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
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
| 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 |
| 2021 | 39.5874 | 227.345 | 116 | Santino Ferrucci |
| 2022 | 40.0263 | 224.852 | 179 | Marcus Ericsson |
| 2023 | 39.8193 | 226.021 | 136 | David Malukas |
| 2024 | 39.7574 | 226.373 | 175 | Christian Lundgaard |
- All-time record race lap speed.
- 1990: Emerson Fittipaldi and Arie Luyendyk tied for fastest lap to three decimal places.
References
- Indianapolis Star & news 500 Mile Race Record Book (2002)