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List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders
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All-time lap leaders
- Two hundred fifty drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in 109 races.
- Career lap leader percentage rounded to hundredths of a percent.
- Green indicates drivers active as of most recent race.
| Rank | Driver | Laps | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Led | Career | |||||
| Laps Run | Career | |||||
| Lap Leader | ||||||
| Percentage | Race | |||||
| Wins | ||||||
| Years Won | ||||||
| 1 | NZL Scott Dixon | 677 | Active driver | 1 | 2008 | |
| 2 | USA Al Unser | 644 | 4,356 | 14.78% | 4 | |
| 3 | USA Ralph DePalma | 612 | 1,594 | 38.39% | 1 | |
| 4 | USA Mario Andretti | 556 | 3,040 | 18.29% | 1 | |
| 5 | USA A. J. Foyt | 555 | 4,909 | 11.31% | 4 | |
| 6 | USA Wilbur Shaw | 508 | 2,019 | 25.16% | 3 | |
| 7 | BRA Emerson Fittipaldi | 505 | 1,785 | 28.29% | 2 | |
| 8 | USA Parnelli Jones | 492 | 1,130 | 43.54% | 1 | |
| 9 | USA Bill Vukovich | 485 | 676 | 71.75% | 2 | |
| 10 | USA Bobby Unser | 440 | 2,611 | 16.85% | 3 | |
| 11 | USA Michael Andretti | 431 | 2,653 | 16.25% | ||
| 12 | USA Rick Mears | 429 | 2,342 | 18.32% | 4 | |
| 13 | USA Billy Arnold | 410 | 821 | 49.94% | 1 | |
| 14 | BRA Tony Kanaan | 352 | 3,951 | 8.91% | 1 | |
| 15 | USA Gordon Johncock | 339 | 3,158 | 10.73% | 2 | |
| 16 | USA Louis Meyer | 332 | 1,916 | 17.33% | 3 | |
| 17 | GBR Dario Franchitti | 329 | 1,940 | 16.96% | 3 | |
| 18 | BRA Hélio Castroneves | 326 | Active driver | 4 | 2001 | |
| 19 | GBR Jim Clark | 298 | 682 | 43.69% | 1 | |
| 20 | USA Bill Holland | 297 | 914 | 32.49% | 1 | |
| 21 | USA Johnny Rutherford | 296 | 2,792 | 10.60% | 3 | |
| 22 | USA Rex Mays | 266 | 1,385 | 19.21% | ||
| 23 | USA Rodger Ward | 261 | 2,160 | 12.08% | 2 | |
| 24 | USA Mauri Rose | 256 | 2,326 | 11.01% | 3 | |
| 25 | GBR Dan Wheldon | 235 | 1,729 | 13.59% | 2 | |
| 26 | USA Jimmy Murphy | 220 | 907 | 24.26% | 1 | |
| 27 | USA Ryan Hunter-Reay | 219 | Active driver | 1 | 2014 | |
| 28 | USA Tommy Milton | 218 | 1,204 | 18.11% | 2 | |
| 29 | USA Jimmy Bryan | 216 | 1,411 | 15.31% | 1 | |
| 30 | USA Tom Sneva | 208 | 2,180 | 9.54% | 1 | |
| 31 | USA Frank Lockhart | 205 | 280 | 73.21% | 1 | |
| 32 | COL Juan Pablo Montoya | 193 | 1,263 | 15.28% | 2 | |
| 33 | NLD Arie Luyendyk | 186 | 2,957 | 6.29% | 2 | |
| 34 | USA Jimmy Snyder | 181 | 495 | 36.57% | ||
| 35 | USA Lee Wallard | 178 | 591 | 30.12% | 1 | |
| 36 | FRA Simon Pagenaud | 169 | 2,389 | 7.07% | 1 | |
| 37 | USA Danny Sullivan | 162 | 1,523 | 10.64% | 1 | |
| 38 | USA Howdy Wilcox | 155 | 1,335 | 11.61% | 1 | |
| 39 | ZAF Tomas Scheckter | 153 | 1,691 | 9.05% | ||
| 40 | USA Jim Rathmann | 150 | 2,320 | 6.47% | 1 | |
