory lane.
In his other 12 starts, Hanks led only four laps. The only times he completed all 500 miles were in his four top-three finishes. It is a feast or famine résumé for Hanks.
Jimmy Bryan
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 9
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 216
Laps Completed: 1,411
Average Finish: 13.444
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
In the same car Hanks took to a dominant victory in 1957, Bryan did the same in 1958, even leading three more laps than Hanks. Another similarity between the two drivers is they both had a runner-up finish and at least one third-place finish to their names. Despite running four fewer Indianapolis 500s, Bryan only completed 155 fewer laps.
At a macro-level, Bryan put together a quaint career at Indianapolis, but it seems to be missing something to be included in the top 33 spots.
Jacques Villeneuve
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 3
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 22
Laps Completed: 600
Average Finish: 5.667
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
For starters, Villeneuve does not have enough starts to his name, but he has another career full a glory but not through domination. He was runner-up as a rookie and won in his second start, a remarkable performance where he had to come from two laps down.
Despite averaging a finish of 1.5 in his two starts, he only led 22 laps, seven as a rookie and 15 as a sophomore. He returned after 19 years away from the event in 2014 driving a third car for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and had a respectable race, finishing 14th and on the lead lap.
It is still surprising Villeneuve came back because he was a notorious critic of IndyCar and American open-wheel racing during his Formula One career. It seemed he would never return to the American scene and yet he was in the field for one of the best Indianapolis 500s on record.
Buddy Lazier
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 20
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 5
Top Tens: 6
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 70
Laps Completed: 3,015
Average Finish: 17.1
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Lazier took a courageous victory with a broken back in 1996 but he only went the distance five times in his career. He has as many finishes in the bottom five sports as he does in the top five spots. He didn't lead a lap in his final 14 starts at the Speedway. Longevity racked up the numbers.
Eddie Cheever
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 14
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 6
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 89
Laps Completed: 2,122
Average Finish: 14.214
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
In 14 starts, Cheever finished in the back half of the field five times. Outside of his victory in 1998, he led a combined 13 laps. It's just doesn't meet the necessary level of greatness.
Kenny Bräck
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 6
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 89
Laps Completed: 885
Average Finish: 15.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Bräck's only top five finish was his 1999 victory. He failed to take the green flag in the 1997 race, as he was caught in the infamous pace lap accident. He was the fastest qualifier for his final start in 2005 when he returned to replace the injured Buddy Rice. It was Bräck's only start after his Texas accident in 2003.
Though he made six starts, Bräck's Indianapolis 500 career feels incomplete, partly because of the split but also because his career ended prematurely.
Gil de Ferran
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 4
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 71
Laps Completed: 601
Average Finish: 10.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
De Ferran is another driver not to meet the minimum start criteria and it is shame.
Outside of his rookie year, when he had an accident on lap two, de Ferran completed all 500 miles in his three starts for Team Penske. He had finishes of second, tenth and won his final Indianapolis start. De Ferran simultaneously holds the distinction of a driver whose Indianapolis career was truncated due to the split and because he retired early. He was only 35 years old when he won the Indianapolis 500 and his IndyCar career was over at the end of that 2003 season. He only had nine IndyCar seasons to his name.
Buddy Rice
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 6
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 99
Laps Completed: 1,047
Average Finish: 14.8333
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Though Rice took a deserved victory from pole position in the rain-shortened 2004 race, the only time he completed all 500 miles was when he finished eighth in 2008. One top five finishes and two top ten finishes are not enough.
Sam Hornish, Jr.
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 8
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 4
Laps Led: 107
Laps Completed: 1,346
Average Finish: 16.5
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
Hornish, Jr. became the first driver to complete a last lap pass for an Indianapolis 500 victory in 2006 but prior to that race his best finish was 14th and he had finished outside the top twenty on four occasions. He ended his Indianapolis 500 career with a fourth-place finish in the rain-abbreviated 2007 race.
Ryan Hunter-Reay
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 12
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 5
Laps Led: 163
Laps Completed: 2,071
Average Finish: 15.75
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
We touched on Hunter-Reay above in the Danny Sullivan discussion and not only do I think Hunter-Reay is ahead of Sullivan but he is on the cusp of making it into the top 33 and that might sound hard to believe but consider how many close calls Hunter-Reay has had with Indianapolis 500 victories.
2013: Hunter-Reay is leading at the final restart only for Tony Kanaan to slingshot into the lead and Carlos Muñoz into second before Dario Franchitti spins in turn one. There were still three laps to go. With all the lead changes in that race, Hunter-Reay could have gone from third to first in the final three laps. We will never know but it had the unfortunate distinction of leading the wrong restart.
2014: Hunter-Reay leads the most laps from 19th on the grid, 56 laps to be specific, made one of the most daring passes on Hélio Castroneves to take the lead entering turn three and countered every move Castroneves made down the stretch and won what is one of the greatest Indianapolis 500s of all-time.
