Indy 500 Champions: A Year-by-Year List

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SouthernWorldwide.com – The Indianapolis 500, often hailed as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is set to captivate audiences once again with its 110th running this Sunday at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Reigning champion Alex Palou is poised to defend his title from the pole position, aiming for a consecutive victory.

Every Memorial Day weekend, this iconic track becomes the stage for the legendary Indy 500, a race with a storied history spanning over a century. From the inaugural winner Ray Harroun in 1911 to the current generation of racing stars, countless drivers have etched their names into racing folklore at the Brickyard.

This article presents a comprehensive list of all the champions who have had the honor of winning the Indy 500 and earning a place on the esteemed Borg-Warner Trophy.

Indy 500 Winners

Josef Newgarden after winning the 2024 Indianapolis 500. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

INDYCAR Sanction (2008-Present)

  • 2025: Alex Palou (Ganassi)
  • 2024: Josef Newgarden (Penske)
  • 2023: Josef Newgarden (Penske)
  • 2022: Marcus Ericsson (Ganassi)
  • 2021: Hélio Castroneves (Meyer Shank)
  • 2020: Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman)
  • 2019: Simon Pagenaud (Penske)
  • 2018: Will Power (Penske)
  • 2017: Takuma Sato (Andretti)
  • 2016: Alexander Rossi (Andretti-Herta)
  • 2015: Juan Pablo Montoya (Penske)
  • 2014: Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti)
  • 2013: Tony Kanaan (KV Racing Technology)
  • 2012: Dario Franchitti (Ganassi)
  • 2011: Dan Wheldon (Bryan Herta)
  • 2010: Dario Franchitti (Ganassi)
  • 2009: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
  • 2008: Scott Dixon (Ganassi)

Dual Sanctioning (1996-2007)Indy Racing League

  • 2007: Dario Franchitti (Andretti-Green)
  • 2006: Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske)
  • 2005: Dan Whelson (Andretti-Green)
  • 2004: Buddy Rice (Rahal Letterman)
  • 2003: Gil de Ferran (Penske)
  • 2002: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
  • 2001: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
  • 2000: Juan Montoya (Chip Ganassi)
  • 1999: Kenny Brack (A.J. Foyt)
  • 1998: Eddie Cheever Jr. (Cheever)
  • 1997: Arie Luyendyk (Treadway)
  • 1996: Buddy Lazier (Hemelgarn)

CART Sanction (1979-1995)

  • 1995: Jacques Villeneuve (Green)
  • 1994: Al Unser Jr. (Penske)
  • 1993: Emerson Fittipaldi (Penske)
  • 1992: Al Unser Jr. (Galles-Kraco)
  • 1991: Rick Mears (Penske)
  • 1990: Arie Luyendyk (Doug Shierson)
  • 1989: Emerson Fittipaldi (Patrick)
  • 1988: Rick Mears (Penske)
  • 1987: Al Unser (Penske)
  • 1986: Bobby Rahal (Trusports)
  • 1985: Danny Sullivan (Penske)
  • 1984: Rick Mears (Penske)
  • 1983: Tom Sneva (Bignotti-Cotter)
  • 1982: Gordon Johncock (STP Patrick)
  • 1981: Bobby Unser (Penske)
  • 1980: Johnny Rutherford (Chaparral)
  • 1979: Rick Mears (Penske)

CART = Championship Auto Racing Teams

USAC Sanction (1956-1978)

  • 1978: Al Unser (Chaparral)
  • 1977: A.J. Foyt (A.J. Foyt)
  • 1976: Johnny Rutherford (Bruce McLaren)
  • 1975: Bobby Unser (All American Racer)
  • 1974: Johnny Rutherford (Bruce McLaren)
  • 1973: Gordon Johncock (Patrick)
  • 1972: Mark Donohue (Roger Penske)
  • 1971: Al Unser (Vel’s Parnelli Jones)
  • 1970: Al Unser (Vel’s Parnelli Jones)
  • 1969: Mario Andretti (STP Corp)
  • 1968: Bobby Unser (Leader Cards)
  • 1967: A.J. Foyt (Ansted-Thompson)
  • 1966: Graham Hill (Mecom)
  • 1965: Jim Clark (Lotus)
  • 1964: A.J. Foyt (Ansted-Thompson)
  • 1963: Parnelli Jones (JC Agajanian)
  • 1962: Rodger Ward (Leader Cards)
  • 1961: A.J. Foyt (Bignotti-Bowes)
  • 1960: Jim Rathmann (En-Paul)
  • 1959: Rodger Ward (Leader Cards)
  • 1958: Jimmy Bryan (George Salih)
  • 1957: Sam Hanks (George Salih)
  • 1956: Pat Flaherty (John Zink)

