Drivers have been battling it out in this famous race since 1911; here’s which nation tops the leaderboard.
Indy legends: Complete list of winners of the Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most illustrious events in automobile racing and a key part of Memorial Day weekend for sports fans across the country.
In 2025 Spanish driver Álex Palou picked up his first Indy 500 victory in what was yet another (typically) dramatic and incident-packed race.
With the 2026 edition of the Indy 500 fast approaching, we take a look at the previous winners of the 115-year-old motor race. There have been 75 different champions over the years from all around the world, although the United States remains the most successful nations.
Just 1 more day until the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.
— Nick Yeoman (@NYeoman) May 23, 2026
Here’s how it sounded last year on @IndycarRadio@AlexPalou picks his spot with 14 to go passing Marcus Ericsson to score his first Indy 500 win. @CGRTeams #NowStayTuned @IMS 🏁pic.twitter.com/YLgCa3kTw7
Indy 500 winners: Full list 1911-2025
2025 - Alex Palou
2024 - Josef Newgarden
2023 - Josef Newgarden
2022 - Marcus Ericsson (Sweden)
2021 - Hélio Castroneves (Brazil)
2020 - Takuma Sato (Japan)
2019 - Simon Pagenaud (France)
2018 - Will Power (Australia)
2017 - Takuma Sato (Japan)
2016 - Alexander Rossi (United States)
2015 - Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia)
2014 - Ryan Hunter-Reay (United States)
2013 - Tony Kanaan (Brazil)
2012 - Dario Franchitti (United Kingdom)
2011 - Dan Wheldon (United Kingdom)
2010 - Dario Franchitti (United Kingdom)
2009 - Hélio Castroneves (Brazil)
2008 - Scott Dixon (New Zealand)
2007 - Dario Franchitti (United Kingdom)
2006 - Sam Hornish Jr. (United States)
2005 - Dan Wheldon (United Kingdom)
2004 - Buddy Rice (United States)
2003 - Gil de Ferran (Brazil)
2002 - Hélio Castroneves (Brazil)
2001 - Hélio Castroneves (Brazil)
2000 - Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia)
1999 - Kenny Bräck (Sweden)
1998 - Eddie Cheever (United States)
1997 - Arie Luyendyk (Netherlands)
1996 - Buddy Lazier (United States)
1995 - Jacques Villeneuve (Canada)
1994 - Al Unser Jr. (United States)
1993 - Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil)
1992 - Al Unser Jr. (United States)
1991 - Rick Mears (United States)
1990 - Arie Luyendyk (Netherlands)
1989 - Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil)
1988 - Rick Mears (United States)
1987 - Al Unser Sr. (United States)
1986 - Bobby Rahal (United States)
1985 - Danny Sullivan (United States)
1984 - Rick Mears (United States)
1983 - Tom Sneva (United States)
1982 - Gordon Johncock (United States)
1981 - Bobby Unser (United States)
1980 - Johnny Rutherford (United States)
1979 - Rick Mears (United States)
1978 - Al Unser (United States)
1977 - A. J. Foyt (United States)
1976 - Johnny Rutherford (United States)
1975 - Bobby Unser (United States)
1974 - Johnny Rutherford (United States)
1973 - Gordon Johncock (United States)
1972 - Mark Donohue (United States)
1971 - Al Unser (United States)
1970 - Al Unser (United States)
1969 - Mario Andretti (United States)
1968 - Bobby Unser (United States)
1967 - A. J. Foyt (United States)
1966 - Graham Hill (United Kingdom)
1965 - Jim Clark (United Kingdom)
1964 - A. J. Foyt (United States)
1963 - Parnelli Jones (United States)
1962 - Rodger Ward (United States)
1961 - A. J. Foyt (United States)
1960 - Jim Rathmann (United States)
1959 - Rodger Ward (United States)
1958 - Jimmy Bryan (United States)
1957 - Sam Hanks (United States)
1956 - Pat Flaherty (United States)
1955 - Bob Sweikert (United States)
1954 - Bill Vukovich (United States)
1953 - Bill Vukovich (United States)
1952 - Troy Ruttman (United States)
1951 - Lee Wallard (United States)
1950 - Johnnie Parsons (United States)
1949 - Bill Holland (United States)
1948 - Mauri Rose (United States)
1947 - Mauri Rose (United States)
1946 - George Robson (United States)
1941 - Floyd Davis (United States) and Mauri Rose (United States) (shared)
1940 - Wilbur Shaw (United States)
1939 - Wilbur Shaw (United States)
1938 - Floyd Roberts (United States)
1937 - Wilbur Shaw (United States)
1936 - Louis Meyer (United States)
1935 - Kelly Petillo (United States)
1934 - Bill Cummings (United States)
1933 - Louis Meyer (United States)
1932 - Fred Frame (United States)
1931 - Louis Schneider (United States)
1930 - Billy Arnold (United States)
1929 - Ray Keech (United States)
1928 - Louis Meyer (United States)
1927 - George Souders (United States)
1926 - Frank Lockhart (United States)
1925 - Peter DePaolo (United States)
1924 - Lora L. Corum (United States)
1923 - Tommy Milton (United States)
1922 - Jimmy Murphy (United States)
1921 - Tommy Milton (United States)
1920 - Gaston Chevrolet (United States)
1919 - Howdy Wilcox (United States)
1916 - Dario Resta (United Kingdom)
1915 - Ralph DePalma (United States)
1914 - René Thomas (France)
1913 - Jules Goux (France)
1912 - Joe Dawson (United States)
1911 - Ray Harroun (United States)
Which country has won the most Indy 500 races?
In more than a century of action, only 13 nations have had a representative reach the chequered flag in first place. The United States are responsible for an impressive 76 of those race victories, far ahead of the other most successful countries.
Indy 500: Wins by nation
United States: 76
United Kingdom: 8
Brazil: 8
France: 4
Colombia: 2
Sweden: 2
Japan: 2
Netherlands: 2
Australia: 1
New Zealand: 1
Canada: 1
Italy: 1
Spain: 1
Which driver has won the most Indy 500 races?
In the illustrious history of the Indy 500 race there are four drivers that stand ahead of the rest. A quartet of legendary competitors have won the Indy 500 four times, including 49-year-old Hélio Castroneves.
Indy 500: Wins by driver
Four wins
Hélio Castroneves: 2001, 2002, 2009, 2021
A. J. Foyt: 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977
Rick Mears: 1979, 1984, 1988, 1991
Al Unser: 1970, 1971, 1978, 1987
Three wins
Dario Franchitti: 2007, 2010, 2012
Louis Meyer: 1928, 1933, 1936
Mauri Rose: 1941, 1947, 1948
Johnny Rutherford: 1974, 1976, 1980
Wilbur Shaw: 1937, 1939, 1940
Bobby Unser: 1968, 1975, 1981
Two wins
Emerson Fittipaldi: 1989, 1993
Gordon Johncock: 1973, 1982
Arie Luyendyk: 1990, 1997
Tommy Milton: 1921, 1923
Juan Pablo Montoya: 2000, 2015
Takuma Sato: 2017, 2020
Al Unser Jr: 1992, 1994
Bill Vukovich: 1953, 1954
Rodger Ward: 1959, 1962
Dan Wheldon: 2005, 2011
Josef Newgarden: 2023, 2024
Alex Palou was the first driver from Spain to win the Indy 500 in 2025. Palou is a favorite in 2026 and could repeat if he can put together another great race like he did last year.
Coverage starts well before the race. The national anthem is at 12:20 p.m., and the all-important “Start your engines” command is scheduled for 12:38 p.m. Then, it’s go-time.
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