| 41 | USA Ed Carpenter | 150 | Active driver | |||
| 42 | USA Peter DePaolo | 148 | 738 | 20.05% | 1 | |
| 43 | AUS Will Power | 145 | Active driver | 1 | 2018 | |
| 44 | USA Marco Andretti | 144 | Active driver | |||
| 45 | GBR Dario Resta | 140 | 408 | 34.31% | 1 | |
| 46 | USA Sam Hanks | 140 | 1,566 | 8.94% | 1 | |
| 47 | FRA Jules Goux | 139 | 773 | 17.98% | 1 | |
| 48 | USA George Robson | 138 | 333 | 41.44% | 1 | |
| 49 | USA Pat Flaherty | 138 | 812 | 17.00% | 1 | |
| 50 | USA Gary Bettenhausen | 138 | 2,372 | 5.82% | ||
| 51 | JPN Takuma Sato | 138 | Active driver | 2 | 2017 | |
| 52 | ESP Álex Palou | 133 | Active driver | 1 | 2025 | |
| 53 | USA Johnnie Parsons | 131 | 1,504 | 8.71% | 1 | |
| 54 | USA Lloyd Ruby | 126 | 2,357 | 5.35% | ||
| 55 | USA Bobby Rahal | 126 | 2,007 | 6.28% | 1 | |
| 56 | USA Earl Cooper | 123 | 939 | 13.10% | ||
| 57 | USA Tony Stewart | 122 | 700 | 17.43% | ||
| 58 | USA Joe Boyer | 119 | 555 | 21.44% | 1 | |
| 59 | USA Greg Ray | 116 | 920 | 12.61% | ||
| 60 | FRA René Thomas | 114 | 744 | 15.32% | 1 | |
| 61 | USA Al Unser Jr. | 110 | 3,173 | 3.47% | 2 | |
| 62 | USA Kelly Petillo | 108 | 1,283 | 8.42% | 1 | |
| 63 | USA Wally Dallenbach Sr. | 108 | 1,448 | 7.46% | ||
| 64 | USA Sam Hornish Jr. | 107 | 1,346 | 7.95% | 1 | |
| 65 | USA Alexander Rossi | 107 | Active driver | 1 | 2016 | |
| 66 | USA Babe Stapp | 106 | 960 | 11.04% | ||
| 67 | USA Fred Frame | 106 | 1,281 | 8.27% | 1 | |
| 68 | USA Buddy Rice | 99 | 1,047 | 9.46% | 1 | |
| 69 | MEX Pato O'Ward | 95 | Active driver | |||
| 70 | USA Ted Horn | 94 | 1,944 | 4.84% | ||
| 71 | USA Dave Lewis | 93 | 383 | 24.28% | ||
| 72 | USA Bill Cummings | 93 | 1,229 | 7.57% | 1 | |
| 73 | USA Floyd Roberts | 92 | 883 | 10.42% | 1 | |
| 74 | SWE Kenny Bräck | 89 | 885 | 10.06% | 1 | |
| 75 | USA Eddie Cheever Jr. | 89 | 2,122 | 4.19% | 1 | |
| 76 | USA Ray Harroun | 88 | 200 | 44.00% | 1 | |
| 77 | USA Bob Sweikert | 86 | 825 | 10.42% | 1 | |
| 78 | USA Conor Daly | 82 | Active driver | |||
| 79 | USA David Bruce-Brown | 81 | 225 | 36.00% | ||
| 80 | USA Danny Ongais | 79 | 1,527 | 5.17% | ||
| 81 | BEL Arthur Duray | 77 | 200 | 38.50% | ||
| 82 | USA Troy Ruttman | 72 | 1,472 | 4.89% | 1 | |
| 83 | BRA Gil de Ferran | 71 | 601 | 11.81% | 1 | |
| 84 | USA Jack McGrath | 70 | 1,094 | 6.40% | ||
| 85 | USA Mark Donohue | 70 | 748 | 9.36% | 1 | |
| 86 | USA Buddy Lazier | 70 | 3,015 | 2.32% | 1 | |
| 87 | USA Josef Newgarden | 69 | Active driver | 1 | 2023 | |
| 88 | USA Frank Brisko | 69 | 1,330 | 5.19% | ||
| 89 | USA Leon Duray | 68 | 693 | 9.81% | ||
| 90 | USA Ralph Hepburn | 68 | 1,864 | 3.65% | ||
| 91 | USA George Souders | 67 | 400 | 16.75% | 1 | |
| 92 | USA Eddie Sachs | 66 | 1,069 | 6.17% | ||
| 93 | NZL Scott McLaughlin | 66 | Active driver | |||
