
Indianapolis 500 – All-Time Lap Leaders
The list of drivers who have led at least one lap in the Indianapolis 500 has reached 239 as of the 2022 race. The list of drivers who have topped that list, however, is very short. Currently, 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon (665) holds the record for most laps led all-time. He took that distinction from Al Unser Sr. in 2022. Unser had held the record since 1987. Unser had last led laps in 1993, which was also his final Indy start.

In the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, race winner Ray Harroun led the most lap with 83. He topped the seven drivers who led laps in the race that day. The following year, in the 1912 race, Ralph DePalma led an astounding 196 laps. The only laps he failed to lead that day were laps 1–2 and laps 199–200. DePalma’s car broke down with less than two laps to go while leading. Heartbreakingly, DePalma placed 13th. He and his riding mechanic Rupert Jeffkins made a futile effort to push the car the rest of the way. Along with the 4 laps he had previously led during the 1911 race, DePalma moved to the top of the list of all-time lap leaders in the Indianapolis 500. He would hold that record for 75 years.
Ralph DePalma added to his total, leading 132 laps during his 1915 victory. He subsequently led laps in 1919 (93), 1920 (79), and 1921 (108). By the end of his Indianapolis career, DePalma had led a record total of 612 laps to go along with his lone 1915 victory. For years, a discrepancy existed in DePalma’s total. It appears to have stemmed from his total from the 1921 race. Some box scores, and subsequent articles, listed DePalma as leading 109 laps in 1921, while more recently, it has been corrected to 108 laps. The extra lap gave DePalma an incorrect total of 613 laps led. The error persisted well into the 1980s in media guides and newspapers articles. When Al Unser Sr. was approaching the record, DePalma was reported as having 613 laps. Unser led 61 laps during the 1983 race, bringing his career total to 595 laps, thought to be just 18 short of the record.

In 1987, Al Unser Sr. took the lead with 18 laps to go, and won his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500. At the time, it was believed that when he led that all-important 200th lap, he tied Ralph DePalma at 613 career laps led. Twelve months later when Unser led a dozen laps in the 1988 race, he was celebrated for taking over the top spot on the all-time lap leaders list. But subsequent corrections to the record suggest that Unser actually took over the top spot in 1987 – upon leading the 200th lap of that race. In any case, Unser added to his total, leading 4 more laps in 1992, and 15 laps in 1993, bringing his career total to 644. Unser entered the 1994 race, but mid-way through the month quit the team and decided to retire.
During the 2021 Indianapolis 500, Scott Dixon led seven laps and tentatively reached a total of 570 career laps led. Dixon ranked third all-time, first among active drivers, and within striking distance of Unser. He entered the 2022 race needing only 75 laps in the lead to move into first all-time. Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner, five-time pole winner, and six time IndyCar champion, led 95 laps. On lap 133, he officially became the all-time lap leader in Indy 500 history. He finished the day sitting at 665 laps led. Dixon failed to lead any laps in 2023, and through the 2023 race, still sits in the top spot with 665 laps led, more than double the total of the next highest active driver (Helio Castroneves).
As of 2023, Ray Harroun, Ralph DePalma, Al Unser Sr., and Scott Dixon are the only four drivers in Indy history to sit atop the list of all-time lap leaders. Michael Andretti (431), whose best finish was 2nd in 1991, has the most laps led by a non-winner. He took over that distinction from Rex Mays in 1992.
All-time lap leaders of the Indianapolis 500. Race winners denoted in bold. Drivers active as of 2023 are denoted with ►.