USAC = United States Auto Club

AAA Sanction (1909-1955)

  • 1955: Bob Sweikert (John Zink)
  • 1954: Bill Vukovich (Howard B Keck)
  • 1953: Bill Vukovich (Howard B Keck)
  • 1952: Troy Ruttman (JC Agajanian)
  • 1951: Lee Wallard (Murreil Belanger)
  • 1950: Johnnie Parsons (Kurtis Kraft)
  • 1949: Bill Holland (Lou Moore)
  • 1948: Mauri Rose (Lou Moore)
  • 1947: Mauri Rose (Lou Moore)
  • 1946: George Robson (Thorne)
  • 1945: N/A*
  • 1944: N/A*
  • 1943: N/A*
  • 1942: N/A*
  • 1941: F Davis – M Rose (Lou Moore)
  • 1940: Wilbur Shaw (Boyle)
  • 1939: Wilbur Shaw (Boyle)
  • 1938: Floyd Roberts (Lou Moore)
  • 1937: Wilbur Shaw (Wilbur Shaw)
  • 1936: Louis Meyer (Louis Meyer)
  • 1935: Kelly Petillo (Kelly Petillo)
  • 1934: Bill Cummings (HC Henning)
  • 1933: Louis Meyer (Louis Meyer)
  • 1932: Fred Frame (Harry Hartz)
  • 1931: Louis Schneider (BL Schneider)
  • 1930: Billy Arnold (Harry Hartz)
  • 1929: Ray Keech (MA Yagle)
  • 1928: Louis Meyer (Alden Sampson II)
  • 1927: George Souders (William S White)
  • 1926: Frank Lockhart (Peter Kreis)
  • 1925: Peter De Paolo (Duesenberg)
  • 1924: L.L. Corum and Joe Boyer (Duesenberg)
  • 1923: Tommy Milton (HCS Motors)
  • 1922: Jimmy Murphy (Jimmy Murphy)
  • 1921: Tommy Milton (Louis Chevrolet)
  • 1920: Gaston Chevrolet (William Small)
  • 1919: Howdy Wilcox (IMS Corp)
  • 1918: N/A*
  • 1917: N/A*
  • 1916: Dario Resta (Peugeot)
  • 1915: Ralph DePalma (EC Patterson)
  • 1914: Rene Thomas (Louis Delage)
  • 1913: Jules Goux (Peugeot)
  • 1912: Joe Dawson (National Motors)
  • 1911: Ray Harroun (Nordyke & Mermon)

*Racing paused due to WWI

**Racing paused due to WWII

AAA = American Automobile Association

Who Has Won The Most Indy 500s?

Four legendary drivers share the distinction of having won the Indy 500 a record four times. The following list highlights drivers who have achieved two or more victories in this prestigious race:

Read more : Katherine Legge's Indy 500 Debut Cut Short by Crash

  • Hélio Castroneves (4)
  • A.J. Foyt (4)
  • Rick Mears (4)
  • Al Unser (4)
  • Dario Franchitti (3)
  • Louis Meyer (3)
  • Wilbur Shaw (3)
  • Mauri Rose (3)
  • Johnny Rutherford (3)
  • Bobby Unser (3)
  • Emerson Fittipaldi (2)
  • Gordon Johncock (2)
  • Arie Luyendyk (2)
  • Tommy Milton (2)
  • Juan Pablo Montoya (2)
  • Josef Newgarden (2)
  • Takuma Sato (2)
  • Bill Vukovich (2)
  • Rodger Ward (2)
  • Dan Wheldon (2)
  • Al Unser Jr. (2)

How To Watch The 2026 Indy 500

The 2026 running of the Indy 500 will be broadcast on FOX, with coverage commencing at 12:30 p.m. ET. The pre-race show is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET on FOX. Fans can also stream the race and related programming on FOX One.

  • Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
  • Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: FOX
  • Streaming: FOX One, FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com
  • Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN

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