| 94 | NLD Rinus VeeKay | 65 | Active driver | |||
| 95 | SWE Felix Rosenqvist | 61 | Active driver | |||
| 96 | SWE Marcus Ericsson | 60 | Active driver | 1 | 2022 | |
| 97 | BRA Maurício Gugelmin | 59 | 396 | 14.90% | ||
| 98 | USA Harry Hartz | 57 | 996 | 5.72% | ||
| 99 | COL Roberto Guerrero | 56 | 1,735 | 3.23% | ||
| 100 | USA Johnny Thomson | 55 | 1,044 | 5.27% | ||
| 101 | CAN James Hinchcliffe | 54 | 1,656 | 3.26% | ||
| 102 | USA Robby Gordon | 53 | 1,564 | 3.39% | ||
| 103 | USA Joe Leonard | 52 | 1,265 | 4.11% | ||
| 104 | USA Jeff Ward | 52 | 1,254 | 4.15% | ||
| 105 | BRA Bruno Junqueira | 52 | 734 | 7.08% | ||
| 106 | GBR Max Chilton | 50 | 997 | 5.02% | ||
| 107 | USA Deacon Litz | 49 | 1,560 | 3.14% | ||
| 108 | CAN Scott Goodyear | 49 | 1,460 | 3.35% | ||
| 109 | USA Ray Keech | 46 | 400 | 11.50% | 1 | |
| 110 | USA Pat O'Connor | 46 | 768 | 5.98% | ||
| 111 | USA Davy Jones | 46 | 784 | 5.86% | ||
| 112 | USA Gil Anderson | 44 | 784 | 5.61% | ||
| 113 | USA Jimmy Gleason | 43 | 617 | 6.97% | ||
| 114 | USA Bob Burman | 41 | 718 | 5.71% | ||
| 115 | GBR Jackie Stewart | 40 | 358 | 11.17% | ||
| 116 | USA Louis Schneider | 39 | 863 | 4.51% | 1 | |
| 117 | USA John Paul Jr. | 39 | 883 | 4.42% | ||
| 118 | CAN Alex Tagliani | 39 | 1,543 | 2.52% | ||
| 119 | ITA Teo Fabi | 37 | 963 | 3.84% | ||
| 120 | USA Bob Carey | 36 | 200 | 18% | ||
| 121 | USA Jim Hurtubise | 36 | 894 | 4.03% | ||
| 122 | USA Cliff Bergere | 35 | 2,425 | 1.44% | ||
| 123 | USA Paul Russo | 35 | 1,482 | 2.36% | ||
| 124 | USA Bob Swanson | 34 | 267 | 12.73% | ||
| 125 | GBR Nigel Mansell | 34 | 292 | 11.64% | ||
| 126 | ESP Oriol Servià | 34 | 1,992 | 1.70% | ||
| 127 | USA Bobby Marshman | 33 | 635 | 5.20% | ||
| 128 | USA Tony Gulotta | 33 | 1,989 | 1.66% | ||
| 129 | USA Art Cross | 32 | 768 | 4.17% | ||
| 130 | USA Duke Nalon | 32 | 1,284 | 2.49% | ||
| 131 | AUS Ryan Briscoe | 31 | 1,840 | 1.68% | ||
| 132 | USA Phil Shafer | 29 | 1,223 | 2.37% | ||
| 133 | USA Mark Dismore | 29 | 820 | 3.54% | ||
| 134 | USA Danica Patrick | 29 | 1,404 | 2.07% | ||
| 135 | COL Carlos Muñoz | 29 | 1,200 | 2.41% | ||
| 136 | USA Graham Rahal | 28 | Active driver | |||
| 137 | ESP Fernando Alonso | 27 | 378 | 7.14% | ||
| 138 | USA Jimmy Vasser | 26 | 1,249 | 2.08% | ||
| 139 | USA Jimmy Davies | 25 | 631 | 3.96% | ||
| 140 | USA Tony Bettenhausen | 24 | 1,975 | 1.22% | ||
| 141 | USA Lou Moore | 23 | 1,304 | 1.76% | ||
| 142 | USA A. J. Allmendinger | 23 | 200 | 11.50% | ||
| 143 | USA Sting Ray Robb | 23 | Active driver | |||
| 144 | CAN Jacques Villeneuve | 22 | 600 | 3.67% | 1 | |
| 145 | BRA Raul Boesel | 21 | 2,213 | 0.95% | ||
| 146 | ITA Alessandro Zampedri | 20 | 199 | 10.05% | ||
| 147 | USA George Amick | 18 | 200 | 9.00% | ||
| 148 | USA Johnny Boyd | 18 | 1,427 | 1.26% | ||