Rank | Driver (# of race wins) | Total Laps led |
1 | ► Scott Dixon (1) | 665 |
2 | Al Unser Sr. (4) | 644 |
3 | Ralph DePalma (1) | 612 |
4 | Mario Andretti (1) | 556 |
5 | A.J. Foyt (4) | 555 |
6 | Wilbur Shaw (3) | 508 |
7 | Emerson Fittipaldi (2) | 505 |
8 | Parnelli Jones (1) | 492 |
9 | Bill Vukovich (2) | 485 |
10 | Bobby Unser (3) | 440 |
11 | Michael Andretti | 431 |
12 | Rick Mears (4) | 429 |
13 | Billy Arnold (1) | 410 |
14 | ► Tony Kanaan (1) | 352 |
15 | Gordon Johncock (2) | 339 |
16 | Louis Meyer (3) | 332 |
17 | Dario Franchitti (3) | 329 |
18 | ► Hélio Castroneves (4) | 326 |
19 | Jim Clark (1) | 298 |
20 | Bill Holland (1) | 297 |
21 | Johnny Rutherford (3) | 296 |
22 | Rex Mays | 266 |
23 | Rodger Ward (2) | 261 |
24 | Mauri Rose (3) | 256 |
25 | Dan Wheldon (2) | 235 |
26 | Jimmy Murphy (1) | 220 |
27 | Tommy Milton (2) | 218 |
28 | Jimmy Bryan (1) | 216 |
29 | Tom Sneva (1) | 208 |
30 | Frank Lockhart (1) | 205 |
31 | Juan Pablo Montoya (2) | 193 |
32 | Arie Luyendyk (2) | 186 |
33 | Jimmy Snyder | 181 |
34 | Lee Wallard (1) | 178 |
36 | ► Ryan Hunter-Reay (1) | 171 |
35 | ► Simon Pagenaud (1) | 169 |
37 | Danny Sullivan (1) | 162 |
38 | Howdy Wilcox (1) | 155 |
39 | Tomas Scheckter | 153 |
40 | Jim Rathmann (1) | 150 |
41 | Peter DePaolo (1) | 148 |
42 | ► Ed Carpenter | 146 |
43 | ► Will Power (1) | 145 |
44 | ► Marco Andretti | 144 |
45 | Dario Resta (1) | 140 |
Sam Hanks (1) | 140 | |
Jules Goux (1) | 139 | |
George Robson (1) | 138 | |
Pat Flaherty (1) | 138 | |
Gary Bettenhausen | 138 | |
Johnnie Parsons (1) | 131 | |
Lloyd Ruby | 126 | |
Bobby Rahal (1) | 126 | |
Earl Cooper | 123 | |
Tony Stewart | 122 | |
Joe Boyer (1) | 119 | |
Greg Ray | 116 | |
René Thomas (1) | 114 | |
Al Unser Jr. (2) | 110 | |
Kelly Petillo (1) | 108 | |
Wally Dallenbach | 108 | |
Sam Hornish Jr. (1) | 107 | |
Babe Stapp | 106 | |
Fred Frame (1) | 106 | |
Buddy Rice (1) | 99 | |
Ted Horn | 94 | |
Dave Lewis | 93 | |
Bill Cummings (1) | 93 | |
Floyd Roberts (1) | 92 | |
Kenny Bräck (1) | 89 | |
Eddie Cheever (1) | 89 | |
Ray Harroun (1) | 88 | |
► Takuma Sato (2) | 87 | |
Bob Sweikert | 86 | |
► Alex Palou | 83 | |
► Pato O’Ward | 82 | |
David Bruce-Brown | 81 | |
► Alexander Rossi (1) | 81 | |
Danny Ongais | 79 | |
Arthur Duray | 77 | |
Troy Ruttman (1) | 72 | |
Gil de Ferran (1) | 71 | |
Jack McGrath | 70 | |
Mark Donohue (1) | 70 | |
Buddy Lazier (1) | 70 | |
Frank Brisko | 69 | |
Leon Duray | 68 | |
Ralph Hepburn | 68 | |
George Souders (1) | 67 | |
Eddie Sachs | 66 | |
► Felix Rosenqvist | 61 | |
Maurcio Gugelmin | 59 | |