2016: Townsend Bell gets into his teammate Hunter-Reay in the pit lane and takes both drivers out of contention for the victory. Hunter-Reay had led 52 laps up to that point and there were still over 80 laps to go. A lot happens in the final 80 laps of this race but if Hunter-Reay doesn't get taken out, he is at the front and not off the lead lap providing a tow for Alexander Rossi to stretch his fuel mileage and if it came down to a fuel race, Rossi isn't in contention and Hunter-Reay is stopping for a splash-and-go like everyone else.
The only other driver that made it to the finish stretching fuel was Charlie Kimball in fifth, behind Muñoz, Josef Newgarden and Tony Kanaan, who all stopped, and Kanaan nipped Kimball by 0.0225 seconds for fourth. If Hunter-Reay is still in contention, he is with Muñoz, Newgarden and Kanaan and he very well could have come out leading that pack.
2017: Hunter-Reay is one of many Honda drivers to have an engine failure in this race. He was running second when his expired and he had been trading the lead with Fernando Alonso in the laps prior. Hunter-Reay was one of the early Honda runners to bow out and all of the Andretti cars were at the front of this race. Marco Andretti didn't lead any laps, but the other four Andretti cars combined to lead 95 laps and Hunter-Reay led the most at 28.
This race gets a little wonky because of all the Honda engine failures and the cautions mix up the field. It is the Hunter-Reay caution that leads to Max Chilton taking the lead and a handful of other drivers going off strategy. With the way the cautions fell, Chilton and Ed Jones were able to stay at the front and both get top five finishes out it. There was a lot of time to go but if Hunter-Reay and Takuma Sato swap engines Hunter-Reay probably wins this race.
In a five-year period, Hunter-Reay has a shout at four Indianapolis 500 victories but only made one trip to victory lane. That period is a combination of thrilling and frustrating and if Castroneves nips him at the line in 2014 it would just be painful.
Alexander Rossi
2011 Position: Did Not Participate
Starts: 4
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 4
Laps Led: 60
Laps Completed: 800
Average Finish: 3.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Rossi is one start away from eligibility and he very well could slide himself into the top 33 after this year's race. In all four of his starts, Rossi could have won. Even the 2016 race, he could have won on pace. The 2016 victory is not as much of a fluke as people make it out to be. Rossi qualified 11th, he was the tenth fastest qualifier in Saturday qualifying. He spends much of the first portion of the race in the top ten before a series of fuel rig issues kept costing him time on pit lane...
Quick sidebar, Rossi's team better have the fuel rig problem solved for 2020. This is a recurring problem.
He is down to 29th, Bryan Herta keeps topping him off under caution and then they choose to go off strategy under one caution and Rossi vaults up to second. After he stops on lap 138, he reemerges in 22nd. The rest of the leaders stop after the lap 149 caution and Rossi is back up to eighth. Rossi makes his final pit stop under caution on lap 164 and he restarts in ninth. He didn't stretch fuel from 18th position and win. Let's kind of put to bed the line that Rossi entirely lucked into that victory.
Anyway, in 2017, Rossi didn't lose a Honda engine but because of all the cautions and the shuffling he was stuck in seventh and couldn't get back into the top five. He had to start 32nd in 2018 because he suffered a tire puncture on his final qualifying lap, and he nursed the car home. In the race, when everyone had difficulty passing, he made the high line work and went from 32nd to fourth.
Last year, Rossi went toe-to-toe with Simon Pagenaud and just lost out the duel. If that final caution doesn't come, Rossi likely walks away with it because Pagenaud and the other Chevrolets were going to have to save fuel if it went green to the end. Either way, in the closing battle, Rossi matched Pagenaud and Pagenaud was just a tad better that day.
If Rossi repeats any of his first four performances in this year's race, it is going to be hard not to make room for him in the top 33.
Takuma Sato
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 10
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 2
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 51
Laps Completed: 1,626
Average Finish: 17.7
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Sato's victory in 2017 was a fan favorite because of his heartbreaking spin going for the lead on the final lap of the 2012 race. Those two moments and his third-place finish last year aside, Sato does not have a great record at Indianapolis. He has finished outside the top 15 in half his starts and he has started in the back half of the grid in half his starts.
It is not good enough. Even if Sato wins another Indianapolis 500, he might be the only multiple time winner not to be in the top 33. That is easy to say, and, in reality, it might be tough to justify but he has had eight average or bad races.
Sato has the third worst average finish among the 73 Indianapolis 500 winners, and I am going to save who the bottom two are until tomorrow. If Sato won this year's race, he would jump ahead of 11 other winners in terms of average finish. The only one of those drivers with multiple victories would be Johnny Rutherford. He would have a much stronger case, but he would not be a lock like all the other multiple time winners.
Simon Pagenaud
2011 Position: Did Not Participate
Starts: 8
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 4
Races Led: 3
Laps Led: 152
Laps Completed: 1,599
Average Finish: 10.75
Pole Positions: 1
Why he isn't in the field?
The most recent Indianapolis 500 is building a case for himself, but Pagenaud has to do a little more work.
