SPEEDWAY, Ind. — The 2024 Indianapolis 500 was nothing short of a monumental race!
From breaking records to extending them, this year's grid of racers gave fans lots to cheer about.
Here's a list of 10 interesting facts from this year's race:
- Josef Newgarden became the sixth driver to earn back-to-back victories in the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Hélio Castroneves achieved the feat for Team Penske in 2001-02. The others: Wilbur Shaw (1939-40), Mauri Rose (1947-48), Bill Vukovich (1953-54) and Al Unser (1970-71).
- Team Penske earned its 20th Indianapolis 500 victory, extending its event record. Chip Ganassi is second with six wins, five with Chip Ganassi Racing and one as a co-owner with Pat Patrick.
- This is the 11th time car No. 2 has won the Indianapolis 500, tying that number with No. 3 for the most wins in “500” history. Newgarden also won last year in No. 2.
- This is only the fourth time the Indianapolis 500 has been decided by a last-lap pass. The other two times: 2006: Sam Hornish (Team Penske) passed Marco Andretti on the front straightaway; 2011: Dan Wheldon passed JR Hildebrand on the front straightaway; 2023: Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) passed Marcus Ericsson on the back straightaway.
- Eighteen different drivers led at least one lap Sunday, an event record. The previous record was 15 drivers in 2017 and 2018.
- There were 49 lead changes, the fourth-highest total in “500” history. The record is 68 in 2013, followed by 54 in 2016 and 52 in 2023.
- There were seven drivers who led the Indianapolis 500 for the first time: Scott McLaughlin, Sting Ray Robb, Christian Lundgaard, Kyle Kirkwood, and rookie drivers Kyffin Simpson, Kyle Larson and Christian Rasmussen.
- All 18 lap leaders finished on the lead lap, beating the event record of 11, set in 2023.
- Conor Daly advanced more positions than any other driver, finishing 10th after starting 29th.
- NTT P1 Award winner Scott McLaughlin led a race-high 64 laps, the first “500” laps he has led in his career.
