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From 1950-1960, the Indianapolis 500 was included in the Formula One World Championship series. Over that eleven-year period, however, only a handful of European teams and drivers ever made the trip. Of the few that did choose to go to Indianapolis, all experienced minimal success. No European drivers managed to even finish the race, and their lack of success was likely a factor in few deciding to race at Indy. The Indy drivers who won during that period scored points towards the World Championship, but since none participated in any events in Europe, none were ever a factor in the season standings. In 1961, the Indianapolis 500 was removed from the World Championship, and was replaced on the schedule with the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen.
1950: The Indianapolis 500 was included in the World Championship, but no Europeans chose to participate. Giuseppe Farina originally planned to enter, but his car never arrived. Attempting to participate at Indy was complicated by the schedule. Indy was held Tuesday May 30, only nine days after the Monaco Grand Prix. The Grand Prix of Switzerland was held five days after Indy on Sunday June 4. Johnnie Parsons won at Indy, which was shortened to 345 miles due to rain.
1951: The Indy 500, held Wednesday May 30, is included on the World Championship again, but takes place only three days after the Swiss Grand Prix on Sunday May 27. No European teams attempt to make the trip, considering even that Monaco is not held that year.
1952: For the first time, Ferrari sends driver Alberto Ascari to Indianapolis to compete in the 500, and with hope, score championship points as the only European Formula One entry. Ascari, however, experienced little success, spinning out and finishing 31st.
1953: Though the Indianapolis 500 and Grand Prix of Holland are held on successive weekends, and no European drivers attempt to drive in both. Bill Vukovich wins at Indianapolis.
1954: For the fourth time in five years, no European teams enter at Indianapolis. Bill Vukovich wins at Indy for the second year in a row.
1955: The Grand Prix of Monaco returns to the World Championship schedule, and is held Sunday May 22. European teams concentrate on that event, and again do not enter at Indianapolis. Bob Sweikert wins at Indy on Monday May 30. In a short period, the racing world experiences tremendous loss as Bill Vukovich is killed during the Indianapolis 500, and a couple weeks later, the 24 Hours of Le Mans tragedy kills over 80 people.
1956: Giuseppe Farina travels to Indianapolis attempting to qualify. Rain hampers his chances though, and he is unable to qualify.
1957: Guiseppe Farina enters at Indianapolis, attempting yet again to become the second Formula One European regular to race at Indy. However, Keith Andrews wrecks his car during practice and is fatally injured. Farina would not return.
1958: Juan Manuel Fangio arrives Indianapolis under much fanfare as he attempts to qualify for the 500. He practiced early in the month, but withdraws when he can not get up to speed.
1959: After three years of European entrants failing to qualify, none make the trip to Indy for 1959. European teams chose instead to race in the Dutch Grand Prix, held Sunday May 31, one day after Indy, held on Saturday May 30.
1960: The Indianapolis 500 is part of the World Championship for the final time. However, since the Grand Prix of Monaco (Sunday May 30) and the Indy 500 (Monday May 31) are held on back-to-back days, no European teams chose to compete at Indy.
1961: In what would ultimately prove to be a defining moment in Indianapolis 500 history, Jack Brabham qualifies his rear-engined Cooper-Climax at Indy. Brabham actually performs double duty, as he competed at the Dutch Grand Prix a week before Indy, finishing 6th. On race day, Brabham's rear-engined machine proves slow on the straights compared to the powerfull roadsters, but handles exceptionally superior in the tight corners, and guides him to a 9th place finish. After five decades of front-engined dominance at Indy, Brabham's car raised enough interest such that the roadsters days were now numbered, and would be essentially extinct before the end of the decade.
1962: For the second year in a row, a Formula One double duty is performed. On Wednesday May 30, Indy rookie Dan Gurney finishes 18th in the 500, dropping out with a bad piston. Four days later, on Sunday June 3, he traveled to Monaco to compete in the Grand Prix, where he crashed on the first lap and finished 14th.
1963: The Monaco Grand Prix is held Sunday May 26, and the Indianapolis 500 is held on Thursday May 30. Jim Clark wins the pole at Monaco and finishes 8th after a crash, while Dan Gurney finishes 13th after transmission failure. Four days later at Indy, Clark finishes second in his rookie year, and Gurney finishes 7th. Formula One regular Masten Gregory does not race in the first three grand prix events, and enters at Indy. He, however, is unable to qualify for the 500.
