Indy 500 Winning Speed Comparison (2005-2024 MPH)
Compare 20 Indy 500 winning average speeds 2005 to 2024 in mph: Castroneves 190.69 record, Kanaan 187.43 and Dixon 143.57 low, with IMS results history sources.
Visual comparison
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| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Dan Wheldon Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, pole Tony Kanaan. | 157.6 mph | 89th Indy 500 winner | IMS Dan Wheldon driver page 2005: 157.603 mph |
| 2006 Sam Hornish Jr Team Penske, closest finish at that time. | 157.09 mph | Winner with last lap pass | Honda Newsroom Indianapolis 500 Results 2006: 157.085 mph |
| 2007 Dario Franchitti Britannica lists 151.744 in one table, IMS linked 151.774 used. | 151.77 mph | Rain shortened 166 laps | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 151.774 mph |
| 2008 Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing, slow average due to cautions. | 143.57 mph | Winner from pole | Britannica Indianapolis 500 winners: 143.567 mph |
| 2009 Helio Castroneves Team Penske Dallara Honda. | 150.32 mph | Third Indy 500 win | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 150.318 mph |
| 2010 Dario Franchitti Target Chip Ganassi Racing. | 161.62 mph | Second Indy 500 win | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 161.623 mph |
| 2011 Dan Wheldon Bryan Herta Autosport, second win for Wheldon. | 170.26 mph | Winner after Hildebrand crash final turn | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 170.265 mph |
| 2012 Dario Franchitti Target Chip Ganassi Racing. | 167.73 mph | Third Indy 500 win | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 167.734 mph |
| 2013 Tony Kanaan KV Racing, record average speed for 200 laps. | 187.43 mph | Record fastest 500 | Britannica: 187.433 mph |
| 2014 Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport, margin 0.06 sec over Castroneves. | 186.56 mph | Second fastest 500 at that time | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 186.563 mph |
| 2015 Juan Pablo Montoya Team Penske Chevrolet. | 161.34 mph | Second Indy 500 win | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 161.341 mph |
| 2016 Alexander Rossi Andretti Herta Autosport Honda. | 166.63 mph | Rookie winner with fuel strategy | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 166.634 mph |
| 2017 Takuma Sato Andretti Autosport Honda. | 155.4 mph | First Japanese winner | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 155.395 mph |
| 2018 Will Power Team Penske Chevrolet. | 166.94 mph | First Indy 500 win | Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page: 166.935 mph |
| 2019 Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Chevrolet. | 175.79 mph | Winner from pole | USA Today Indy 500 history: 175.794 mph |
| 2020 Takuma Sato Some databases list 157.724, IMS linked reports give 157.824 used. | 157.82 mph | Second win, held Aug 23 without fans | USA Today Indy 500 history: 157.824 mph |
| 2021 Helio Castroneves Meyer Shank Racing Honda, time 2 hours 37 min 19.3846 sec. | 190.69 mph | Fourth win, 200 lap time record | IMS 2021 Race Results winner: 190.69 mph |
| 2022 Marcus Ericsson Dallara Honda, 200 laps. | 175.43 mph | Winner for Chip Ganassi Racing | IMS 2022 Race Results winner: 175.428 mph |
| 2023 Josef Newgarden Team Penske Chevrolet, fourth 500 decided by last lap pass. | 168.19 mph | First win with last lap pass | IMS Race Winners table 2023 Time 2:58:21.9611 Speed 168.193 |
| 2024 Josef Newgarden BorgWarner PR confirms 167.763 mph, Team Penske 20th win. | 167.76 mph | Back to back winner after rain delay | IMS Race Winners table 2024 Time 2:58:49.4079 Speed 167.763 |
About this converter
Indy 500 winning average speeds from 2005 to 2024 run from 143.567 to 190.69 mph, which makes every year easy to compare. Dixon won 2008 at 143.567 mph under cautions, while Castroneves won 2021 at 190.69. That is a gap of 47 mph over 200 laps, or 166 in the rain cut 2007. Every figure on this page is an official winning average from IMS results pages, Racing Reference tables, Britannica lists and BorgWarner reports. Kanaan 187.433 in 2013 stood as the 200 lap record until Castroneves 190.69. Newgarden won back to back in 2023 and 2024. Palou 2025 sits outside the range and is not listed.
How to use it
Pick two races and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked: one holds a count of the first speed, one the matching count of the second, one the speed in the chosen unit. Change any box and the other two update. Try 2021 Castroneves against 2008 Dixon to feel the fastest versus slowest gap, or Newgarden 2024 against 2023 to compare the repeat.
The 2007 race stopped for rain at 166 laps with a 151.774 average. Dixon 2008 at 143.567 is slowest here after heavy cautions. Hunter-Reay 2014 at 186.563 won by 0.06 over Castroneves as second fastest of its time. Montoya 2015, Rossi 2016 and Sato 2017 and 2020 sit mid pack. Sato 2020 ran fanless on 23 August with reports split 157.824 against 157.724, and the row uses 157.824. Franchitti 2007 table variants split 151.774 against 151.744, and the row uses 151.774.
FAQ
Which Indy 500 from 2005 to 2024 was the fastest?
2021 Helio Castroneves at 190.69 mph for 200 laps, and 2013 Tony Kanaan at 187.433 mph remains the pre 2021 record cited in many histories.
Why was 2007 so slow?
The race was rain shortened to 166 laps, average 151.774 mph.
Who won back to back in this span?
Josef Newgarden in 2023 and 2024.
What speed stopped the range at 2024?
Newgarden 2024 at 167.763 mph. Palou 2025 is outside the requested range.
Sources
- IMS Historical Stats Race Winners table (2023 168.193; 2024 167.763); IMS 2021 and 2022 Race Results (190.69; 175.428)
- IMS Dan Wheldon driver page (2005 157.603); Honda Newsroom (2006 157.085 mph average)
- Racing Reference Indianapolis 500 page; Britannica winners list (2005 to 2020 cross check)
- BorgWarner May 28 2024 PR (Newgarden 167.763 mph); ESPN and AP recaps (2024 rain delay)
Last verified: 2026-10-04 · 20 entries
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