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List of Indianapolis 500 pole-sitters

Indianapolis 500 Pole Position
Tony Kanaan during qualifying for the 2015 Indianapolis 500
A qualification day participation sticker on Tony Kanaan's car in 2015
SportAmerican open-wheel car racing
CompetitionIndianapolis 500
DisciplineIndyCar Series
Awarded forPole Position for the Indianapolis 500
English nameNippon Telegraph and Telephone P1 Award
History
First award1911
Editions107
First winnerLewis Strang (1911)
Most winsRick Mears (6)
Most recentScott McLaughlin (2024)

The Indianapolis 500 (also called the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race)[a][2] is an annual American open-wheel car race held on American Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), in Speedway, Indiana.[3] It was first held in 1911 after the track's owners had experimented with several other long-distances auto races over the previous two years.[2] The race was not held in 1917 or 1918 and again from 1942 to 1945 because of war.[2] It was administered by the American Automobile Association between 1911 and 1955, then by the United States Auto Club from 1956 to 1997, and finally by the Indy Racing League/IndyCar beginning in 1998.[3][4] The polesitter is the driver that has qualified for the event in pole position, at the inside of the front of the starting grid.[5] Since 1989, the polesitter has received a $100,000 cash prize,[b][8] and they and their car owner receive a small trophy at a ceremony that takes place after qualifying.[c][13][14] The award is currently sponsored by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone;[15] past sponsors include Anheuser-Busch through its Budweiser brand,[16] PPG Industries,[17] MBNA America Bank,[18] WorldPoints Visa Card,[19] AAMCO Transmissions,[20] Peak Performance Motor Oil,[21] and Verizon.[22] Out of the 107 completed Indianapolis 500s (as of the 2023 race), the driver that has started in first place has gone on to win the race 21 times.[23]

The qualifying speed format has been changed four times since the first race in 1911.[24] The starting grid for the first race was determined by the date the IMS received entries, and all cars had to reach 75 mph (121 km/h) on a quarter-mile part of the main straight. This was adjusted to drivers averaging 75 mph (121 km/h) on the whole track in 1912, while the starting grid was still set by the order IMS received postal entries. A blind draw was conducted in both 1913 and 1914 once drivers reached the 75 mph (121 km/h) minimum speed. The qualifying format was revised in 1915 so that the grid was determined by drivers' speeds over a single lap, with a minimum speed of 80 mph (130 km/h). From 1920 to 1932, drivers set the starting order by completing four-lap (10 mi (16 km)) qualifying runs at a set minimum speed between 80 and 95 mph (129 and 153 km/h). From 1933 to 1938, it was a ten-lap (25 mi (40 km)) qualifying speed format with cars carrying 3 US gal (11 L; 2.5 imp gal) of fuel. The four-lap speed format was reinstated in 1939, and the minimum speed requirement was dropped after 1963.[25][26][27]

Qualifying is held on the Saturday (Bump Day) and Sunday (Pole Day) of the weekend preceding the event, whereas qualifying was formerly held over two weekends.[28][29] There have been a number of different qualifying systems in the past; earlier, from 2005 to 2009, pole position through eleventh was determined on the first day of qualifying, with the rest of the grid order set over the next three days.[30] Since 2010, drivers have competed in a knockout-style qualifying system and select qualifiers are awarded season points towards the IndyCar Series championship.[31][32] The top twelve cars from the first day proceed to the second round the following day, and the top six drivers from that round advance to the third and final round, which determines the top six starting places, including pole position.[33] Since 1965, a blind draw is held the night before to determine the qualifying order,[34] and every car has been guaranteed at least one attempt to qualify in the pole position round, regardless if weather or other circumstances interfered since 1971.[35] Previously, the qualifying order was set by teams presenting their cars in a queue beginning at the garage area.[36] Warm-up laps were limited to three after World War II before dropping to two in 1982.[25] Unlike other IndyCar events,[37] each driver completes a four-lap qualifying run with no other cars on track across two days, and their average speed over each lap is used to determine their final starting position.[38]

A total of 66 drivers have won the pole position as of the 2023 race.[23] Rick Mears holds the record for the most Indianapolis 500 pole positions, having qualified first on six occasions.[39] Scott Dixon is second with five pole positions and Hélio Castroneves, A. J. Foyt, and Rex Mays are third with four poles. Eleven drivers have qualified in the pole position for two consecutive years, but no one has won in three years in a row.[23] Mays and Cliff Bergere are the youngest and oldest Indianapolis 500 pole winners, qualifying on pole at the ages of 22 years, 81 days in 1935 and 49 years, and 175 days in 1946, respectively.[40] Scott McLaughlin and Gil Andersen set the fastest and slowest four-lap average pole speeds of 234.220 mph (376.941 km/h) in 2024 and 80.93 mph (130.24 km/h) in 1912, respectively.[15][41]