1964: The Grand Prix of Holland is held Sunday May 24, and the Indy 500 is held Saturday May 30. Four Formula One regulars enter at Indy, and three qualify. Fortunately, all three avoided the tragic crash of Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald on the second lap. Jack Brabham makes his second Indy start, finishing 20th, following a 14th place finish at Holland. Jim Clark won at Holland, and was leading at Indy until a suspension failure ended his day. Dan Gurney finished 16th at Holland, and 17th at Indy, dropping out of both events. Masten Gregory tries for the second time, but again fails to qualify at Indy.
1965: Monaco and Indianapolis are held on back-to-back days, Sunday May 30 and Monday May 31 respectively. Jim Clark skips the Monaco Grand Prix and choses to race at Indy instead. Clark uses the services of the famous Wood Brothers pit crew from the NASCAR circuit. Both choices proved beneficial, as Clark won convincingly. Dan Gurney also skipped Monaco, racing at Indy instead, but he dropped out and finished 26th. Masten Gregory finally qualifies at Indy in his third year, and ends up 23rd.
1966: After Clark's win in 1965, several other Formula One regulars consider Indy in 1966, especially since Monaco (Sunday May 22) is held an entire week before Indy (Monday May 30). Graham Hill finishes third at Monaco, and follows that up with a win at Indy, the second in a row for a European. Jim Clark manages an 8th place finish at Monaco, and thought he won at Indy, only to find out he was officially scored second. Jackie Stewart was victorious at Monaco, and was on his way to an easy Indy victory. But he slowed with ten laps to go because of low oil pressure, and was credited with 6th place. Dan Gurney skipped Monaco altogether, and raced Indy only. His day was short-lived, however, when he was eliminated in a first-lap, eleven-car pileup.
1967: Despite the tight schedule, Indianapolis on Tuesday May 30, and Holland on Sunday June 4, six Formula One regulars, the most-ever, competed in double duty. Rain halted the Indy 500 after only 18 laps, and postponed the remainder of the race until Wednesday. Unlike recent years, the Formula One regulars did not fare well, and Denny Hulme's 4th place finish was the only finish of note. After the rain delay, and Dutch Grand Prix practice scheduled for Friday, the drivers scrambled to return to Europe. Jim Clark dropped out at Indy (31st) but wins at Holland. Defending Indy winner Graham Hill finishes worse (32nd), and only manages a 15th at Holland. Others include Dan Gurney (21st at Indianapolis, 16th at Holland), Jochen Rindt (24th and 13th), Denny Hulme (4th and 3rd), Jackie Stewart (18th and 12th). Including future champion Mario Andretti, the 1967 Indy field accounts for six former or eventual World Champions.
1968: The European field for Indy is depleated when Jim Clark is killed at Hockenheim in April, and Mike Spence is killed during practice at Indy on May 7. Four drivers do attempt double duty, with mixed results. At Monaco on Sunday May 26, Graham Hill is the winner. On Tursday May 30, Hill crashes out at Indy and finishes 19th. Denny Hulme has another good year, finishing 5th at Monaco and 4th at Indy. Dan Gurney dropped out at Monaco (11th place), but gets a career-best second at Indy. Jochen Rindt rounds out the Formula One regulars with a 12th (Monaco) and a 32nd (Indy).
1969: The Monaco Grand Prix is held Sunday May 18, and the Indianapolis 500 is held Friday May 30. Graham Hill won at Monaco, but failed to qualify at Indy. Jack Brabham returns to Indy again, finishing 24th after a 15th at Monaco. Dennis Hulme gets a 6th place at Monaco, but drops out at Indy, finishing 18th. The Indianapolis 500 is won by future (1978) World Champion, Mario Andretti.
1970: The Indianapolis 500 is held Saturday May 30, and the Grand Prix of Belgium is a week later on Sunday June 7. Only one driver, Jack Brabham raced in both. He finished 13th at Indy, and 10th at Belgium.
