List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders

Indianapolis 500-Mile Race all-time lap leaders

The Leaders Circle Award Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

Two hundred fourteen drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in ninety-nine 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	Al Unser	644	4,356	14.78%	4	1970	1971	1978	1987
2	† Ralph DePalma	612	1,594	38.39%	1	1915
3	Mario Andretti	556	3,040	18.29%	1	1969
4	A. J. Foyt	555	4,909	11.31%	4	1961	1964	1967	1977
5	Wilbur Shaw	508	2,019	25.16%	3	1937	1939	1940
6	Emerson Fittipaldi	505	1,785	28.29%	2	1989	1993
7	Parnelli Jones	492	1,130	43.54%	1	1963
8	Bill Vukovich	485	676	71.75%	2	1953	1954
9	Bobby Unser	466	2,611	16.85%	3	1968	1975	1981
10	Scott Dixon	434	Active driver		1	2008
11	Michael Andretti	431	2,653	16.25%
12	Rick Mears	429	2,342	18.32%	4	1979	1984	1988	1991
13	Billy Arnold	410	821	49.94%	1	1930
14	Gordon Johncock	406	3,158	10.73%	2	1973	1982
15	Louis Meyer	332	1,916	17.33%	3	1928	1933	1936
16	Dario Franchitti	329	1,940	16.96%	3	2007	2010	2012
17	Jim Clark	298	682	43.69%	1	1965
18	Bill Holland	297	914	32.49%	1	1949
19	Johnny Rutherford	296	2,770	10.69%	3	1974	1976	1980
20	Tony Kanaan	290	Active driver		1	2013
21	Hélio Castroneves	272	Active driver		3	2001	2002	2009
22	Rex Mays	266	1,385	19.21%
23	Rodger Ward	261	2,160	12.08%	2	1959	1962
24	Mauri Rose	256	2,326	11.01%	3	1941	1947	1948
25	Dan Wheldon	235	1,129	20.73%	2	2005	2011
26	Jimmy Murphy	220	907	24.26%	1	1922
27	Tommy Milton	218	1,204	18.11%	2	1921	1923
28	Jimmy Bryan	216	1,411	15.31%	1	1958
29	Tom Sneva	208	2,180	9.54%	1	1983
30	Frank Lockhart	205	280	73.21%	1	1926
31	Juan Pablo Montoya	192	Active driver		2	2000	2015
32	Arie Luyendyk	187	2,957	6.32%	2	1990	1997
33	Jimmy Snyder	181	495	36.57%
34	Lee Wallard	178	591	30.12%	1	1951
35	Danny Sullivan	162	1,523	10.64%	1	1985
36	Howdy Wilcox	155	1,335	11.61%	1	1919
37	Jim Rathmann	153	2,320	6.59%	1	1960
38	Tomas Scheckter	153	1,691	9.05%
39	Peter DePaolo	152	738	20.60%	1	1925
40	Marco Andretti	141	Active driver
41	† Dario Resta	140	407	34.40%	1	1916
42	Sam Hanks	140	1,566	8.94%	1	1957
43	Jules Goux	139	773	17.98%	1	1913
44	†2 George Robson	138	333	41.44%	1	1946
45	Pat Flaherty	138	812	17.00%	1	1956
46	Gary Bettenhausen	138	2,372	5.82%
47	Johnnie Parsons	131	1,504	8.71%	1	1950
48	Lloyd Ruby	126	2,357	5.35%
49	Bobby Rahal	124	2,007	6.18%	1	1986
50	Earl Cooper	123	941	13.07%
51	Tony Stewart	122	700	17.43%
52	Joe Boyer	118	536	22.01%	1	1924
53	Greg Ray	116	920	12.61%
54	René Thomas	114	744	15.32%	1	1914
55	Al Unser Jr.	110	3,173	3.47%	2	1992	1994
56	Kelly Petillo	108	1,283	8.42%	1	1935
57	Wally Dallenbach Sr.	108	1,448	7.46%
58	Sam Hornish Jr.	107	1,346	7.95%	1	2006
59	Babe Stapp	106	960	11.04%
60	Fred Frame	106	1,281	8.27%	1	1932
61	Buddy Rice	99	Active driver		1	2004
62	Ted Horn	94	1,944	4.84%
63	Dave Lewis	93	384	24.22%
64	Bill Cummings	93	1,229	7.57%	1	1934
65	Floyd Roberts	92	883	10.42%	1	1938
66	Kenny Bräck	89	885	10.06%	1	1999
67	Eddie Cheever, Jr.	89	2,122	4.19%	1	1998
68	Ray Harroun	88	200	44.00%	1	1911
69	Bob Sweikert	86	825	10.42%	1	1955
70	Ryan Hunter-Reay	82	Active driver		1	2014
71	David L. Bruce-Brown	81	224	36.16%
