logo
How many past Indy 500 winners are in the 2025 race?

How many past Indy 500 winners are in the 2025 race?

USA Today25-05-2025

How many past Indy 500 winners are in the 2025 race?
The Indianapolis 500 is a special race, and any driver will tell you it takes perfect execution of a perfect race strategy, plus a little luck, to win it all. It's one of the most coveted checkered flags in motorsports, and some drivers in the 2025 Indy 500 field already have their names (and faces) on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
For the 2025 Indy 500 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (12:45 p.m. ET, Fox), there are eight previous Indy 500 winners, led by Hélio Castroneves with a record-tying four victories in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021.
INDY 500 ODDS: Pato O'Ward and Alex Palou have the best early odds to win the 2025 Indy 500
But he's not even the only multi-time winner this year. Two-time Indy 500 winners Takuma Sato (2017, 2020) and Josef Newgarden (2023, 2024) are also racing Sunday. Other past Indy 500 winners in the 2025 race are: Scott Dixon (2008), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016), Will Power (2018) and Marcus Ericsson (2022).
As Indianapolis Motor Speedway noted, the eight past Indy 500 winners combine for 13 total checkered flags in the race. And while eight certainly is a lot, it's not quite enough to match the 1992 record of 10 former winners in a single field.
Besides the first Indy 500 in 1911, the only races with zero Indy 500 winners in the field were in 1912, 1913, 1915 and 1916.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

WATCH: Kyle Larson Flips Car in Huge Crash at Plymouth
WATCH: Kyle Larson Flips Car in Huge Crash at Plymouth

Newsweek

time3 hours ago

  • Newsweek

WATCH: Kyle Larson Flips Car in Huge Crash at Plymouth

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASCAR hero Kyle Larson participated in the World of Outlaws series at the 1/3-mile Plymouth Dirt Track event when a supposed technical problem on the rear axle "launched" his car into the catch fence as he was drifting sideways. A video on X shows him chasing race leader Rico Abreu at high speed on Lap 7. But as soon as his car approached Turn 1, the rear wheel came loose, causing his car to flip and catapult straight into the catch fence. The car then struck the ground sideways, prompting a swift response from the emergency team. Fortunately, Larson was declared safe after the incident. Speaking after the huge crash on X, he said: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee."I think the right rear, axle or something broke. "Just kinda launched me and along for the ride. Bummer, I felt really good, pacing Rico there, finally catching traffic, getting racing there. "Glad I'm okay. Big hits but all-in-all, feel fine." Hard Crash for Kyle Larson tonight at Plymouth. Fortunately, Larson was able to walk away from this one. — Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) June 7, 2025 Larson has been racing in the World of Outlaws series since September 10, 2011. The 2021 NASCAR champion hit the 30-race wins milestone last year at Federated Auto Parts Raceway in Pevely. This shows his love for racing is not just limited to stock car racing. Last month, Larson attempted The Double by racing in the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 and the Indy 500 on the same day. This was his second attempt at securing the legendary feat, but unfortunately, he failed after crashing in the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Newsweek Sports reported his statement after the race. He said: "It was a bit crazy there on the start. "I got tight behind Takuma [Sato]. I was really close to him and I think I got loose and kind of got all over the place. Yeah, so I spun. Just hate that I got a little too eager there on the restart and caused that crash. So, hate it for everybody that also got caught up in it. "Just bummed out, so I'll try to get over this quickly and get on to Charlotte, and just forgot about it." The race start was also delayed by 45 minutes due to wet weather. When Larson was asked if that was on his mind, considering that he had another race to participate in, he said: "I don't know. I wasn't too focused on that." He added: "When I'm sitting there for 45 minutes, it was on my mind, but once we got racing, I wasn't really worried about that."

History Shows Josef Newgarden Can Rebound in Second Half
History Shows Josef Newgarden Can Rebound in Second Half

Fox Sports

time21 hours ago

  • Fox Sports

History Shows Josef Newgarden Can Rebound in Second Half

INDYCAR Josef Newgarden had plenty to say entering the 2024 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, following a week of national media obligations. At this point last season, the Team Penske driver entered Detroit seventh in points, riding a wave of momentum from his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge victory. Both '500' wins came due to a thrilling, last-lap pass. This year, Newgarden was quiet in Detroit, sticking to himself and not the usual outgoing, charismatic two-time series champion. He entered last weekend 11th in points. Newgarden charged from 32nd in this year's '500' to inside the top 10 by halfway, but a mechanical failure ended his day on Lap 135, leaving him 22nd and ending his quest to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indianapolis 500s. That's the story of his frustrating season. The trouble isn't caused by a lack of speed. Newgarden has been plagued by bad luck, leaving him 12th in points after Detroit, 185 behind leader Alex Palou, and five behind 10th-place Marcus Armstrong. Newgarden had a shot at a top-10 finish in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, but his seatbelts came off, forcing an unscheduled pit stop. He finished 27th. An electrical malfunction before the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course dropped Newgarden from sixth in the starting lineup to take the green flag last. He rallied to finish 12th, leaving the question of what might have been. Even in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, Newgarden had a shot at a runner-up finish, but a fuel mishap occurred, not allowing his No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet to get full of Shell 100% Renewable Race Fuel. As a result, Newgarden had to coast the final few laps to get to the checkered. That allowed Palou to pull away, and his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon to pass Newgarden for second. That third-place finish is Newgarden's lone top five all season. Maybe a week off to reset and recharge is exactly what Newgarden needs to swing the pendulum of his season. Following Detroit last year, Newgarden went on a run of five podium finishes over the final 11 races, including a victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, the site of the next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race June 15. Newgarden also had three podium finishes in the final five races. Can he go on another run? Newgarden has the tools and experience to flip the script on a rocky start. The upcoming stretch is tailor-made for a resurgence, especially on ovals, where he has few equals. 'He's the best oval racer in the series,' Ed Carpenter Racing driver Alexander Rossi said. 'He's the most aggressive.' Five of the final nine races are contested on ovals, beginning with a return trip next Sunday night to the 1.25-mile track near St. Louis for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline, airing at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Newgarden has at least one oval victory in each of the last nine years. He's won four of his last five tries at World Wide Technology Raceway. The outlier was 2023 when he finished 25th in a race in which he led 98 laps. At the Iowa Speedway oval, Newgarden has tallied six victories in 16 starts. The series visits the short track for a July 12-13 doubleheader. Newgarden won both NTT P1 Awards at the Milwaukee Mile last season and finished third in the 2024 season finale at Nashville Superspeedway. The series visits both for the final two races of the season, Aug. 24 and Aug. 31, respectively. Newgarden isn't just strong on the remaining circle tracks. Following next Sunday night's race, the series next goes to the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America on June 22. Newgarden finished runner-up on the Wisconsin road course last year to teammate Will Power and won in 2022. The July 6 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio follows. Newgarden won in 2021. The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto takes place on July 20. Newgarden is a two-time winner on the Toronto streets. Translation: Newgarden has arguably as much potential to win in bunches as anyone in the 27-car field. 'We can win any weekend,' Newgarden said. recommended