Harry Hartz | 57 | |
► Rinus VeeKay | 57 | |
Roberto Guerrero | 56 | |
Johnny Thomson | 55 | |
James Hinchcliffe | 54 | |
Robby Gordon | 53 | |
Joe Leonard | 52 | |
Jeff Ward | 52 | |
Bruno Junqueira | 52 | |
Max Chilton | 50 | |
Deacon Litz | 49 | |
Scott Goodyear | 49 | |
► Connor Daly | 47 | |
Ray Keech (1) | 46 | |
Pat O’Connor | 46 | |
Davy Jones | 46 | |
Gil Anderson | 44 | |
Jimmy Gleason | 43 | |
► Marcus Ericsson (1) | 43 | |
► Josef Newgarden (1) | 43 | |
Bob Burman | 41 | |
Jackie Stewart | 40 | |
Louis Schneider (1) | 39 | |
John Paul Jr. | 39 | |
Alex Tagliani | 39 | |
Teo Fabi | 37 | |
Bob Carey | 36 | |
Jim Hurtubise | 36 | |
Cliff Bergere | 35 | |
Paul Russo | 35 | |
► Álex Palou | 35 | |
Bob Swanson | 34 | |
Nigel Mansell | 34 | |
Oriol Servia | 34 | |
Bobby Marshman | 33 | |
Tony Gulotta | 33 | |
Art Cross | 32 | |
Duke Nalon | 32 | |
Ryan Briscoe | 31 | |
Phil Shafer | 29 | |
Mark Dismore | 29 | |
Danica Patrick | 29 | |
Carlos Muñoz | 29 | |
► Graham Rahal | 28 | |
Fernando Alonso | 27 | |
Jimmy Vasser | 26 | |
Jimmy Davies | 25 | |
Tony Bettenhausen | 24 | |
Lou Moore | 23 | |
A. J. Allmendinger | 23 | |
Jacques Villeneuve (1) | 22 | |
Raul Boesel | 21 | |
Alessandro Zampedri | 20 | |
George Amick | 18 | |
Johnny Boyd | 18 | |
Charlie Kimball | 18 | |
Kevin Cogan | 17 | |
Johnny Aitken | 16 | |
Jerry Grant | 16 | |
Robbie Buhl | 16 | |
Vitor Meira | 15 | |
Mike Conway | 15 | |
► Santino Ferrucci | 15 | |
► Colton Herta | 15 | |
Gaston Chevrolet (1) | 14 | |
Ernie Triplett | 14 | |
Zach Veach | 14 | |
Russ Snowberger | 13 | |
Josele Garza | 13 | |
Billy Boat | 13 | |
Justin Wilson | 13 | |
Townsend Bell | 13 | |
► J.R. Hildebrand | 13 | |
Swede Savage | 12 | |
Felipe Giaffone | 12 | |
Bertrand Baguette | 11 | |
Ralph Mulford | 10 | |
Graham Hill (1) | 10 | |
Alex Barron | 10 | |
Eddie Rickenbacker | 9 | |
Albert Guyot | 9 | |
Josef Christiaens | 9 | |
Louis Chevrolet | 9 | |
Dutch Bauman | 9 | |
Len Sutton | 9 | |
Jimmy Daywalt | 8 | |
Pancho Carter | 8 | |
Jim Crawford | 8 | |
Scott Pruett | 8 | |
Don Freeland | 7 | |
Roger McCluskey | 7 | |
Zachary Claman DeMelo | 7 | |
Spencer Pigot | 7 | |
Ira Hall | 6 | |
Cecil Green | 5 | |
Jimmy Jackson | 5 | |
Spencer Wishart | 5 | |
Steve Krisiloff | 5 | |
E.J. Viso | 5 | |
James Jakes | 5 | |
► Callum Ilott | 5 | |
Fred Belcher | 4 | |
Cliff Durant | 4 | |
Mike Mosley | 4 | |
Buzz Calkins | 4 | |
Sam Schmidt | 4 | |
Sebastien Bourdais | 4 | |
Oliver Askew | 4 | |
Sage Karam | 4 | |
George Snider | 3 | |
Davey Hamilton | 3 | |
Scott Sharp | 3 | |
Bryan Herta | 3 | |