| 149 | USA Charlie Kimball | 18 | 1,910 | 0.94% | ||
| 150 | USA Kevin Cogan | 17 | 1,556 | 1.09% | ||
| 151 | CAN Devlin DeFrancesco | 17 | Active driver | |||
| 152 | USA Johnny Aitken | 16 | 194 | 8.25% | ||
| 153 | USA Jerry Grant | 16 | 1,275 | 1.25% | ||
| 154 | USA Robbie Buhl | 16 | 1,279 | 1.25% | ||
| 155 | USA Santino Ferrucci | 16 | Active driver | |||
| 156 | BRA Vítor Meira | 15 | 1,622 | 0.92% | ||
| 157 | GBR Mike Conway | 15 | 476 | 3.15% | ||
| 158 | USA Zach Veach | 15 | 729 | 1.92% | ||
| 159 | USA Colton Herta | 15 | Active driver | |||
| 160 | USA Gaston Chevrolet | 14 | 400 | 3.50% | 1 | |
| 161 | USA Ernie Triplett | 14 | 559 | 2.50% | ||
| 162 | USA Russ Snowberger | 13 | 1,633 | 0.80% | ||
| 163 | MEX Josele Garza | 13 | 707 | 1.84% | ||
| 164 | USA Billy Boat | 13 | 1,112 | 1.17% | ||
| 165 | GBR Justin Wilson | 13 | 1,488 | 0.87% | ||
| 166 | USA Townsend Bell | 13 | 1,898 | 0.68% | ||
| 167 | USA J. R. Hildebrand | 13 | 2,202 | 0.59% | ||
| 168 | USA Swede Savage | 12 | 62 | 19.35% | ||
| 169 | BRA Felipe Giaffone | 12 | 955 | 1.26% | ||
| 170 | BEL Bertrand Baguette | 11 | 383 | 2.87% | ||
| 171 | USA Ralph Mulford | 10 | 1,619 | 0.62% | ||
| 172 | GBR Graham Hill | 10 | 333 | 3.00% | 1 | |
| 173 | USA Alex Barron | 10 | 942 | 1.06% | ||
| 174 | USA Eddie Rickenbacker | 9 | 355 | 2.53% | ||
| 175 | FRA Albert Guyot | 9 | 808 | 1.11% | ||
| 176 | BEL Josef Christiaens | 9 | 320 | 2.81% | ||
| 177 | USA Louis Chevrolet | 9 | 452 | 1.99% | ||
| 178 | USA Dutch Baumann | 9 | 90 | 10.00% | ||
| 179 | USA Len Sutton | 9 | 708 | 1.27% | ||
| 180 | USA Jimmy Daywalt | 8 | 999 | 0.80% | ||
| 181 | USA Pancho Carter | 8 | 2,141 | 0.37% | ||
| 182 | GBR Jim Crawford | 8 | 1,043 | 0.77% | ||
| 183 | USA Scott Pruett | 8 | 592 | 1.35% | ||
| 184 | DEN Christian Rasmussen | 8 | Active driver | |||
| 185 | ISR Robert Shwartzman | 8 | Active driver | |||
| 186 | USA Don Freeland | 7 | 1,311 | 0.53% | ||
| 187 | USA Roger McCluskey | 7 | 2,155 | 0.32% | ||
| 188 | CAN Zachary Claman DeMelo | 7 | 199 | 3.52% | ||
| 189 | USA Spencer Pigot | 7 | 981 | 0.71% | ||
| 190 | USA Ira Hall | 6 | 485 | 1.24% | ||
| 191 | GBR Callum Ilott | 6 | Active driver | |||
| 192 | USA Cecil Green | 5 | 217 | 2.30% | ||
| 193 | USA Jimmy Jackson | 5 | 845 | 0.59% | ||
| 194 | USA Spencer Wishart | 5 | 604 | 0.83% | ||
| 195 | USA Steve Krisiloff | 5 | 1,387 | 0.36% | ||
| 196 | VEN E. J. Viso | 5 | 843 | 0.59% | ||
| 197 | GBR James Jakes | 5 | 599 | 0.83% | ||
| 198 | DNK Christian Lundgaard | 5 | Active driver | |||
| 199 | USA Fred Belcher | 4 | 200 | 2.00% | ||
| 200 | USA Cliff Durant | 4 | 888 | 0.45% | ||
| 201 | USA Mike Mosley | 4 | 1,615 | 0.25% | ||
| 202 | USA Buzz Calkins | 4 | 1,056 | 0.38% | ||
| 203 | USA Sam Schmidt | 4 | 110 | 3.64% | ||