Analysis: 'The Double' is hard because it's supposed to be hard
Analysis: 'The Double' is hard because it's supposed to be hard

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Analysis: 'The Double' is hard because it's supposed to be hard

Since rain wrecked the well-laid and meticulously constructed plans of Kyle Larson for the second consecutive year, there's been an outcry of how to make 'The Double' logistically easier. Earlier and later start times! Greater collaboration between IndyCar and NASCAR leadership! Souped up planes, helicopters and golf karts! Advertisement All this misses the point of the most Herculean quest in motorsports: Racing the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day is supposed to be extremely hard to accomplish. Its demanding appeal stems from overcoming an inherent nightmare of logistics. Making a 600-mile commute between the Midwest and Southeast enough times to earn Admirals Club access. While also turning thousands of laps in practicing and racing two wildly different cars at top speeds over 235 mph. RELATED: Larson's 'Double' fallout; fresh playoff contenders emerge 'The Double' is underpinned by its degree of difficulty — starting with the fact it was a literal impossibility for decades. Advertisement The Coke 600 didn't exist until 1960 (49 years after the inaugural Indy 500). For its first 14 years, NASCAR's longest race ran once on the same day as the Indy 500, which was annually held on May 30 until 1974 (when Memorial Day permanently moved to Monday). For the next 20 years, the signature races were held on the same day but often concurrently and with no window that allowed for racing in both. Until Charlotte Motor Speedway added lights and moved the 600 to a nighttime finish in 1993. In the second year that 'The Double' as we know it was possible (there were four drivers who ran the Indy 500 and Coke 600 on separate days in the same year from 1967-71), John Andretti made it a reality in 1994 (and with much less buffer than Larson was scheduled to have with no delays). Advertisement It's been a hit-or-miss opportunity that four more have tried since. From 2005-11, the race shifted to a 1 p.m. EDT start that essentially made completing 'The Double' impossible. In the 14 years since moving to a noon EDT start in 2012, there have been three attempts — Kurt Busch in 2014 and Larson in 2024-25. Those are two NASCAR Cup Series champions who had a legitimate shot to win one or even both races. That's a select list. This isn't open to anyone, nor is it an annual guarantee. Again, 'The Double' is hard because it should be. After Larson's meteorological misfortune the past two years, it's logical to address how to minimize a 45-minute rain delay negating months of careful coordination and preparation. Advertisement There might be wiggle room on the start times of both races. RELATED: Delaying start of Coca-Cola 600 was considered for Larson Until 2005, the Indy 500 started at 11 a.m. during an era when the Indianapolis area didn't observe Daylight Savings Time as it does now. Surely it's possible to get the same crowds of 300,000-plus through the gates before noon now with modern technology. Until Larson crashed Sunday on Lap 91 of the Indy 500, NASCAR was considering a delay of the Coke 600 from its 6:27 p.m. ET start. But there are natural limits to how much 'easier' it can be to attempt 'The Double' — which is good. Advertisement As Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks alluded to after Ross Chastain's Coke 600 victory, there's an aspirational side to watching a versatile superstar such as Larson take on a challenge that can inspire the general populace to do the unthinkable. Who's building Hoover Dam, digging out the Panama Canal or laying the Transatlantic cable anymore? When the country made an 11-figure investment in space exploration in the 1960s, it was as much about getting the youth of America interested in math and science as putting a man on the moon. That's the limitless value of 'The Double.' If Larson somehow were to win both races, imagine trying to attach a price tag to the resultant exposure and sponsor interest that likely would follow for IndyCar and NASCAR. People want to see the seemingly improbable happen, which is why 'The Double' needs to remain very hard to do — even if that compromises the frequency with which it occurs. Advertisement Greatness is harder to witness if it happens every year. Nate Ryan has written about NASCAR since 1996 while working at the San Bernardino Sun, Richmond Times-Dispatch, USA TODAY and for the past 10 years at NBC Sports Digital. He is a contributor to the 'Hauler Talk' show on the NASCAR Podcast Network. He also has covered various other motorsports, including the IndyCar and IMSA series.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store