The Indy 500 is a Verizon IndyCar Series race held annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana. The event is held over Memorial Day weekend in late May. The 2018 Indy 500 is the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil is schedule for Sunday, May 27, 2018. The Indy 500 is regard one of the most traditional and historical races in the world, and is also count one of the three most notable motorsport races in the world. The first Indy 500 was held in 1911 and 71 drivers have been crowned champions of the 500-mile race over the course of 101 races. The most race victories held by a single driver is four, which has been accomplished only by A. J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.
The winner of the Indy 500 collect many prizes, many based on privious tradition. One of the most iconic traditions is for the winner of the Indy 500 to drink a bottle of milk, a tradition started by Louis Meyer who won the race in 1936. The winner is also presented with a wreath in victory lane, and has the opportunity to kiss the yard of brick (the start/finish line) an Indianapolis Motor Speedway tradition started by NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett in 1996 at the Brickyard 400 and adopted by 500 winners since 2003.
The winner of the race also receives the pace car used during that race, and will have on the Borg-Warner Trophy a bas-relief sculpture of their face added to the base. The Borg-Warner Trophy has been used since 1936 and along with the sculpture on the original trophy, the winning driver and car owner receive a small replica. The Indianapolis 500 winner also receives a large purse, most recently at $2.49 million, given to Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2014. Other prizes have been given to the race winner over the years, including a quilt, made by Jeanetta Holder, which is presented to the driver annually at the winner’s photo shoot.
Indy 500: Race Winners
Find out who won the Indy 500, from the first race in 1911 all the way to 2017. Complete list of Indy 500 Winners 1911 to 2017, plus the latest winner’s prize money and every former champion’s average speed in miles per hour also how to watch Indy 500 live stream free 2018. All-time list of Indianapolis 500 winners along with selected records.
| Year | Driver | Start | Chassis/Engine | Avg. MPH | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Takuma Sato | 4 | Dallara/Honda | 155.395 | Andretti Autosport |
| 2016 | Alexander Rossi | 11 | Dallara/Honda | 166.634 | Andretti Herta Autosport |
| 2015 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 15 | Dallara/Chevrolet | 161.341 | Team Penske |
| 2014 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 19 | Dallara/Honda | 186.563 | Andretti Autosport |
| 2013 | Tony Kanaan | 12 | Dallara/Chevrolet | 187.433 | KV Racing Technology |
| 2012 | Dario Franchitti | 16 | Dallara/Honda | 167.734 | Ganassi |
| 2011 | Dan Wheldon | 6 | Dallara/Honda | 170.265 | Bryan Herta |
| 2010 | Dario Franchitti | 3 | Dallara/Honda | 161.623 | Ganassi |
| 2009 | Helio Castroneves | 1 | Dallara/Honda | 150.318 | Penske |
| 2008 | Scott Dixon | 1 | Dallara/Honda | 143.567 | Ganassi |
| 2007 | Dario Franchitti | 3 | Dallara/Honda | 151.774 | Andretti-Green |
| 2006 | Sam Hornish Jr. | 1 | Dallara/Honda | 157.085 | Penske |
| 2005 | Dan Wheldon | 16 | Dallara/Honda | 157.603 | Andretti-Green |
| 2004 | Buddy Rice | 1 | G Force/Honda | 138.518 | Rahal-Letterman |
| 2003 | Gil de Ferran | 10 | G Force/Toyota | 156.291 | Penske |
| 2002 | Helio Castroneves | 13 | Dallara/Chevrolet | 166.499 | Penske |
| 2001 | Helio Castroneves | 11 | Dallara/Oldsmobile | 141.574 | Penske |
| 2000 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 2 | Dallara/Oldsmobile | 167.607 | Ganassi |
| 1999 | Kenny Brack | 8 | Dallara/Aurora | 153.176 | A.J. Foyt |
| 1998 | Eddie Cheever Jr. | 17 | Dallara/Aurora | 145.155 | Cheever |