| 204 | FRA Sébastien Bourdais | 4 | 1,687 | 0.24% | ||
| 205 | USA Oliver Askew | 4 | 91 | 4.40% | ||
| 206 | USA Sage Karam | 4 | 1,368 | 0.29% | ||
| 207 | USA Kyle Larson | 4 | Active driver | |||
| 208 | USA Kyle Kirkwood | 4 | Active driver | |||
| 209 | USA George Snider | 3 | 1,832 | 0.16% | ||
| 210 | USA Davey Hamilton | 3 | 1,783 | 0.17% | ||
| 211 | USA Scott Sharp | 3 | 2,180 | 0.14% | ||
| 212 | USA Bryan Herta | 3 | 965 | 0.31% | ||
| 213 | MEX Adrian Fernández | 3 | 583 | 0.51% | ||
| 214 | BRA Mario Moraes | 3 | 211 | 1.42% | ||
| 215 | USA Bryan Clauson | 3 | 305 | 0.98% | ||
| 216 | GBR Stefan Wilson | 3 | 549 | 0.55% | ||
| 217 | CAY Kyffin Simpson | 3 | Active driver | |||
| 218 | GBR Jack Harvey | 3 | Active driver | |||
| 219 | USA Caleb Bragg | 2 | 269 | 0.74% | ||
| 220 | USA Teddy Tetzlaff | 2 | 371 | 0.54% | ||
| 221 | USA Joe Dawson | 2 | 445 | 0.45% | 1 | |
| 222 | USA Robert Evans | 2 | 158 | 1.27% | ||
| 223 | USA Paul Bost | 2 | 66 | 3.03% | ||
| 224 | USA Herb Ardinger | 2 | 884 | 0.23% | ||
| 225 | USA Dan Gurney | 2 | 1,204 | 0.17% | ||
| 226 | USA Roger Rager | 2 | 55 | 3.64% | ||
| 227 | USA Don Whittington | 2 | 547 | 0.37% | ||
| 228 | USA John Andretti | 2 | 1,852 | 0.11% | ||
| 229 | USA Robby McGehee | 2 | 887 | 0.23% | ||
| 230 | JPN Tora Takagi | 2 | 379 | 0.53% | ||
| 231 | USA Jaques Lazier | 2 | 979 | 0.20% | ||
| 232 | BRA Rubens Barrichello | 2 | 200 | 1.00% | ||
| 233 | AUS James Davison | 2 | 748 | 0.27% | ||
| 234 | CAN Robert Wickens | 2 | 200 | 1.00% | ||
| 235 | USA Jimmie Johnson | 2 | 193 | 1.04% | ||
| 236 | USA David Malukas | 2 | Active driver | |||
| 237 | FRA Jean Chassagne | 1 | 285 | 0.35% | ||
| 238 | USA Art Klein | 1 | 413 | 0.24% | ||
| 239 | USA Roscoe Sarles | 1 | 354 | 0.28% | ||
| 240 | USA Howdy Wilcox II | 1 | 200 | 0.50% | ||
| 241 | USA Fred Agabashian | 1 | 1,273 | 0.08% | ||
| 242 | AUS Jack Brabham | 1 | 510 | 0.20% | ||
| 243 | USA Bobby Allison | 1 | 113 | 0.88% | ||
| 244 | USA Bill Vukovich II | 1 | 1,527 | 0.07% | ||
| 245 | USA Tim Richmond | 1 | 388 | 0.26% | ||
| 246 | USA Gordon Smiley | 1 | 188 | 0.53% | ||
| 247 | USA Scott Brayton | 1 | 1,905 | 0.05% | ||
| 248 | FRA Stéphan Grégoire | 1 | 760 | 0.13% | ||
| 249 | USA Jeff Simmons | 1 | 609 | 0.16% | ||
| 250 | RUS Mikhail Aleshin | 1 | 524 | 0.19% | ||
| Note | USA Lora L. Corum* | 0 | 1 | 1924 | ||
| USA Floyd Davis* | 0 | 1 | 1941 |
- USA Lora L. Corum and USA Floyd Davis are credited as being co-winners of the Indianapolis 500 in 1924 and 1941, respectively. However, as the winning entries in either race led only after their secondary drivers drove (and to the conclusion), Corum and Davis are not credited with leading any of those laps, nor did they lead throughout the remainder of their careers.