72	Danny Ongais	79	1,527	5.17%
73	Arthur Duray	77	200	38.50%
74	†3 Gil de Ferran	71	601	11.81%	1	2003
75	Jack McGrath	70	1,094	6.40%
76	Mark Donohue	70	748	9.36%	1	1972
77	Buddy Lazier	70	Active driver		1	1996
78	Frank Brisko	69	1,330	5.19%
79	Troy Ruttman	69	1,472	4.69%	1	1952
80	Ed Carpenter	69
81	Leon Duray	68	693	9.81%
82	Ralph Hepburn	68	1,864	3.65%
83	George Souders	67	400	16.75%	1	1927
84	Eddie Sachs	66	1,069	6.17%
85	Will Power	66
86	Maurício Gugelmin	59	396	14.90%
87	Harry Hartz	57	996	5.72%
88	Roberto Guerrero	56	1,735	3.23%
89	Johnny Thomson	55	1,044	5.27%
90	Joe Leonard	52	1,072	4.85%
91	Jeff Ward	52
92	Robby Gordon	52
93	Bruno Junqueira	52
94	Scott Goodyear	50
95	Deacon Litz	49
96	Ray Keech	46			1	1929
97	Pat O'Connor	46
98	Davy Jones	46
99	Jimmy Gleason	43
100	Gil Anderson	41
101	Bob Burman	41
102	Jackie Stewart	40
103	Louis Schneider	39
104	John Paul, Jr.	39
105	Teo Fabi	37
106	Bob Carey	36
107	Jim Hurtubise	36
108	Cliff Bergere	35
109	Paul Russo	35
110	Simon Pagenaud	35
111	Bob Swanson	34
112	Nigel Mansell	34
113	Bobby Marshman	33
114	Tony Gulotta	33
115	Art Cross	32
116	Duke Nalon	32
117	Takuma Sato	31
118	Ryan Briscoe	30
119	Phil Shafer	29
120	Mark Dismore	29
121	Danica Patrick	29
122	Alex Tagliani	28
123	Jacques Villeneuve	26			1	1995
124	Jimmy Vasser	26
125	James Hinchcliffe	26
126	Jimmy Davies	25
127	Tony Bettenhausen	24
128	Lou Moore	23
129	A. J. Allmendinger	23
130	Raul Boesel	21
131	Alessandro Zampedri	20
132	George Amick	18
133	Johnny Boyd	18
134	Oriol Servià	18
135	Kevin Cogan	17
136	Johnny Aitken	16
137	Jerry Grant	16
138	Robbie Buhl	16
139	Vitor Meira	15
140	Mike Conway	15
141	Carlos Muñoz	15
142	†3 Gaston Chevrolet	14			1	1920
143	Ernie Triplett	14
144	Russ Snowberger	13
145	Josele Garza	13
146	Billy Boat	13
147	Justin Wilson	13
148	Charlie Kimball	13
149	Swede Savage	12
150	Felipe Giaffone	12
151	Bertrand Baguette	11
152	Ralph Mulford	10
153	Alex Barron	10
154	Eddie Rickenbacker	9
155	Albert Guyot	9
156	Josef Christiaens	9
157	†4 Louis Chevrolet	9
158	Dutch Bauman	9
159	Graham Hill	9			1	1966
160	Len Sutton	9
161	Jimmy Daywalt	8
162	Pancho Carter	8
163	Jim Crawford	8
164	Scott Pruett	8
165	Don Freeland	7
166	Roger McCluskey	7
167	J. R. Hildebrand	7
168	Ira Hall	6
169	Graham Rahal	6
170	Cecil Green	5
171	Jimmy Jackson	5
172	Spencer Wishart	5
173	E. J. Viso	5
174	James Jakes	5
175	Fred Belcher	4
176	Cliff Durant	4
177	Mike Mosley	4
178	Buzz Calkins	4
179	Sam Schmidt	4
180	George Snider	3
181	Davey Hamilton	3
182	Scott Sharp	3
183	Bryan Herta	3
184	Adrian Fernández	3
185	Mario Moraes	3
186	Caleb Bragg	2
187	Teddy Tetzlaff	2
188	Joe Dawson	2			1	1912
189	Robert Evans	2
190	Paul Bost	2
191	Herb Ardinger	2
192	Dan Gurney	2
193	Roger Rager	2
194	Don Whittington	2
195	John Andretti	2
196	Robby McGehee	2
197	Tora Takagi	2
198	Jaques Lazier	2
199	Rubens Barrichello	2
200	Jean Chassagne	1
201	Art Klein	1
202	Roscoe Sarles	1
203	Howdy Wilcox II	1
204	Fred Agabashian	1
205	Jack Brabham	1
206	Bobby Allison	1
207	Bill Vukovich II	1
208	Tim Richmond	1
209	Gordon Smiley	1
210	Scott Brayton	1
211	Stephan Gregoire	1
212	Jeff Simmons	1
213	Townsend Bell	1
214	Mikhail Aleshin	1
Note	Lora L. Corum*	0			1	1924
	Floyd Davis*	0			1	1941