1971: Monaco is held Sunday May 23, and Indianapolis is held Saturday May 29. Mario Andretti fails to qulaify at Monaco, but makes the field at Indy, crashing out and finishing 30th. Dennis Hulme finished 4th at Monaco, but drops out at Indy, finishing 17th.
1972: The Indianapolis 500 is held on a Saturday for the third year in a row, May 27, and the Grand Prix of Belgium is a week later on Sunday June 4. Peter Revson drops out at Indy, finishing 31st, and finshes 7th at Belguim.
1973: The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Monday May 28, and Monaco is scheduled for Sunday June 4. Rain, and a major crash involving Salt Walther on Monday prevent the Indy 500 from getting started. On Tuesday, rain again postpones the race. The 500 is finally held Wednesday afternoon, May 30, with Revson dropping out after only three laps, finshing 31st for the second year in a row. He travels to Monaco where he finished 5th four days later.
1974: The Indianapolis 500 is permanently moved to Sunday starting in 1974, increasing the chances that it will be scheduled in conflict with Monaco and other Formula One races in the future.
1975: Mario Andretti, racing regularly in Formula One, skipped the Grand Prix of Belguim and raced at Indy. Andretti would crash out on the backstrech.
1976: Mario Andretti, racing regularly in Formula One, skips the Monaco Grand Prix, and races at Indy. He was unable to qualify on pole day, and instead qualified on the second weekend of time trials. He wound up being the fastest qualifier overall in the field.
1977: Mario Andretti, racing full-time in Formula One, finished 5th in the May 22 race at Monaco, then flew to Indianapolis to race in the 500 where he drops out and finishes 26th. Formula One driver Clay Regazzoni had trouble getting his car up to speed, so he skips Monaco and raced at Indy instead.
1978: Mario Andretti wons the Formula One Grand Prix of Belguim on May 21, then flew to Indy to compete in the 500 on May 28. He finishes 12th at Indy, completing 185 laps.
1979: The Grand Prix of Monaco and the Indianapolis 500 are held on the same day, so Mario Andretti was forced to skip Indy for the first time in his career. He dropped out and finished 16th at Monaco.
1980: Mario Andretti finished 7th at the Formula One Grand Prix of Monaco on May 18, then flew to Indy to compete in the Indy 500 on May 25. He dropped out and finished 20th at Indy, completing 71 laps.
1981: Mario Andretti finished 10th at the Formula One Grand Prix of Belguim on May 17, then flew to Indy to compete in the Indy 500 on May 24. After a penalty involving winner Bobby Unser, Andretti who finished second, was awarded the win the following day. The following weekend, Andretti traveled back to Europe to compete in the Grand Prix of Monaco, where he crashes and finished last. In October, Unser's penalty from the Indy 500 is reversed by an appeals court, and Andretti is relegated to second place in the Indy 500.
1984: After a few years of sabatical, 1972 and 1974 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi quietly switches to the CART series and races at the Indy 500 for the first time.
1985: After a very short stint in Formula One, Danny Sullivan returned to the CART circuit, and won the 1985 Indianapolis 500. He would also win the 1988 CART championship. Mario Andretti finishes second to him at Indy.
1989: In his sixth start, Emerson Fittipaldi wins his first Indianapolis 500.
1990: Eddie Cheever, who had spent several seasons as the lone American driver in Formula One, switches to the CART series and competes at the Indianapolis 500 for the first time.
1992: Three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet (1981, 1983, 1987) entered at Indy and initially found the track very accomodating. However, the success is short-lived, as he is invloved in a major crash during practice, seriously injuring both legs. Without question, he is unable to qualify, and underwent significant rehabilitation.
1993: Defending World Champion Nigel Mansell switches to the CART Indycar circuit for 1993, and arrives at Indy with much hype. In his first oval-track race, Mansell leads late, but is passed on a restart and finished third. Fellow former World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi emerges victorious, his second win at Indy. Nelson Piquet returns to Indy and qualifies, overcoming his injuries from the previous year. Mario Andretti, the 1978 World Champion, fills out a field that featured a record four former World Champions. Mansell, even after missing an early season race at Phoenix, wins the 1993 CART championship. In another move, 1991 CART champion Michael Andretti, who finished second at Indy in 1991, and was a factor in 1989 and 1992, switches to Formula One for 1993. It would prove to be a very unsuccessful experience, and Andretti would ultimately return to Indy in 1994.