All credit to Pagenaud, in eight starts he has completed all but one lap. He has made the Fast Nine on five occasions. He is going to need at least one more top five finish to elevate his name in the conversation. Obviously, a second victory would kick him right into the mix.
Rex Mays
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 12
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 3
Races Led: 9
Laps Led: 266
Laps Completed: 1,384
Average Finish: 18
Pole Positions: 4
Why he isn't in the field?
Mays was one of the top drivers in the 1930s and 1940s but a victory at Indianapolis evaded him. He started on pole position in 1935 and led 89 of the first 123 laps before a spring shackle failure ended his race. He was runner-up in 1940 and 1941, leading 59 laps and 38 laps respectively. In 1948, he led 36 laps from pole position before a fuel leak ended his race.
Mays won four pole positions, a record that stood until 1989 and he is still tied for second all-time. In terms of qualifying speed, he was either the fastest or second fastest qualifier six times. He was one of the top five fastest eight times and he was one of the top ten fastest in 11 of his 12 years at the Speedway.
His 266 laps led were sixth most all-time when Mays career ended in a fatal crash at Del Mar Fairgrounds in California behind only Ralph DePalma, Wilbur Shaw, Billy Arnold, Louis Meyer and Bill Holland, all Indianapolis 500 winners. He still ranks second all-time in laps led among non-Indianapolis 500 winners.
While establishing respectable numbers, to make the top 33 and not have won a race requires a tremendous record. He was not included in the original list even though he probably ranks ahead of Gurney and Bettenhausen, however the top 33 is out of reach.
Ralph Mulford
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 10
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 6
Races Led: 1
Laps Led: 10
Laps Completed: 1,619
Average Finish: 11.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Mulford was the first of the top drivers to have never won the race. He was runner-up in the first Indianapolis 500, and he completed all 500 miles in the first four Indianapolis 500s. In his career, he went the distance six times, including the 300-mile race in 1916, where he finished third. He completed at least 300 miles in nine of his ten starts. The only problem is Mulford only led ten laps and then all came in the first race.
Harry Hartz
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 6
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 5
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 4
Laps Led: 57
Laps Completed: 996
Average Finish: 6.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Hartz is a largely unknown name but in six Indianapolis 500 starts he finished second, second, fourth, fourth, second and 25th. His starting positions in six starts are second, second, second, third, second, fourth. His qualifying speeds ranked second, third, second, third, second and fourth in his six starts.
Hartz's average finish of 6.5 ranks fourth all-time among drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts. I think Hartz is probably in the top five drivers never to win the race and that should get him in the top 50 all-time, maybe even the top 40. His level of consistency could be good enough to make the top 33. Hartz is really close but he falls just short. The original list included three non-winners but it is tough to match that nine years later.
Lloyd Ruby
2011 Position: Did Not Qualify
Starts: 18
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 7
Races Led: 5
Laps Led: 126
Laps Completed: 2,357
Average Finish: 14.9444
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
Ruby's Indianapolis 500 career is full of notable heartbreaks. After starting his career with four top ten finishes in his first five starts and completing all 500 miles in each of those top ten finishes, Ruby's first punch to the gut was the 1966 race. He had led 68 laps, most in the race, but a cam stud failure took him out of contention in the final quarter of the race. Two years later, Ruby led 42 laps including leading as late as lap 174 but an ignition issue took him out of contention and dropped him to fifth.
The most notable low point for Ruby was the 1969 race. He had just taken the lead from Mario Andretti when he made a scheduled pit stop. While exiting the pit lane, Ruby left with the fuel hose still attached to the car, tearing a hole in the fuel tank and ending his race. Andretti would go on to lead the final 94 laps uncontested.
After his 1969 disappointment, Ruby's best finish in his final eight Indianapolis 500 starts was sixth. He never completed all 500 miles again and he led five total laps over the final eight starts. For all the close calls, there are just too many low results to include him in the top 33.
Carlos Muñoz
2011 Position: Did Not Participate
Starts: 6
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 5
Races Led: 4
Laps Led: 29
Laps Completed: 1,200
Average Finish: 7.5
Pole Positions: 0
Why he isn't in the field?
This is a recent name but looking at the numbers and the races that were run, Muñoz has been stellar at Indianapolis since his debut. He started second and finished second on debut in 2013. He was fourth in 2014. He was runner-up again in 2016 falling a little over four seconds short on the chase of the coasting Alexander Rossi. In his final two starts he pulled out top ten finishes.
Muñoz has completed every lap in six Indianapolis 500 starts. His average finish of 7.5 is sixth all-time amongst drivers with at least five Indianapolis 500 starts. The one thing keeping out Muñoz is he has only led 29 laps in his otherwise outstanding Indianapolis career with his most led in one race being 12 laps on debut.
If Muñoz ever returns to Indianapolis, he laid a strong foundation to fight for a top 33 spot. If he doesn't return, he will remain a driver of folklore at the famed event.
With 49 outsiders covered, tomorrow we will present The Greatest 33 - 2020 Edition.