* Lora L. Corum and 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-six of ninety-eight Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by the driver leading the most laps, 57.14%.

Year	Leader, Most Laps	Laps Led	Percentage Race Led	Won Race
1911	Ray Harroun	88	44.0%	Yes
1912	1 Ralph DePalma	196	98.0%	No
1913	Jules Goux	138	69.0%	Yes
1914	René Thomas	102	51.0%	Yes
1915	1 Ralph DePalma	132	66.0%	Yes
1916	1 Dario Resta	103	51.5%	Yes
1919	Howdy Wilcox	98	49.0%	Yes
1920	Joe Boyer	93	46.5%	No
1921	1 Ralph DePalma	108	54.0%	No
1922	Jimmy Murphy	153	76.5%	Yes
1923	Tommy Milton	128	64.0%	Yes
1924	Earl Cooper	119	59.5%	No
1925	Peter DePaolo	115	57.5%	Yes
1926	Frank Lockhart	95	59.4%	Yes
1927		110	55.0%	No
1928	Leon Duray	64	32.0%	No
1929	Louis Meyer	65	32.5%	No
1930	Billy Arnold	198	99.0%	Yes
1931		155	77.5%	No
1932	Fred Frame	58	29.0%	Yes
1933	Louis Meyer	71	35.5%	Yes
1934	Frank Brisko	69	29.5%	No
1935	Kelly Petillo	102	51.0%	Yes
1936	Louis Meyer	96	48.0%	Yes
1937	Wilbur Shaw	131	65.5%	Yes
1938	Floyd Roberts	92	46.0%	Yes
	Jimmy Snyder			No
1939	Louis Meyer	79	39.5%	No
1940	Wilbur Shaw	136	68.0%	Yes
1941		107	53.5%	No
1946	2 George Robson	138	69.0%	Yes
1947	Bill Holland	143	71.5%	No
1948	Mauri Rose	81	40.5%	Yes
1949	Bill Holland	146	83.0%	Yes
1950	Johnnie Parsons	177	88.5%	Yes
1951	Lee Wallard	159	79.5%	Yes
1952	Bill Vukovich	150	75.0%	No
1953		195	97.5%	Yes
1954		90	45.0%	Yes
1955	Bob Sweikert	86	43.0%	Yes
1956	Pat Flaherty	127	63.5%	Yes
1957	Sam Hanks	136	68.0%	Yes
1958	Jimmy Bryan	139	69.5%	Yes
1959	Rodger Ward	130	65.0%	Yes
1960	Jim Rathmann	100	50.0%	Yes
1961	A.J. Foyt	71	35.5%	Yes
1962	Parnelli Jones	120	60.0%	No
1963		167	83.5%	Yes
1964	A.J. Foyt	146	73.0%	Yes
1965	Jim Clark	190	95.0%	Yes
1966	Lloyd Ruby	68	34.0%	No
1967	Parnelli Jones	171	85.5%	No
1968	Bobby Unser	127	63.5%	Yes
1969	1 Mario Andretti	116	58.0%	Yes
1970	Al Unser	190	95.0%	Yes
1971		103	51.5%	Yes
1972	Gary Bettenhausen	138	69.0%	No
1973	Gordon Johncock	64	48.1%	Yes
1974	Johnny Rutherford	122	47.0%	Yes
1975	Wally Dallenbach	96	48.0%	No