Lap Leaders, Individual Races
Most Laps Led
Fifty-seven of one hundred seven Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by the driver leading the most laps, 53.27%.
| Year | Leader, Most Laps | Laps | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Led | Percentage | |||
| Race Led | Won | |||
| Race | ||||
| 1911 | USA Ray Harroun | 88 | 44.0% | Yes |
| 1912 | USA Ralph DePalma | 196 | 98.0% | No |
| 1913 | FRA Jules Goux | 138 | 69.0% | Yes |
| 1914 | FRA René Thomas | 102 | 51.0% | Yes |
| 1915 | USA Ralph DePalma | 132 | 66.0% | Yes |
| 1916 | GBR Dario Resta | 103 | 85.8% | Yes |
| 1919 | USA Howdy Wilcox | 98 | 49.0% | Yes |
| 1920 | USA Joe Boyer | 93 | 46.5% | No |
| 1921 | USA Ralph DePalma | 108 | 54.0% | No |
| 1922 | USA Jimmy Murphy | 153 | 76.5% | Yes |
| 1923 | USA Tommy Milton | 128 | 64.0% | Yes |
| 1924 | USA Earl Cooper | 119 | 59.5% | No |
| 1925 | USA Peter DePaolo | 115 | 57.5% | Yes |
| 1926 | USA Frank Lockhart | 95 | 59.4% | Yes |
| 1927 | 110 | 55.0% | No | |
| 1928 | USA Leon Duray | 64 | 32.0% | No |
| 1929 | USA Louis Meyer | 65 | 32.5% | No |
| 1930 | USA Billy Arnold | 198 | 99.0% | Yes |
| 1931 | 155 | 77.5% | No | |
| 1932 | USA Fred Frame | 58 | 29.0% | Yes |
| 1933 | USA Louis Meyer | 71 | 35.5% | Yes |
| 1934 | USA Frank Brisko | 69 | 29.5% | No |
| 1935 | USA Kelly Petillo | 102 | 51.0% | Yes |
| 1936 | USA Louis Meyer | 96 | 48.0% | Yes |
| 1937 | USA Wilbur Shaw | 131 | 65.5% | Yes |
| 1938 | USA Floyd Roberts | 92 | 46.0% | Yes |
| USA Jimmy Snyder | No | |||
| 1939 | USA Louis Meyer | 79 | 39.5% | No |
| 1940 | USA Wilbur Shaw | 136 | 68.0% | Yes |
| 1941 | 107 | 53.5% | No | |
| 1946 | USA George Robson | 138 | 69.0% | Yes |
| 1947 | USA Bill Holland | 143 | 71.5% | No |
| 1948 | USA Mauri Rose | 81 | 40.5% | Yes |
| 1949 | USA Bill Holland | 146 | 73.0% | Yes |
| 1950 | USA Johnnie Parsons | 115 | 83.3% | Yes |
| 1951 | USA Lee Wallard | 159 | 79.5% | Yes |
| 1952 | USA Bill Vukovich | 150 | 75.0% | No |
| 1953 | 195 | 97.5% | Yes | |
| 1954 | 90 | 45.0% | Yes | |
| 1955 | USA Bob Sweikert | 86 | 43.0% | Yes |
| 1956 | USA Pat Flaherty | 127 | 63.5% | Yes |
| 1957 | USA Sam Hanks | 136 | 68.0% | Yes |
| 1958 | USA Jimmy Bryan | 139 | 69.5% | Yes |
| 1959 | USA Rodger Ward | 130 | 65.0% | Yes |
| 1960 | USA Jim Rathmann | 100 | 50.0% | Yes |
| 1961 | USA A.J. Foyt | 71 | 35.5% | Yes |
| 1962 | USA Parnelli Jones | 120 | 60.0% | No |
| 1963 | 167 | 83.5% | Yes | |
| 1964 | USA A.J. Foyt | 146 | 73.0% | Yes |
| 1965 | GBR Jim Clark | 190 | 95.0% | Yes |
| 1966 | USA Lloyd Ruby | 68 | 34.0% | No |
| 1967 | USA Parnelli Jones | 171 | 85.5% | No |
| 1968 | USA Bobby Unser | 127 | 63.5% | Yes |
| 1969 | USA Mario Andretti | 116 | 58.0% | Yes |
| 1970 | USA Al Unser | 190 | 95.0% | Yes |
