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

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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

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Year Lap time Lap Speed
(mph)
Lap No. Driver
1950 1:09.77 128.995 United States Johnnie Parsons
1951 1:07.26 133.809 23 United States Lee Wallard
1952 1:06.60 135.135 8 United States Bill Vukovich
1953 1:06.24 135.870 27 United States Bill Vukovich
1954 1:04.04 140.537 29 United States Jack McGrath
1955 1:03.67 141.354 27 United States Bill Vukovich
1956 1:02.32 144.416 19 United States Paul Russo
1957 1:02.75 143.426 127 United States Jim Rathmann
1958 1:02.37 144.300 55 United States Tony Bettenhausen
1959 1:01.89 145.419 64 United States Johnny Thomson
1960 1:01.59 146.128 4 United States Jim Rathmann
1961 1:00.98 147.589 91 United States Troy Ruttman
1962 1:00.69 148.295 56 United States Parnelli Jones
1963 59.39 151.541 114 United States Parnelli Jones
1964 57.09 157.646 15 United States Bobby Marshman
1965 57.14 157.508 2 United States A. J. Foyt
1966 56.54 159.179 18 United Kingdom Jim Clark
1967 54.57 164.926 6 United States Parnelli Jones
1968 53.36 168.666 94 United States Lloyd Ruby
1969 54.05 166.512 20 United States Roger McCluskey
1970 53.64 167.785 50 United States Joe Leonard
1971 51.44 174.961 66 United States Mark Donohue
1972 47.99 187.539 150 United States Mark Donohue
1973 48.15 186.916 55 United States Roger McCluskey
1974 47.02 191.408 2 United States Wally Dallenbach
1975 48.10 187.110 2 United States Gordon Johncock
1976 48.38 186.027 2 United States A. J. Foyt
1977 46.71 192.678 42 United States Danny Ongais
1978 46.41 193.924 75 United States Mario Andretti
1979 46.58 193.216 184 United States Mike Mosley
1980 47.35 190.074 149 United States Johnny Rutherford
1981 45.70 196.937 159 United States Gordon Johncock
1982 44.88 200.535 122 United States Rick Mears
1983 45.568 197.507 3 Italy Teo Fabi
1984 43.942 204.815 52 United States Gordon Johncock
1985 43.916 204.937 14 United States Rick Mears
1986 43.031 209.152 200 United States Bobby Rahal
1987 43.900 205.011 57 Colombia Roberto Guerrero
1988 42.956 209.517 166 United States Rick Mears
1989 40.455 222.469 85 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
1990 40.436* 222.574* 91
162
Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
Netherlands Arie Luyendyk
1991 40.508 222.178 109 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk
1992 39.281 229.118 166 United States Michael Andretti
1993 41.898 214.807 198 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
1994 40.783 220.680 121 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
1995 40.177 224.009 179 Canada Scott Goodyear
1996 38.119 236.103 78 United States Eddie Cheever
1997 41.739 215.626 105 United States Tony Stewart
1998 41.908 214.746 19 United States Tony Stewart
1999 41.118 218.882 101 United States Greg Ray
2000 41.191 218.494 198 United States Buddy Lazier
2001 40.941 219.830 130 United States Sam Hornish Jr.
2002 39.735 226.499 20 South Africa Tomas Scheckter
2003 39.2692 229.187 100 Brazil Tony Kanaan
2004 41.2086 218.401 173 Brazil Vítor Meira
2005 39.4560 228.102 167 Brazil Tony Kanaan
2006 40.6778 221.251 41 New Zealand Scott Dixon
2007 40.2829 223.420 18 Brazil Tony Kanaan
2008 40.1720 224.037 161 United States Marco Andretti
2009 40.5325 222.044 187 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti
2010 39.9840 225.090 15 Australia Will Power
2011 40.0593 224.667 169 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti
2012 40.8771 220.172 59 United States Marco Andretti
2013 39.6580 226.940 185 United Kingdom Justin Wilson
2014 39.9661 225.191 182 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya
2015 39.6979 226.712 102 United States Charlie Kimball
2016 39.9488 225.288 106 United States Alexander Rossi
2017 39.7896 226.190 150 Japan Takuma Sato
2018 40.1538 224.138 131 Brazil Hélio Castroneves
2019 39.8220 226.006 40 New Zealand Scott Dixon
2020 40.3290 223.164 66 Canada James Hinchcliffe[1]
2021 39.5874 227.345 116 United States Santino Ferrucci
2022 40.0263 224.852 179 Sweden Marcus Ericsson
2023 39.8193 226.021 136 United States David Malukas
2024 39.7574 226.373 175 Denmark Christian Lundgaard
  All-time record race lap speed.

References

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