Ten Masters of Indy – Honoring Those Who Have Achieved the Most Success in the Indy 500

We all know their names, and they all would tell you that we do because they won this one race. Who are we to argue? Sixty-seven different drivers have won the 99 Indianapolis 500s run to date, but just 10 have won it three times or more to demonstrate their mastery of the 2.5-mile four-cornered oval on the west side of the Hoosier capital. Although a total of 758 drivers have started an Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, these 10 have won 33 of the 99 runnings, but it’s unlikely any of them would actually claim to be a Master of Indy. Because their accomplishments top the pyramid of results from those 99 Indy 500s, however, we celebrate them here in this year of the 100th running of what the late Sid Collins—widely known as The Voice of the Indy 500—always called “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977) The irrepressible Texan is, of course, the first driver to win the 500 four times, his record-setting fourth victory in 1977 coming 16 years after his first in 1961. He also tops Indy’s all-time record books in multiple categories, including 35 starts, 4,904 laps completed and 13 races led—although his 555 leading laps stand only second to Al Unser’s 644. His four pole positions rank equal 2nd with Rex Mays and Helio Castroneves on that list, and he’s the only man to win in both front- and rear-engined machinery, as well as one of only three men to win the 500 as both driver and car owner. He remains an active team owner, continuing to field a two-car team today.