1994: Both Nigel Mansell and Emerson Fittipaldi drop out of the Indy 500 due to accidents. Mansell would end up leaving the CART circuit by the end of the season, and eventually retire from racing full-time. Eventual World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, a rookie at the Indy 500 that year, finished a surprising second place to winner Al Unser, Jr. Michael Andretti, who returned to the CART series after an incomplete 1993 Formula One season, finished third at Indy on the track, but was assesed a one-lap penalty for passing under yellow, and was moved down to 6th place.
1995: Emerson Fittipaldi, along with Penske teammate Al Unser, Jr., have difficulty getting their machines up to speed, and ultimately fail to qualify for the 500. Fittiapdi was bumped, and Unser was too slow. Jacques Villeneuve ends up winning the Indy 500 and goes on win the CART championship also in 1995. Villeneuve would switch to Formula One the following year, and never return for the Indianapolis 500.
1996: Former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto enters the Indy 500, now being run as part of the Indy Racing League, and finishes 30th.
1998: Former Formula One regular Eddie Cheever wins the 1998 Indianapolis 500 as an owner/driver.
2000: Juan Pablo Montoya, who won the 1999 CART championship, wins the 2000 Indianapolis 500. A year later Montoya would switch to the Formula One circuit, and not return to race in the Indianapolis 500 again.
2002: Former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert entered the Indianapolis 500, practiced, but did not attempt to qualify.
2005: Tomas Enge, who had previously driven in Formula One, including the 2001 U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, switched to the IRL, and competed in the Indy 500. He qualified 10th and finished 19th.
2007: Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2000 Indy 500 winner, left the Formula One circuit after the 2006 season to join the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. In doing so, he will race in the 2007 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, and is expected to become the first driver to race in all three major events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis 500, Allstate/Brickyard 400, U.S. Grand Prix). In January of 2007, he also won the 24 Hours of Daytona, making him one of few drivers to win the Indy 500, a Formula One race, and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
2008: Following the unification with Champ Car, several new drivers, including former Formula One drivers, joined the field. Enrique Bernoldi, who had raced in the 2001 U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis finished 15th. Justin Wilson finshed 8th in the 2003 U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, and finished 27th in the 500.
| Driver | World Championship(s) | Indianapolis 500 Win(s) |
| Jim Clark | 1963, 1965 | 1965 |
| Graham Hill | 1962, 1968 | 1966 |
| Mario Andretti | 1978 | 1969 |
| Emerson Fittipaldi | 1972, 1974 | 1989, 1993 |
| Jacques Villenueve | 1997 | 1995 |
| Driver | World Championship(s) | Indianapolis 500 Participation |
| Alberto Ascari | 1952, 1953 | 1952 |
| Jack Brabham | 1959, 1960, 1966 | 1961, 1964, 1969-1970 |
| Graham Hill | 1962, 1968 | 1966-1968 |
| Jim Clark | 1963, 1965 | 1963-1967 |
| Jackie Stewart | 1969, 1971, 1973 | 1966-1967 |
| Denis Hulme | 1967 | 1967-1969, 1971 |
| Jochen Rindt | 1970 | 1967-1968 |
| Emerson Fittipaldi | 1972, 1974 | 1984-1994 |
| Mario Andretti | 1978 | 1965-1978, 1980-1994 |
| Nelson Piquet | 1981, 1983, 1987 | 1993 |
| Nigel Mansell | 1992 | 1993-1994 |
| Jacques Villenueve | 1997 | 1994-1995 |
Indianapolis 500 & the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Championship
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | IndyCar Championship(s) |
| Buddy Lazier | 1996 | 2000 |
| Kenny Brack | 1999 | 1998 |
| Dan Wheldon | 2005 | 2005 |