| 1971 | 103 | 51.5% | Yes | |
| 1972 | USA Gary Bettenhausen | 138 | 69.0% | No |
| 1973 | USA Gordon Johncock | 64 | 48.1% | Yes |
| 1974 | USA Johnny Rutherford | 122 | 61.0% | Yes |
| 1975 | USA Wally Dallenbach | 96 | 55.2% | No |
| 1976 | USA Johnny Rutherford | 48 | 47.1% | Yes |
| 1977 | USA Gordon Johncock | 129 | 64.5% | No |
| 1978 | USA Al Unser | 121 | 60.5% | Yes |
| 1979 | USA Bobby Unser | 89 | 44.5% | No |
| 1980 | USA Johnny Rutherford | 118 | 59.0% | Yes |
| 1981 | USA Bobby Unser | 89 | 44.5% | Yes |
| 1982 | USA Rick Mears | 77 | 38.5% | No |
| 1983 | USA Tom Sneva | 98 | 49.0% | Yes |
| 1984 | USA Rick Mears | 119 | 59.5% | Yes |
| 1985 | USA Mario Andretti | 107 | 53.5% | No |
| 1986 | USA Rick Mears | 76 | 38.0% | No |
| 1987 | USA Mario Andretti | 170 | 85.0% | No |
| 1988 | USA Danny Sullivan | 91 | 45.5% | No |
| 1989 | BRA Emerson Fittipaldi | 158 | 79.0% | Yes |
| 1990 | 128 | 64.0% | No | |
| 1991 | USA Michael Andretti | 97 | 48.5% | No |
| 1992 | 160 | 80.0% | No | |
| 1993 | USA Mario Andretti | 72 | 36.0% | No |
| 1994 | BRA Emerson Fittipaldi | 145 | 72.5% | No |
| 1995 | BRA Maurício Gugelmin | 59 | 29.5% | No |
| 1996 | COL Roberto Guerrero | 47 | 23.5% | No |
| 1997 | USA Tony Stewart | 64 | 32.0% | No |
| 1998 | USA Eddie Cheever | 76 | 38.0% | Yes |
| 1999 | SWE Kenny Bräck | 66 | 33.0% | Yes |
| 2000 | COL Juan Pablo Montoya | 167 | 83.5% | Yes |
| 2001 | BRA Hélio Castroneves | 52 | 26.0% | Yes |
| 2002 | ZAF Tomas Scheckter | 85 | 42.5% | No |
| 2003 | 63 | 31.5% | No | |
| 2004 | USA Buddy Rice | 91 | 50.5% | Yes |
| 2005 | USA Sam Hornish Jr. | 77 | 38.5% | No |
| 2006 | GBR Dan Wheldon | 148 | 74.0% | No |
| 2007 | BRA Tony Kanaan | 83 | 50.0% | No |
| 2008 | NZL Scott Dixon | 115 | 57.5% | Yes |
| 2009 | 73 | 36.5% | No | |
| 2010 | GBR Dario Franchitti | 155 | 77.5% | Yes |
| 2011 | NZL Scott Dixon | 73 | 36.5% | No |
| 2012 | USA Marco Andretti | 59 | 29.5% | No |
| 2013 | USA Ed Carpenter | 37 | 18.5% | No |
| 2014 | USA Ryan Hunter-Reay | 56 | 28.0% | Yes |
| 2015 | NZL Scott Dixon | 84 | 42.0% | No |
| 2016 | USA Ryan Hunter-Reay | 52 | 26.0% | No |
| 2017 | GBR Max Chilton | 50 | 25.0% | No |
| 2018 | USA Ed Carpenter | 65 | 32.5% | No |
| 2019 | FRA Simon Pagenaud | 116 | 58.0% | Yes |
| 2020 | NZL Scott Dixon | 111 | 55.5% | No |
| 2021 | USA Conor Daly | 40 | 20.0% | No |
| 2022 | NZL Scott Dixon | 95 | 47.5% | No |
| 2023 | MEX Pato O'Ward | 39 | 19.5% | No |
| 2024 | NZL Scott McLaughlin | 66 | 33.0% | No |
| 2025 | JPN Takuma Sato | 51 | 25.5% | No |
More than 50% of race laps led, non-winning entries
Twenty separate entries in equal years, driven by sixteen drivers, have failed to win despite leading over half a given race's completed laps.