Adrian Fernández | 3 | |
Mario Moraes | 3 | |
Bryan Clauson | 3 | |
► Stefan Wilson | 3 | |
Caleb Bragg | 2 | |
Teddy Tetzlaff | 2 | |
Joe Dawson (1) | 2 | |
Robert Evans | 2 | |
Paul Bost | 2 | |
Herb Ardinger | 2 | |
Dan Gurney | 2 | |
Roger Rager | 2 | |
Don Whittington | 2 | |
John Andretti | 2 | |
Robby McGehee | 2 | |
Tora Takagi | 2 | |
Jaques Lazier | 2 | |
Rubens Barrichello | 2 | |
James Davison | 2 | |
Robert Wickens | 2 | |
Jimmie Johnson | 2 | |
Jean Chassagne | 1 | |
Art Klein | 1 | |
Roscoe Sarles | 1 | |
Howdy Wilcox II | 1 | |
Fred Agabashian | 1 | |
Jack Brabham | 1 | |
Bobby Allison | 1 | |
Bill Vukovich II | 1 | |
Tim Richmond | 1 | |
Gordon Smiley | 1 | |
Scott Brayton | 1 | |
Stephan Gregoire | 1 | |
Jeff Simmons | 1 | |
Mikhail Aleshin | 1 | |
L.L. Corum (1) | 0 | |
Floyd Davis (1) | 0 |
Note: L.L. Corum (1924) and Floyd Davis (1941) are in the record books as co-winners of the Indianapolis 500. But neither driver led a lap in their respective careers.

(Johnson Collection)
Lap Leader Records & Statistics
Most Laps Led – Single Race (All-time)
- 198 — Billy Arnold (1930) winner
- 196 — Ralph DePalma (1912) finished 11th
- 195 — Bill Vukovich (1953) winner
- 190 — Jim Clark (1965) winner
- 190 — Al Unser Sr. (1970) winner
Most Laps Led – Single Race (Non-winner)
- 196 — Ralph DePalma (1912) finished 11th
- 171 — Parnelli Jones (1967) finished 6th
- 170 — Mario Andretti (1987) finished 9th
- 160 — Michael Andretti (1970) finished 13th
Most Laps Led – Single Race (Rookie)
- 167 — Juan Pablo Montoya (2000) winner
- 143 — Bill Holland (1947) finished 2nd
- 138 — Jules Goux (1913) winner
Most consecutive laps led
- 198 — Bill Arnold (1930) laps 3-200
- 196 — Ralph DePalma (1912) laps 3-198
Most consecutive laps led from the start
- 92 — Emerson Fittipaldi (1990) laps 1-92
- 81 — Frank Lockhart (1927) laps 1-81
Fewest laps led by the race winner
- 1 — Dan Wheldon (2011)
- 2 — Joe Dawson (1912)
- 5 — Josef Newgaren (2023)
- 9 — Juan Pablo Montoya (2015)
Most races led, career
- 15 — Tony Kanaan (2002-2008, 2012-2018, 2022)
Most consecutive races led, career
- 8 — Will Power (2013-2020)
Most lead changes (single race)
- 68 — 2013
- 54 — 2016
- 52 — 2023
- 38 — 2022
- 37 — 2016
Most different leaders (single race)
- 15 — 2017
- 15 — 2018
- 14 — 2013
- 14 — 2023
Fewest lead changes (single race)
- 1 — 1930
- 2 — 1912
- 2 — 1916
Fewest different leaders (single race)
- 2 — 1930
- 2 — 1965
Drivers who led late but failed to win
Led Lap 199 (1 lap to go)
- Marco Andretti (2006) — finished 2nd (passed by Sam Hornish Jr.)
