The Complete History of Indianapolis 500 Winners

Every one from all 95 races.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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In normal context, Indianapolis is a smaller American city, surrounded by seemingly endless rows of yellow Indiana corn, a state capital that serves as a pit stop between Purdue University and Indiana University. In the athletic world, however, it is a historic racing mecca that hosts one of the most significant sporting events in the world. The 500-mile Indianapolis 500 is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where open-wheel enthusiasts recently celebrated 100 years of Indycar heritage and tradition. 

Hundreds of racers have driven the 2.5-mile track, and while some like A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears have won the Borg-Warner Trophy as many as four times, others have barely survived the treacherous race, circling at average speeds of up to 170 mph. We took a trip down memory lane (and the fast lane) through every single race and compiled the stories of each historic winner, some winning by large margins, others barelyl squeaking by. Click through to see all the milk-drinking glory in The Complete History of Indianapolis 500 Winners

1911: Ray Harroun

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1912: Joe Dawson

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1913: Jules Goux

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1914: René Thomas

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1915: Ralph DePalma

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1916: Dario Resta

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1919: Howdy Wilcox

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1920: Gaston Chevrolet

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1921: Tommy Milton

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1922: Jimmy Murphy

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1923: Tommy Milton

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1924: L.L. Corum

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1925: Peter DePaolo

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1926: Frank Lockhart

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1927: George Souders

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1928: Louis Meyer

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1929: Ray Keech

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1930: Billy Arnold

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1931: Louis Schneider

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1932: Fred Frame

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1933: Louis Meyer

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1934: Bill Cummings

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1935: Kelly Petillo

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1936: Louis Meyer

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1937: Wilbur Shaw

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1938 :Floyd Roberts

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1939: Wilbur Shaw

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1940: Wilbur Shaw

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1941: Floyd Davis

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1946: George Robson

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1947: Mauri Rose

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1948: Mauri Rose

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1949: Bill Holland

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1950: Johnnie Parsons

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1951: Lee Wallard

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1952: Troy Ruttman

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1953: Bill Vukovich

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1954: Bill Vukovich

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1955: Bob Sweikert

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1956: Pat Flaherty

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1957: Sam Hanks

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1958: Jimmy Bryan

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1959: Rodger Ward

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1960: Jim Rathmann

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1961: A.J. Foyt

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1962: Rodger Ward

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1963: Parnelli Jones

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1964: A.J. Foyt

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1965: Jimmy Clark

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1966: Graham Hill

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1967: A.J. Foyt

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1968: Bobby Unser

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1969: Mario Andretti

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1970: Al Unser

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1971: Al Unser

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1972: Mark Donohue

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1973: Gordon Johncock

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1974: Johnny Rutherford

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1975: Bobby Unser

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1976: Johnny Rutherford

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1977: A.J. Foyt

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1978: Al Unser

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1979: Rick Mears

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1980: Johnny Rutherford

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1981: Bobby Unser

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1982: Gordon Johncock

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1983: Tom Sneva

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1984: Rick Mears

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1985: Danny Sullivan

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1986: Bobby Rahal

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1987: Al Unser

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1988: Rick Mears

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1989: Emerson Fittipaldi

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1990: Arie Luyendyk

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1991: Rick Mears

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1992: Al Unser Jr.

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1993: Emerson Fittipaldi

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1994: Al Unser Jr.

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1995: Jacques Villeneuve

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1996: Buddy Lazier

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1997: Arie Luyendyk

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1998: Eddie Cheever Jr.

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1999: Kenny Bräck

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2000: Juan Pablo Montoya

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2001: Helio Castroneves

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2002: Helio Castroneves

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2003: Gil de Ferran

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2004: Buddy Rice

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2005: Dan Wheldon

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2006: Sam Hornish Jr.

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2007: Dario Franchitti

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2008: Scott Dixon

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2009: Helio Castroneves

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2010: Dario Franchitti

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2011: Dan Wheldon

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2012: Dario Franchitti

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