| Sam Hornish, Jr. | 2006 | 2001, 2002, 2006 |
| Dario Franchitti | 2007, 2010 | 2007, 2009 |
| Scott Dixon | 2008 | 2003 |
Indianapolis 500 & the CART Championship
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | CART Championship(s) |
| Rick Mears | 1979, 1984, 1988, 1991 | 1979, 1981, 1982 |
| Al Unser, Sr. | 1970, 1971, 1978, 1987 | 1983, 1985 |
| Johnny Rutherford | 1974, 1976, 1980 | 1980 |
| Al Unser, Jr. | 1992, 1994 | 1990, 1994 |
| Emerson Fittipaldi | 1989, 1993 | 1989 |
| Bobby Rahal | 1986 | 1986, 1987, 1992 |
| Gil de Ferran | 2003 | 2000, 2001 |
| Mario Andretti | 1969 | 1984 |
| Danny Sullivan | 1985 | 1988 |
| Jacques Villeneuve | 1995 | 1995 |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 2000 | 1999 |
Indianapolis 500 & Daytona 500
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | Daytona 500 Win |
| A.J. Foyt | 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977 | 1972 |
| Mario Andretti | 1969 | 1967 |
Indianapolis 500 & the 24 Hours of Le Mans
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | LeMans Win |
| A.J. Foyt | 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977 | 1967 |
| Graham Hill | 1966 | 1972 |
Indianapolis 500 & the Grand Prix of Monaco
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | Monaco Win(s) |
| Graham Hill | 1966 | 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969 |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 2000 | 2003 |
Indianapolis 500 & the USAC National Championship
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | USAC Championship(s) |
| A.J. Foyt | 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977 | 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1975, 1978, 1979 |
| Mario Andretti | 1969 | 1965, 1966, 1969 |
| Rodger Ward | 1959, 1962 | 1959, 1962 |
| Al Unser, Sr. | 1970, 1971, 1978, 1987 | 1970 |
| Bobby Unser | 1968, 1975, 1981 | 1968 |
| Gordon Johncock | 1973, 1982 | 1976 |
| Tom Sneva | 1983 | 1977 |
Indianapolis 500 & the AAA National Championship
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | AAA Championship(s) |
| Louis Meyer | 1928, 1933, 1936 | 1928, 1928, 1933 |
| Wilbur Shaw | 1937, 1939, 1940 | 1937, 1939 |
| Mauri Rose | 1941, 1947, 1948 | 1936 |
| Tommy Milton | 1921, 1923 | 1920, 1921 |
| Jimmy Bryan | 1958 | 1954, 1956, 1957 |
| Ralph DePalma | 1915 | 1912, 1914 |
| Jimmy Murphy | 1922 | 1922, 1924 |
| Peter DePaolo | 1925 | 1925, 1927 |
| Ray Harroun | 1911 | 1910 |
| Dario Resta | 1916 | 1916 |
| Howdy Wilcox | 1919 | 1919 |
| Billy Arnold | 1930 | 1930 |
| Louis Schneider | 1931 | 1931 |
| Bill Cummings | 1934 | 1934 |
| Kelly Petillo | 1935 | 1935 |
| Floyd Roberts | 1938 | 1938 |
| Johnnie Parsons | 1950 | 1949 |
| Bob Sweikert | 1955 | 1955 |
| Sam Hanks | 1957 | 1953 |
Indianapolis 500 & the 24 Hours of Daytona*
| Driver | Indy 500 Win(s) | 24 at Daytona Wins(s) |
| A.J. Foyt | 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977 | 1983, 1985 |
| Al Unser, Sr. | 1970, 1971, 1978, 1987 | 1985 |
| Al Unser, Jr. | 1992, 1994 | 1986, 1987 |
| Arie Luyendyk | 1990, 1997 | 1998 |
| Mario Andretti | 1969 | 1972 |
| Mark Donohue | 1972 | 1969 |
| Bobby Rahal | 1986 | 1981 |
| Dan Wheldon | 2005 | 2006 |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 2000 | 2007, 2008 |
| Dario Franchitti | 2007, 2010 | 2008 |
| Scott Dixon | 2008 | 2006 |
| Buddy Rice | 2004 | 2009 |
Notes
A.J. Foyt is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), the Daytona 500 (1972) the 24 Hours of LeMans (1967), and the 24 Hours of Daytona (1983, 1985).
Mario Andretti is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (1969), the Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula One World Championship (1978), and the 24 Hours of Daytona (1972).
Graham Hill is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (1966), the 24 Hours of LeMans (1972), the Monaco Grand Prix (1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969), and the Formula One World Championship (1962, 1968)