1976	Johnny Rutherford	48	73.0%	Yes
1977	Gordon Johncock	129	64.5%	No
1978	Al Unser	121	60.5%	Yes
1979	Bobby Unser	89	44.5%	No
1980	Johnny Rutherford	118	59.0%	Yes
1981	Bobby Unser	89	44.5%	Yes
1982	Rick Mears	77	38.5%	No
1983	Tom Sneva	98	49.0%	Yes
1984	Rick Mears	119	59.5%	Yes
1985	1 Mario Andretti	107	53.5%	No
1986	Rick Mears	76	38.0%	No
1987	1 Mario Andretti	170	85.0%	No
1988	Danny Sullivan	91	45.5%	No
1989	Emerson Fittipaldi	158	79.0%	Yes
1990		128	64.0%	No
1991	Michael Andretti	97	48.5%	No
1992		160	80.0%	No
1993	1 Mario Andretti	72	36.0%	No
1994	Emerson Fittipaldi	145	72.5%	No
1995	Maurício Gugelmin	59	29.5%	No
1996	Roberto Guerrero	47	23.5%	No
1997	Tony Stewart	64	32.0%	No
1998	Eddie Cheever	76	38.0%	Yes
1999	Kenny Bräck	66	33.0%	Yes
2000	Juan Pablo Montoya	167	83.5%	Yes
2001	Hélio Castroneves	52	26.0%	Yes
2002	Tomas Scheckter	85	42.5%	No
2003		63	31.5%	No
2004	Buddy Rice	91	50.5%	Yes
2005	Sam Hornish, Jr.	77	38.5%	No
2006	Dan Wheldon	148	74.0%	No
2007	Tony Kanaan	83	41.5%	No
2008	Scott Dixon	115	57.5%	Yes
2009		73	36.5%	No
2010	Dario Franchitti	155	77.5%	Yes
2011	Scott Dixon	73	36.5%	No
2012	Marco Andretti	59	29.5%	No
2013	Ed Carpenter	37	18.5%	No
2014	Ryan Hunter-Reay	56	28.0%	Yes
2015	Scott Dixon	84	42.0%	No

50%+ Race Laps Led, non-winning entries

Nineteen separate entries in equal years, driven by fifteen 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	Ralph DePalma	196	98.0%	11
2	1967	Parnelli Jones	171	85.5%	6
3	1987	Mario Andretti	170	85.0%	9
4	1992	Michael Andretti	160	80.0%	13
5	1931	Billy Arnold	155	77.5%	19
6	1952	Bill Vukovich	150	75.0%	17
7	2006	Dan Wheldon	148	74.0%	4
8	1994	Emerson Fittipaldi	145	72.5%	17
9	1947	Bill Holland	143	71.5%	2
10	1972	Gary Bettenhausen	138	69.0%	14
11	1977	Gordon Johncock	129	64.5%	11
12	1990	Emerson Fittipaldi	128	64.0%	3
13	1962	Parnelli Jones	120	60.0%	7
14	1924	Earl Cooper	119	59.5%	2
15	1927	Frank Lockhart	110	55.0%	10
16	1921	Ralph DePalma	108	54.0%	12
17	1941	Wilbur Shaw	107	53.5%	18
	1985	Mario Andretti			2
19	1975	Wally Dallenbach	96	55.2%	9