- J.R. Hildebrand (2011) — finished 2nd (hit wall in turn 4, passed by Dan Wheldon
- Marcus Ericsson (2023) — finished 2nd (passed by Josef Newgarden)
Led Lap 198 (2 laps to go)
- Ralph DePalma (1912) — finished 11th (connecting rod failure)
- Al Unser Jr. (1989) — finished 2nd (crashed in turn 3)
- Robby Gordon (1999) — finished 4th (pitted for fuel)
- Scott Dixon (2012) — finished 2nd (passed by Dario Franchitti)
- Alexander Rossi (2019) — finished 2nd (passed by Simon Pagenaud)
- Álex Palou (2021) — finished 2nd (passed by Hélio Castroneves)
Latest pass for the win
Taking into account the actual distance (in feet or miles) to the finish line irrespective of laps, the latest passes for the lead to win the Indianapolis 500 are as follows. Distances indicated are approximate and unofficial.
450 feet to the finish line (2006)
Rookie Marco Andretti was leading the race and took the white flag to lead lap 199. Out of turn four on the final lap, on the frontstretch Sam Hornish Jr. passed Andretti and edged him out for the win. Hornish’s car nosed ahead approximately 450 feet before they reached finish line, and he won by 0.0635 seconds.
900 feet to the finish line (2011)
Rookie J.R. Hildebrand took the lead with 3 laps to go while other drivers pitted for fuel. Hildebrand was trying to stretch his fuel to the finish. He took the white flag and led lap 199. He held about a 4-second lead. In turn four on the final lap, he came up on the lapped car of Charlie Kimball. Kimball’s car was slowing, and sputtering, low on fuel as well. Hildebrand tried to pass Kimball on the outside in turn four, but got up into the “marbles” and smacked the outside wall. His car slid down the frontstretch along the wall towards the finish line. About 900 feet before line, Dan Wheldon drove by Hildebrand’s wrecked car to take the lead and take the victory. Hildebrand continued to slide down the mainstretch, and he slid across the finish line to place second.
1.4 miles to the finish line (2023)
After three red flags for late-race incidents, the race restarted with one lap to go. Defending winner Marcus Ericsson led Josef Newgarden and Santino Ferrucci as the green and white flags came out for what was effectively a 1-lap shootout to decide the winner. Ericsson held the lead going into turn one, but coming off of turn two, Newgarden got a run. He pulled alongside and passed Ericsson for the lead on the outside down the backstretch. Newgarden weaved back and forth down the frontstretch – the so-called “Dragon” maneuver – and held off Ericsson at the finish line by 0.0974 seconds. It was the third last-lap pass for the win in Indy history.
2.8 miles to the finish line (1999)
Robby Gordon led lap 198, and ran out of fuel in turn four on the 199th lap. Gordon immediately ducked into the pits coming out of turn four. Kenny Bräck passed Gordon for the lead near the entrance to the pit area. He went on to officially lead the 199th lap (white flag), and completed the final lap for the victory.
3.4 miles to the finish line (1989)
Al Unser Jr. led lap 198, and led Emerson Fittipaldi on the backstretch on the 199th lap. In turn three, Fittipaldi passed Unser on the inside, the two cars touched wheels, and Unser crashed into the outside wall. Fittipaldi continued, taking the white and yellow flags, completed the final lap, and secured the victory.
3.5 miles to the finish line: (1912)
Ralph DePalma led the 198th lap at which point his car had begun to misfire. Holding a 5-lap lead over second place, DePalma tried to nurse his car around the final two laps. The car quit down the backstretch going into turn three. A broken connecting rod had blown a hole through the crankcase. The car coasted for a little way, and somewhere at the north end, DePalma and his riding mechanic Rupert Jeffkins began pushing the car around the track. They made their way down the frontstretch but the effort was ultimately futile. Second place Joe Dawson made up the margin, and passed DePalma to take the lead. Dawson officially led the 199th and 200th lap for the victory, the only two laps he ever led. DePalma wound up in 11th place.
3.7 miles to the finish line: (2019)
Simon Pagenaud and Alexander Rossi battled for the lead in the closing laps. On lap 199, Pagenaud passed Rossi for the lead down the backstretch, near the entrance to turn three. Pagenaud then led at the white flag, and held on to win by 0.2086 seconds.
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