Complete List of Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitters (1911–2026)

Complete List of Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitters (1911–2026)

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the race begins before race day.

Every May, the world’s greatest open-wheel drivers hurl their machines around the legendary 2.5-mile oval at speeds that defy comprehension, chasing one of motorsport’s most coveted honors: the pole position for the Indianapolis 500.

Winning the pole at Indy is a statement.

It means your car is the fastest of the fast, your crew built something special, and your nerve held firm when the entire paddock was watching.

The driver who claims it earns $100,000, a trophy, and one weeks of spotlight.

2026 | Alex Palou Earns Pole for 110th Indy 500

2025 | Shwartzman The First Rookie To Take Indy 500 Pole In 42 Years

The tradition stretches back to 1911, when the very first Indianapolis 500 was run and Lewis Strang earned the inaugural pole.

In those early years, starting positions were determined by entry order and simple speed trials.

But as the race grew into a global institution, so did the drama of qualifying.

Today, it culminates in the Firestone Fast Six which is a shootout of the six quickest cars, running one at a time in a pressure-cooker atmosphere unique to any sport.

The pole does not guarantee the win.

Of the 110 races run through 2026, the pole sitter has gone on to win just 21 times.

Of the more than 70 unique drivers to win the Indy pole, most have done it only once — a reminder of how rarely the stars align perfectly.

Only three rookies have ever claimed the top spot: Lewis Strang in 1911, Italian road-racer Teo Fabi in 1983, and Robert Shwartzman in 2025 — a feat that stunned the paddock each time it occurred.

Take a look below at the Complete List of Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitters (1911–2026).

Note: The race was not held in 1917–1918 (World War I) or 1942–1945 (World War II). Speed data unavailable for some early races when qualifying was determined by entry order rather than timed runs.