Notes

₁ Italian-born

₂ British-born

₃ French-born

₄ Swiss-born

Lap Leader records

Most races led Drivers leading in at least ten races Background colors designate finishing position Races Led Driver Years 13 A.J. Foyt 1961 1962 1964 1965 1967 1969 1970 1974 1975 1976 1977 1979 1982 11 Al Unser 1970 1971 1973 1977 1978 1979 1983 1987 1988 1992 1993   Mario Andretti 1966 1969 1980 1981 1984 1985 1987 1989 1991 1992 1993 Tony Kanaan 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2012 2013 2014 2015   10 Bobby Unser 1968 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1977 1979 1980 1981   Helio Castroneves 2001 2002 2003 2006 2007 2009 2010 2013 2014 2015   Scott Dixon 2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Most consecutive races led Seven drivers have led in five or more consecutive* races. Years Driver 7 2002—2008 Tony Kanaan 6 1979—1984 Rick Mears 5 1938—1946 Rex Mays 1940—1948 Mauri Rose 1971—1975 Bobby Unser 1980—1984 Tom Sneva 2011—2015 Scott Dixon * Rex Mays and 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

Most race laps led by winning entry Eleven entries, all to date starting from the front row*, have won in dominant fashion, leading three-quarters or more of a given race's completed laps. Laps Led Percent Race Led Year Winning Driver Start Pos 198 99.0% 1930 Billy Arnold 1 195 97.5% 1953 Bill Vukovich 1 190 95.0% 1965 Jim Clark 2 1970 Al Unser 1 103 85.8% 1916 Dario Resta 4* 167 83.5% 1963 Parnelli Jones 1 2000 Juan Pablo Montoya 2 159 79.5% 1951 Lee Wallard 2 158 79.0% 1989 Emerson Fittipaldi 3 155 77.5% 2010 Dario Franchitti 3 153 76.5% 1922 Jimmy Murphy 1 * With four-wide starts occurring in years 1913-1920, Dario Resta started on the front row in 1916.

Fewest race laps led by winning entry Eleven entries have won despite leading only ten percent (20 laps / 50 miles) or less of a given race. Laps Led Percent Race Led Year Driver Start Pos 1 0.5% 2011 Dan Wheldon 6 2 1.0% 1912 Joe Dawson 3 9 4.5% 2015 Juan-Pablo Montoya 15 10 5.0% 1966 Graham Hill 15 11 6.3% 1975 Bobby Unser 3 13 6.5% 1972 Mark Donohue 3 14 7.0% 1920 Gaston Chevrolet 6 15 7.5% 1995 Jacques Villeneuve 5 16 8.0% 1993 Emerson Fittipaldi 9 18 9.0% 1987 Al Unser 20 19 9.5% 1928 Louis Meyer 13 2006 Sam Hornish, Jr. 1

Most race laps led by non-winning entry Six entries have failed to win despite dominating to lead three-quarters or more of a given race's completed laps. Laps Led Percent Race Led Year Driver Start Pos Final Pos 196 98.0% 1912 Ralph DePalma 7 11 171 85.5% 1967 Parnelli Jones 6 6 170 85.0% 1987 Mario Andretti 1 9 160 80.0% 1992 Michael Andretti 6 13 155 77.5% 1931 Billy Arnold 18 19 150 75.0% 1952 Bill Vukovich 8 17

Most laps led from start Eleven entries have led the opening quarter (50 laps / 125 miles) or further distance of a given race. Laps Year Driver Full Laps Led Percent Race Led Start Pos Final Pos 92 1990 Emerson Fittipaldi 128 64.0% 1 3 81 1927 Frank Lockhart 110 55.0% 1 18 74 1922 Jimmy Murphy 153 76.5% 1 1 65 1919 Ralph DePalma 93 46.5% 4* 6 63 1935 Rex Mays 89 44.5% 1 17 59 1962 Parnelli Jones 120 60.0% 1 7 54 1925 Peter DePaolo 115 57.5% 2 1 1928 Leon Duray 59 29.5% 1 19 51 1967 Parnelli Jones 177 88.5% 6 6 50 1971 Mark Donohue 52 26.0% 2 25 1997 Tony Stewart 64 32.0% 2 5 * With four-wide starts occurring in years 1913-1920, Ralph DePalma started on the front row in 1919.

