With the festivities for the Indy 500 beginning this weekend with qualifying, here is every Formula 1 driver to ever win the legendary Indianapolis race.
The Indy 500 is considered one of the most prestigious races across all motorsports. Every Memorial Day weekend, thousands of fans pack the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch the iconic event.
With this level of prestige, it stands to reason that many drivers from Formula 1, considered the most elite class of motorsport, will have tried their hand at winning it all. But how many of them were successful?
Formula 1 drivers who have won the Indy 500
Over the history of the event, there have been over 100 Formula 1 drivers to have taken part in the Indy 500. However, only 13 drivers have managed to win the legendary event.
Here is every Formula 1 driver to have won the Indy 500:
- Roger Ward – Won in 1959 and 1962 – 12 F1 career race starts
- Jim Clark – Won in 1965 – Won two F1 world championships in 1963 and 1965
- Graham Hill – Won 1966 – Won two F1 world championships in 1962 and 1968
- Mario Andretti – Won in 1969 – Won one F1 world championship in 1978
- Mark Donohue – Won in 1972 – 14 F1 career race starts
- Danny Sullivan – Won in 1985 – 15 F1 career race starts
- Emerson Fittipaldi – Won in 1989 and 1993 – Won two F1 world championships in 1972 and 1974
- Jacques Villeneuve – Won in 1995 – Won one F1 world championship in 1997
- Eddie Cheever – Won in 1998 – 132 F1 career race starts
- Juan Pablo Montoya – Won in 2000 and 2015 – 94 F1 career race starts
- Alexander Rossi – Won in 2016 – 5 F1 career race starts
- Takuma Sato – Won in 2017 and 2020 – 90 F1 career race starts
- Marcus Ericsson – Won in 2022 – 97 F1 career race starts
Only five drivers have won a Formula 1 world championship and the Indy 500
Given the challenge of winning a Formula 1 world championship and the Indy 500 in one career, it should come as no surprise that only a handful of drivers have managed to achieve both.
Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Jacques Villeneuve are the only men in history who can claim to have won both accolades in their careers.
Of course, a contemporary F1 legend who tried to conquer the Indy 500, Fernando Alonso, wanted to add his name to the list.
Unfortunately for Alonso, he failed to win the race in his two appearances in 2017 and 2020, and failed to qualify for the race in 2019.
Perhaps he, or another F1 driver in the future can attempt to win this legendary race, and add their name to the elite list mentioned above.
