The Best 33 - Best Indianapolis 500 Drivers 1984-2019

Here are the best 33 drivers at the Indianapolis 500 between 1984-2019 with a minimum of four starts:

33. Danica Patrick - 6.68
Starts in measured period - 8
Best Race - 2005 and 2009, 7.7


32. Jeff Ward - 6.70
Starts in measured period - 7
Best Race - 1999, 8.2


31. Charlie Kimball - 6.71
Starts in measured period - 9
Best Race - 2015, 8.3

Photo: Stephen King / IndyCar Media

30. Jimmy Vasser - 6.74
Starts in measured period - 8
Best Race - 2001, 7.8


29. Ryan Hunter-Reay - 6.81
Starts in measured period - 12
Best Race - 2014, 8.8


28. Scott Goodyear - 6.83
Starts in measured period - 11
Best Race - 1995, 8.9


27. James Hinchcliffe - 6.83
Starts in measured period - 7
Best Race - 2014 and 2016, 8.1


26. Townsend Bell - 6.84
Starts in measured period - 10
Best Race - 2014, 7.9


25. Ed Carpenter - 6.89
Starts in measured period - 16
Best Race - 2014, 8.2

Photo: Jim Haines / IndyCar Media

24. Bryan Herta - 6.90
Starts in measured period - 5
Best Race - 2004, 8.0


23. Al Unser Jr. - 6.94
Starts in measured period - 18
Best Race - 1989, 9.3


22. Sam Hornish Jr. - 7.00
Starts in measured period - 8
Best Race -2006, 8.3


21. Simon Pagenaud - 7.03
Starts in measured period - 8
Best Race - 2019, 9.1

Photo: Doug Matthew / IndyCar Media

20. Marco Andretti - 7.14
Starts in measured period - 14
Best Race - 2014, 8.4


19. Arie Luyendyk - 7.21
Starts in measured period - 17
Best Race - 1990 and 1999, 8.7


18. Al Unser - 7.24
Starts in measured period - 9
Best Race - 1987, 8.4

Photo: IndyCar Media

17. Tomas Scheckter - 7.29
Starts in measured period - 10
Best Race - 2002, 8.8


16. Mario Andretti - 7.39
Starts in measured period - 11
Best Race - 1987, 9.3


15. Will Power - 7.39
Starts in measured period - 12
Best Race - 2018, 8.9


14. Gil de Ferran - 7.40
Starts in measured period - 4
Best Race - 2003, 9.3

Photo: IndyCar Media

13. Tony Stewart - 7.54
Starts in measured period - 5
Best Race - 1997, 8.3


12. Carlos Munoz - 7.57
Starts in measured period - 6
Best Race - 2016, 8.5


11. Dario Franchitti - 7.61
Starts in measured period - 10
Best Race - 2010, 9.4


10. Emerson Fittipaldi - 7.62
Starts in measured period - 11
Best Race - 1989, 9.5


9. Bobby Rahal - 7.63
Starts in measured period - 11
Best Race - 1986, 8.8


8. Scott Dixon - 7.64
Starts in measured period - 17
Best Race - 2008, 9.0

Photo: Ron McQueeney / IndyCar Media

7. Helio Castroneves - 7.65
Starts in measured period - 19
Best Race - 2009 and 2017, 8.8


6. Juan Pablo Montoya - 7.66
Starts in measured period - 5
Best Race - 2000, 9.6


5. Michael Andretti - 7.66
Starts in measured period - 16
Best Race - 1992, 9.5


4. Rick Mears - 7.74
Starts in measured period - 9
Best Race - 1988 and 1991, 8.9

Photo: IndyCar Media

3. Tony Kanaan - 7.94
Starts in measured period - 18
Best Race - 2007 and 2013, 8.4


2. Dan Wheldon - 8.11
Starts in measured period - 9
Best Race - 2006, 9.3


1. Alexander Rossi - 8.43
Starts in measured period - 4
Best Race - 2019, 8.8

Photo: Eric Anderson / IndyCar Media

Introducing the Best Field of All-Time - 1984-2019

Driver Ratings has helped us determine the best 26 full-time grid in IndyCar using ratings from 1984 to 2019. I have taken their ratings from all of their races to get their average score, and counted the top 26 in IndyCar between the above listed time frame. Certain criteria had to be met: a minimum of ten starts that encompasses a minimum of five starts on ovals and five starts on road/street courses. This is subject to change going forward with active drivers increasing/decreasing their ranking depending on performance.

Here is the best 26 drivers that meet this criteria:


26. Kenny Brack - 6.88
Starts in measured period - 105


25. Al Unser - 6.90
Starts in measured period - 38


24. Sebastien Bourdais - 6.96
Starts in measured period - 203

Sebastien Bourdais 2019 (Matt Fraver / IndyCar Media)

23. Danny Sullivan - 6.97
Starts in measured period - 168


22. Greg Moore - 7.00
Starts in measured period - 72


21. Al Unser Jr. - 7.12
Starts in measured period - 315


20. Helio Castroneves - 7.12
Starts in measured period - 348


19. Simon Pagenaud - 7.13
Starts in measured period - 152


18. Paul Tracy - 7.14
Starts in measured period - 281

Paul Tracy 2003 (Autosport)

17. Dan Wheldon - 7.18
Starts in measured period - 132


16. Gil de Ferran - 7.25
Starts in measured period - 160


15. Dario Franchitti - 7.28
Starts in measured period - 265

Dario Franchitti 2002 (Photo credit not listed)

14. Bobby Rahal - 7.28
Starts in measured period - 242


13. Alexander Rossi - 7.29
Starts in measured period - 67


12. Emerson Fittipaldi - 7.33
Starts in measured period - 195


11. Alex Zanardi - 7.38
Starts in measured period - 64

Alex Zanardi 1998 (Motor Sport Magazine)

10. Robert Wickens - 7.46
Starts in measured period - 14


9. Will Power - 7.47
Starts in measured period - 220


8. Jacques Villeneuve - 7.49
Starts in measured period - 33


7. Mario Andretti - 7.50
Starts in measured period - 172


6. Michael Andretti - 7.51
Starts in measured period - 314

Michael Andretti 2002 (Motorsport)

5. Rick Mears - 7.51
Starts in measured period - 119


4. Scott Dixon - 7.53
Starts in measured period - 321


3. Juan Pablo Montoya - 7.53
Starts in measured period - 93


2. Sam Hornish Jr. - 7.55
Starts in measured period - 116


1. Nigel Mansell - 7.87
Starts in measured period - 31

Nigel Mansell 1994 (MSR)

Who would want to see this grid on a track?!

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Photo: Walter Kuhn / IndyCar Media