Led opening lap and final lap: 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 Hélio Castroneves, 2009 Dario Franchitti, 2010

Led opening lap, consecutive races Eight drivers have led the opening race lap in consecutive races. Years Driver 2 1922—1923 Jimmy Murphy 1928—1929 Leon Duray 1935—1936 Rex Mays 1940—1941 1954—1955 Jack McGrath 1964—1965 Jim Clark 1972—1973 Bobby Unser 1989—1990 Emerson Fittipaldi 1996—1997 Tony Stewart

Most laps led by rookie Nine drivers have led one quarter (50 laps / 125 miles) or further race distance in their first year of competition.
Laps	Percent Race Led	Year	Driver	Start Pos	Final Pos
167	83.5%	2000	Juan Pablo Montoya	2	1
143	71.5%	1947	Bill Holland	8	2
138	69.0%	1913	Jules Goux	7	1
102	51.0%	1914	René Thomas	15	1
95	59.4%	1926	Frank Lockhart	20	1
85	42.5%	2002	Tomas Scheckter	10	26
77	38.5%	1914	Arthur Duray	10	2
52	26.0%	2001	Hélio Castroneves	11	1
51	25.5%	1927	George Souders	22	1

Latest lead change Races with final lead change taking place at or within five laps of finish
Lap	Year	Winner	Passed
200	2006	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Marco Andretti
	2011	Dan Wheldon	J. R. Hildebrand
199	1912	Joe Dawson	* Ralph DePalma
	1989	Emerson Fittipaldi	Al Unser, Jr.
	1999	Kenny Bräck	Robby Gordon
	2012	Dario Franchitti	Scott Dixon
198	1961	A.J. Foyt	Eddie Sachs
	1986	Bobby Rahal	Kevin Cogan
	2013	Tony Kanaan	Ryan Hunter-Reay
197	1960	Jim Rathmann	Rodger Ward
	1967	A.J. Foyt	Parnelli Jones
	2014	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Helio Castroneves
	2015	Juan Pablo Montoya	Will Power
196	1995	Jacques Villeneuve**	Scott Goodyear**
* DePalma became a U.S. citizen in 1920.
** Scoring for lead position changed, without on-track overtake occurring, due to official disqualification of Goodyear after lap 195.

Most Leaders in Race Races with ten or more race leaders Leaders Year Winner 14 2013 Tony Kanaan 12 1993 Emerson Fittipaldi 11 2014 Ryan Hunter-Reay 10 1980 Johnny Rutherford 1995 Jacques Villeneuve 1998 Eddie Cheever 2008 Scott Dixon 2011 Dan Wheldon 2012 Dario Franchitti 2015 Juan Pablo Montoya

Fewest Leaders in Race Races with three or fewer race leaders Leaders Year Winner 2 1930 Billy Arnold 1965 Jim Clark 3 1912 Joe Dawson 1916 Dario Resta 1919 Howdy Wilcox 1938 Floyd Roberts 1940 Wilbur Shaw 1947 Mauri Rose 1950 Johnnie Parsons 1952 Troy Ruttman 1967 A.J. Foyt 1968 Bobby Unser 1990 Arie Luyendyk 1994 Al Unser, Jr.

Most Lead Changes in Race Races with twenty-five or more lead changes Lead Changes Year Winner 68 2013 Tony Kanaan 38 2015 Juan Pablo Montoya 34 2012 Dario Franchitti 2014 Ryan Hunter-Reay 29 1960 Jim Rathmann 28 1923 Tommy Milton 27 2005 Dan Wheldon

Fewest Lead Changes in Race Races with three or fewer lead changes Lead Changes Year Winner 1 1930 Billy Arnold 2 1912 Joe Dawson 1916 Dario Resta 3 1919 Howdy Wilcox 1931 Louis Schneider 1949 Bill Holland

Autolite Pacemakers 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, and driver who had led at least one lap during 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.

References

• IMS Official Statistics: List of Lap Leaders
• Compilations of Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News breakdowns of individual 500-mile (800 km) races
• Indianapolis 500 Chronicle, Rick Popely, June 1998