Hoosiers that have shared success at the Indianapolis 500
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – The Indianapolis 500. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. It's the one race of the year where every driver has dreamed of winning. It's the yearly tradition on the Sunday before Memorial Day that 350,000 fans descend to watch the world's fastest drivers competing against not just each other but the track and machine for a chance at immortality. Winning the 500 fulfills a childhood dream that only one can describe, and winning multiple Indy 500s also puts you in the pantheon of champions like Al Unser, Rick Mears, AJ Foyt and Helio Castroneves.
According to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's website, over the race's 108-year history, over 800 different drivers have suited up to race the hallowed grounds of motorsport, but only 74 have tasted ultimate glory in the 500.
That 74 includes seven that was born in the Hoosier state with the last one tasting victory back in 1940.
1912 – Joe Dawson, Odon
1919 – Howdy Wilcox, Crawfordsville
1924 – L.L. Corum (co-winner), Jonesville
1927 – George Sounders, Lafayette
1931 – Louis Schneider, Indianapolis
1934 – Bill Cummings, Indianapolis
1937, 1939, 1940 – Wilbur Shaw, Shelbyville
Racers now and have come from all over the world to make their mark on the sport such as New Zealand, Scotland, Brazil, England, France, Italy, Japan and Canada.
Other Indiana natives might not have experienced the ultimate thrill of winning the Indy 500 but have good races to their name.
Columbus, Indiana native Tony Stewart ran the Indy 500 five times, 1996-1999 and 2001. While being competitive and having solid races, Stewart never finished first in the storied race. In 1996, he started on the pole and finished 82 laps before retiring with a mechanical issue. In '97, he started second and led a race high 64 laps before finishing 5th. In '98, he started 4th before crashing 22 laps in. In '99, he started 24th before climbing back to 9th.
That was also the first time that Stewart attempted the Memorial Day Double, racing in the Indy 500 before flying to Charlotte Motor Speedway and competing in NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 in the same day. To complete the feat, Stewart had to complete all 1,100 miles. While he finished both races, he failed in '99 because he finished the Indy 500 four laps down.
That would be different in 2001. Stewart would qualify 7th for the 500 and would finish in 6th on the lead lap. He flew to Charlotte and would finish 3rd in the 600, becoming the first and to date the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles.
Present day IndyCar driver Conor Daly is from Noblesville, Indiana, currently residing in Indianapolis. He has run the famous race since 2015 and has yet to win so far but has led some laps around the famous speedway. In the 2021 running, he led 40 laps and finished 13th. He led seven laps in 2022 and finished 6th. Daly also led 22 laps in 2024 and finished 10th.
Other drivers that might've been born outside of Indiana but now consider the Hoosier state home.
Ed Carpenter is a current day Hoosier that also competes in the NTT IndyCar series. Originally from Paris, Illinois, he is an owner driver that races for and owns Ed Carpenter Racing. While never winning the Indy 500, Carpenter has won three poles in 2013, 2014 and 2018. He finished 2nd in the 2018 running to winner Will Power.
Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe was born in Ontario, Canada but now resides in Indianapolis. He has competed in the 500 nine times and winning the pole in 2016.
Who will cross the Yard of Bricks first? Who will get the honor of having their name etched onto the Borg-Warner Trophy, getting the wreath bestowed and celebrate with a drink of milk? The green flag for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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