List of Indianapolis 500 fastest laps

The following is a list of fastest laps for the Indianapolis 500. The fastest lap statistic has been officially kept for the Indianapolis 500 since 1950. The honor is held in somewhat minor prestige, and typically a cash prize is awarded to the driver who accomplishes the feat. However, it is typically considered a peripheral award, and no championship bonus points are currently awarded for fastest lap.

Since records have been kept, the fastest lap has been achieved by the leader on the final lap of the race on one occasion (Bobby Rahal, 1986). It has never been accomplished on the first lap of the race. It is commonly done by a driver not leading the race at the time, due to drafting.

History edit

From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 awarded points towards the World Championship of Drivers. During those eleven races, the driver setting the fastest lap received championship points towards the world title.

Fastest lap chart edit

Year Lap time Lap Speed
(mph)
Lap No. Driver
1950 1:09.77 128.995   Johnnie Parsons
1951 1:07.26 133.809 23   Lee Wallard
1952 1:06.60 135.135 8   Bill Vukovich
1953 1:06.24 135.870 27   Bill Vukovich
1954 1:04.04 140.537 29   Jack McGrath
1955 1:03.67 141.354 27   Bill Vukovich
1956 1:02.32 144.416 19   Paul Russo
1957 1:02.75 143.426 127   Jim Rathmann
1958 1:02.37 144.300 55   Tony Bettenhausen
1959 1:01.89 145.419 64   Johnny Thomson
1960 1:01.59 146.128 4   Jim Rathmann
1961 1:00.98 147.589 91   Troy Ruttman
1962 1:00.69 148.295 56   Parnelli Jones
1963 59.39 151.541 114   Parnelli Jones
1964 57.09 157.646 15   Bobby Marshman
1965 57.14 157.508 2   A. J. Foyt
1966 56.54 159.179 18   Jim Clark
1967 54.57 164.926 6   Parnelli Jones
1968 53.36 168.666 94   Lloyd Ruby
1969 54.05 166.512 20   Roger McCluskey
1970 53.64 167.785 50   Joe Leonard
1971 51.44 174.961 66   Mark Donohue
1972 47.99 187.539 150   Mark Donohue
1973 48.15 186.916 55   Roger McCluskey
1974 47.02 191.408 2   Wally Dallenbach
1975 48.10 187.110 2   Gordon Johncock
1976 48.38 186.027 2   A. J. Foyt
1977 46.71 192.678 42   Danny Ongais
1978 46.41 193.924 75   Mario Andretti
1979 46.58 193.216 184   Mike Mosley
1980 47.35 190.074 149   Johnny Rutherford
1981 45.70 196.937 159   Gordon Johncock
1982 44.88 200.535 122   Rick Mears
1983 45.568 197.507 3   Teo Fabi
1984 43.942 204.815 52   Gordon Johncock
1985 43.916 204.937 14   Rick Mears
1986 43.031 209.152 200   Bobby Rahal
1987 43.900 205.011 57   Roberto Guerrero
1988 42.956 209.517 166   Rick Mears
1989 40.455 222.469 85   Emerson Fittipaldi
1990 40.436* 222.574* 91
162
  Emerson Fittipaldi
  Arie Luyendyk
1991 40.508 222.178 109   Arie Luyendyk
1992 39.281 229.118 166   Michael Andretti
1993 41.898 214.807 198   Emerson Fittipaldi
1994 40.783 220.680 121   Emerson Fittipaldi
1995 40.177 224.009 179   Scott Goodyear
1996 38.119 236.103 78   Eddie Cheever
1997 41.739 215.626 105   Tony Stewart
1998 41.908 214.746 19   Tony Stewart
1999 41.118 218.882 101   Greg Ray
2000 41.191 218.494 198   Buddy Lazier
2001 40.941 219.830 130   Sam Hornish Jr.
2002 39.735 226.499 20   Tomas Scheckter
2003 39.2692 229.187 100   Tony Kanaan
2004 41.2086 218.401 173   Vítor Meira
2005 39.4560 228.102 167   Tony Kanaan
2006 40.6778 221.251 41   Scott Dixon
2007 40.2829 223.420 18   Tony Kanaan
2008 40.1720 224.037 161   Marco Andretti
2009 40.5325 222.044 187   Dario Franchitti
2010 39.9840 225.090 15   Will Power
2011 40.0593 224.667 169   Dario Franchitti
2012 40.8771 220.172 59   Marco Andretti
2013 39.6580 226.940 185   Justin Wilson
2014 39.9661 225.191 182   Juan Pablo Montoya
2015 39.6979 226.712 102   Charlie Kimball
2016 39.9488 225.288 106   Alexander Rossi
2017 39.7896 226.190 150   Takuma Sato
2018 40.1538 224.138 131   Hélio Castroneves
2019 39.8220 226.006 40   Scott Dixon
2020 40.3290 223.164 66   James Hinchcliffe[1]
2021 39.5874 227.345 116   Santino Ferrucci
2022 40.0263 224.852 179   Marcus Ericsson
2023 39.8193 226.021 136   David Malukas
  All-time record race lap speed.

References edit

  • Indianapolis Star & news 500 Mile Race Record Book (2002)