Indy 500: Repeating Numbers

In the history of the Indianapolis 500, many interesting, and rather bizzare numerical oddities have occured. This is a list of some them.

In 1988, Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Al Unser, Sr. finished in the top three position. A year later, in 1989, Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Al Unser, Sr. qualified in the top three positions.

In 1992, Al Unser, Jr. finished 0.043 seconds ahead of second place Scott Goodyear. Third place Al Unser, Sr. finished 0.045 seconds ahead of fourth place Eddie Cheever.

In 1992, Bobby Rahal made the most consistent four-lap qualification run in Indianapolis 500 history to that time. His lap times were 40.147 seconds, 40.149, 40.153 and 40.152, a difference of 0.006 seconds. In 2008, Scott Dixon bettered the record with four laps separated by 0.0049 of a second. His quickest lap was 39.9656 seconds, while his slowest lap was 39.9705 seconds. The qualifying effort, however, was later withdrawn, and Dixon requalified, incidently for the pole position. In 1971, George Snider had four qualifying laps of 52.45 seconds, 52.45, 52.44, and 52.45. Three identical laps, and the fourth 0.01 seconds faster.

In 1977, Tom Sneva broke the 200 mph barrier in qualifying at 200.535 mph. In 1982, Rick Mears became the first driver to record a 200 mph lap during the race, at 200.535 mph.

In 1984, A.J. Foyt's final qualifying lap was the 200th 200 mph qualifying lap in Indy history. On race day that year, he officially was credited with having competed against 200 different drivers in his Indy career. Incindently, in 1994, Foyt's team driver Bryan Herta recorded the 2000th 200 mph qualfying lap in Indy history.

In 1968, 1970 & 1971, Johnny Rutherford finished 18th in car number 18.

In 1965, Mario Andretti won the Rookie of the Year award after starting fourth. In 1984 Mario's son, Michael won the Co-Rookie of the Year Award after starting fouth. In 1968, Bill Vukovich, Jr. won the Rookie of the Year Award after starting 23rd. In 1988, Bill's son, Billy Vukovich III won the Rookie of the Year Award after starting 23rd.

In 1985, Arie Luyendyk, who's birthday is September 21, won the Rookie of the Year Award at age 31. In 1986, Randy Lanier, who's birthday is September 22, won the Rookie of the Year Award at age 31.

In 1992, Al Unser, Jr. won the race, and Scott Goodyear started 33rd in a car qualified by his teammate. In 1994, Al Unser Jr. won the race, and Scott Goodyear started 33rd in a car qualified by his teammate.

In 1911, Spencer Wishart started in position 11 in car #11, in 1927, Tony Gulotta started in position 27 in car #27, in 1931, Paul Bost finished in position 31 in car #31.

In 1993, Emerson Fittipaldi took the lead on lap 185 and went on to win the race. In 1994, Emerson Fittipaldi was leading the race, and crashed out on lap 185.

In 1963, first alternate Len Sutton and second alternate Ralph Ligouri had identical qualifying speeds of 147.620 mph.

In 1992, Stan Fox qualified for the 13th starting position at 222.867 mph. In 1994, Fox again qualified for the 13th starting position at 222.867 mph.

In 1981, the qualifying average for the front row was 197.904 mph. In 1982, the qualifying average for the fourth row was 197.904 mph.

In 1992, the slowest car bumped was Johnny Rutherford at 217.150 mph. In 1993, the fastest car bumped was Mark Smith at 217.150 mph.

In 1971, the total prize money for the field was $1,001,604. In 1989, winner Emerson Fittipaldi's share of the purse totaled $1,001,604.

In 1966, the five drivers who led a lap were Lloyd Ruby, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Mario Andretti and Jackie Stewart. In 1967, Ruby finished 33rd, Hill finished 32nd, Clark finished 31st, Andretti finished 30th, and Stewart started 29th.

In 1911, Ray Harroun drove to victory in car number 32, at the age of 32. The first and only driver to match his age and car number in victory.

In 1957, in his 13th attempt, Sam Hanks won the race from the 13th starting position.

In 1981, the race was held for the first time on May 24, won by Bobby Unser. In 1987, the race was held for the second time on May 24, won by Bobby's brother, Al Unser, Sr. In 1992, the race was held for the third time on May 24, won by Al's son, Al Unser, Jr.

In 1990, on lap 91, pole position winner Emerson Fittipaldi posted the fastest lap of the race at 222.574 mph. On lap 162, eventual race winner Arie Luyendyk posts a lap at 222.574 mph.

Two years in a row the pole position winner finished last, Greg Ray in 2000 and Scott Sharp in 2001. Sharp, in fact, failed to complete a single lap. Their respective prize money, $388,700 and $427,325, was more than Tom Sneva earned for winning the race in 1983, at $385,866.

In 1992, polesitter Roberto Guerrero crashed on the pace lap and finished last. Two years later, he crashed and finished last again. In 2000, polesitter Greg Ray crashed finished last. Two years later, he too crashed and finished last again.

When Arie Luyendyk won the race in 1990, he set a record by completing the race in a time of 2:41:18.414. In 1992, Arie crashed out of the race after 135 laps, and was credited with a time of completion nearly the same (2:42:02.514).

Mario Andretti is the only driver to have led the most laps in three losing occasions (1985, 1987, 1993), and his son Michael Andretti is the only driver to have led the most laps in losing efforts in two back-to-back occasions (1991-1992).

Sarah Fisher finished 31st in three of her first four starts.

In 2007, winner Dario Franchitti drove car #27, in a race held on May 27, and claims to have received a valet ticket #27 at a parking lot earlier in the week. He also led 34 laps during the race, which was red flagged and halted at lap 166, 34 laps from the finish.

Three drivers from the state of Kansas have won the Indianapolis 500; Rodger Ward (1959, 1962), Johnny Rutherford (1974, 1976, 1980), and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991). the number "3" is prevalent amongst them. The three of them are the only drivers born in Kansas to have led the race. All three won multiple times. All three won once in car #3. One of them (Rutherford) competed in 24 races, but only completed the full 500 miles three times, and won three pole positions. All three started on the front row at least three times. The average of all three drivers' wins and pole positions are 3 wins and 3 pole each.

The four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500 are A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977) Al Unser, Sr. (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987) and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991). All four have some similiarities in their wins.