  1. ^ "IMS Hall of Fame Inductees". Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Davidson, Donald (June 2021) [1994]. "Indianapolis 500-Mile Race". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Augustyn, Adam; C. Shepherd, Melinda; Chauhan, Yamini; Levy, Michael; Lotha, Gloria; Tikkanen, Amy. "Indianapolis 500". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Cavin, Curt (January 27, 2020). "Track Talk: The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". IndyCar Series. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "New Zealand's Dixon claims pole for Indy 500". The Sydney Morning Herald. May 11, 2008. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Indianapolis 500: Pole Position Worth $6,000". Journal Gazette. May 16, 1968. p. 14. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  7. ^ "Honors for Unser". Muncie Evening Press. May 20, 1981. p. T16. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ^ a b Lowenkron, Hank (March 29, 1989). "Indy 500: Purse increases with speeds". The San Bernardino County Sun. Associated Press. p. C6. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  9. ^ "1987 Day-by-Day Trackside Report for the Media" (PDF). Indianapolis Motor Speedway. May 1987. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 7, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mears already is piling up the money". Racine Journal Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1988. p. 3B. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  11. ^ "Trophy for Mechanic". The Indianapolis News. May 16, 1946. p. 16. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  12. ^ "A. J. Collects Again". The Indianapolis Star. May 31, 1965. p. 14. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  13. ^ "PPG Pole Award Indianapolis 500". The Indianapolis News. May 25, 1990. p. E10. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  14. ^ "J.R. Honored". The Indianapolis Star. May 25, 1980. p. 1, Sec 2. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  15. ^ a b Kelly, Paul (May 19, 2024). "McLaughlin Wins Record Pole as Penske Sweeps Front Row". IndyCar.
  16. ^ Richards, Ed (July 12, 1981). "If You've Got The Sport, We'Ve Got The Money". Daily Press. p. D4. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  17. ^ "IRL: PPG renews Indy 500 pole award". Motorsport.com. January 11, 1995. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  18. ^ McLaren, Peter (March 8, 2001). "MBNA to sponsor Indianapolis 500 Pole Award". Crash. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  19. ^ Lewandowski, Dave (May 20, 2006). "Hornish Wins Indy 500 Pole At 228.985". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on August 10, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "AAMCO Transmissions Teams With IndyCar Series For Pole Award". Aftermarket News. April 27, 2007. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  21. ^ "Peak Motor Oil to Sponsor IndyCar Series Pole Award". The Auto Channel. March 18, 2008. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  22. ^ Lewandowski, Dave (May 17, 2014). "Nine drivers, four laps for Verizon P1 Award". IndyCar Series. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c "Indianapolis 500 Page". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Harris, Mike (June 4, 1989). "Motor Racing Notes : Format for Indy Trials May Change Next Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Mittman, Dick (September 22, 2004). "Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Has Evolved Over The Years". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on September 24, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  26. ^ Davidson & Shaffer 2013, pp. 28–30, 37–38, 46, 97
  27. ^ Popely & Riggs 1998, pp. 10–18, 50, 66
  28. ^ "8 Things You May Not Know – 8 Facts in Indy500 – 2022 edition". Honda. May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  29. ^ Beer, Matt (December 15, 2009). "Indy cuts qualifying to two days". Autosport. Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  30. ^ Davidson & Shaffer 2013, pp. 309, 330
  31. ^ Kelly, Paul (April 14, 2010). "Pole Shootout, Busy Bump Day Headline New '500' Qualifying Format". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  32. ^ Cavin, Curt (April 10, 2010). "Winning pole just got more intense". The Indianapolis Star. pp. B1, B3. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  33. ^ Pryson, Mike (May 19, 2022). "New Indy 500 Qualifying Format for the 106th Indianapolis 500". Autoweek. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  34. ^ "Drawing Will Decide Qualifying Positions". The Indianapolis Star. May 14, 1965. p. 26. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  35. ^ Marquette, Ray (May 15, 1971). "Donohue Set For Pole Record". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  36. ^ Davidson & Shaffer 2013, p. 175.
  37. ^ Hoffman, David (May 18, 2023). "What's The Format For Indy 500 Qualifying?". Speed Sport. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  38. ^ Kisby, Cambridge (May 19, 2023). "2023 Indy 500: motor sport's most thrilling qualifying session". Motor Sport. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  39. ^ "Most times as an Indianapolis 500 pole sitter". Guinness Book of World Records. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  40. ^ "Driver Records & Milestones: Indianapolis 500: Qualifications Milestones". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  41. ^ Pruett, Marshall (May 9, 2013). "Evolution of Speed at Indy". Road & Track. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.


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