| Rank | Year | Driver | Laps | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Led | Race | ||||
| Percentage | Final | ||||
| Pos | |||||
| 1 | 1912 | USA Ralph DePalma | 196 | 98.0% | 11 |
| 2 | 1967 | USA Parnelli Jones | 171 | 85.5% | 6 |
| 3 | 1987 | USA Mario Andretti | 170 | 85.0% | 9 |
| 4 | 1992 | USA Michael Andretti | 160 | 80.0% | 13 |
| 5 | 1931 | USA Billy Arnold | 155 | 77.5% | 19 |
| 6 | 1952 | USA Bill Vukovich | 150 | 75.0% | 17 |
| 7 | 2006 | GBR Dan Wheldon | 148 | 74.0% | 4 |
| 8 | 1994 | BRA Emerson Fittipaldi | 145 | 72.5% | 17 |
| 9 | 1947 | USA Bill Holland | 143 | 71.5% | 2 |
| 10 | 1972 | USA Gary Bettenhausen | 138 | 69.0% | 14 |
| 11 | 1977 | USA Gordon Johncock | 129 | 64.5% | 11 |
| 12 | 1990 | BRA Emerson Fittipaldi | 128 | 64.0% | 3 |
| 13 | 1962 | USA Parnelli Jones | 120 | 60.0% | 7 |
| 14 | 1924 | USA Earl Cooper | 119 | 59.5% | 2 |
| 15 | 2020 | NZL Scott Dixon | 111 | 55.5% | 2 |
| 16 | 1927 | USA Frank Lockhart | 110 | 55.0% | 10 |
| 17 | 1921 | USA Ralph DePalma | 108 | 54.0% | 12 |
| 18 | 1941 | USA Wilbur Shaw | 107 | 53.5% | 18 |
| 1985 | USA Mario Andretti | 2 | |||
| 20 | 1975 | USA Wally Dallenbach | 96 | 55.2% | 9 |
Lap leader records
| ** USA Rex Mays and USA Mauri Rose led the race in |
|---|
| periods extending nine years each, but are counted |
| as leading in five consecutive due to the cancellation |
| of the race, from 1942—1945, due to World War II* |
| With four-wide starts occurring in years 1913-1920, |
|---|
| Dario Resta started on the front row in 1916.* |
| 150 | 75.0% | 1952 | USA Bill Vukovich | 8 | 17 |
|---|
| With four-wide starts occurring in years 1913-1920, |
|---|
| Ralph DePalma started on the front row in 1919.* |
Led opening lap and final lap: 21 entries among 19 drivers
- Jimmy Murphy, 1922
- Joe Boyer, 1924 (only occasion of occurrence in separate entries)
- Peter DePaolo, 1925
- Lee Wallard, 1951
- Bill Vukovich, 1953
- Jimmy Bryan, 1958
- Jim Clark, 1965
- Mario Andretti, 1969
- Al Unser, 1970
- Johnny Rutherford, 1976
- Johnny Rutherford, 1980
- Bobby Unser, 1981
- Rick Mears, 1984
- Emerson Fittipaldi, 1989
- Rick Mears, 1991
- Al Unser Jr., 1994
- Buddy Rice, 2004
- Scott Dixon, 2008
- Hélio Castroneves, 2009
- Dario Franchitti, 2010
- Simon Pagenaud, 2019
| 51 | 25.5% | 1927 | USA George Souders | 22 | 1 |
|---|
| 2019 | FRA Simon Pagenaud |
|---|
| 1994 | USA Al Unser Jr. |
|---|
| 27 | 2005 | GBR Dan Wheldon |
|---|
| 1949 | USA Bill Holland |
|---|
Leaders Circle Club
In 1964, Autolite created the "Pacemakers Club," which recognized drivers who had led at least one lap during the Indianapolis 500. It quickly rose in stature and popularity, and became a highly sought-after honor associated with the Indianapolis 500. After changes in sponsorship, the organization was renamed the "Leaders Circle Club".
The qualifications were simple: any driver who had led at least one lap during the history of the race, whether living or already deceased, were recognized as members. At its inception, 102 drivers were listed as members. A total of 56 were deceased at the time, and 46 were living.
Honorees receive a jacket, and are honored at a banquet in their honor. The number of new members inducted at the banquet varies annually, as it is solely based on the previous year's first-time lap leaders. Some years can have as few as one or zero new members inducted, while other years have had as many as 4–5. The "club" is still active as of 2012.
Notes
References
References
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