IndyCar Rookie of the Year

The IndyCar Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a IndyCar Series season.

The following lists compiling all the winners of the Rookie of the Year Award in open wheel American Championship Car Racing from 1946 season to the present day. Before the creation of Championship Auto Racing Teams the prize is not officially awarded. So all of the AAA and USAC winners of the Rookie of the Year award is not officially recognized.

As of 2022 IndyCar Season a driver is a Rookie Driver in the IndyCar Series if the driver has:

A) not participated in more than four (4) IndyCar Series races in a Racing Season or

B) participated in less than eight (8) IndyCar Series races in his/her career.

The list of "Indy car", "Champ car" or "IndyCar" rookies under the following auspices:


 * American Automobile Association Contest Board (1946–1955)
 * United States Automobile Club (1956–1980)
 * Championship Auto Racing Teams (1979–2007)
 * Indy Racing League/IndyCar Series (1997–present)

Sanctioning bodies
The AAA Contest Board began sanctioning races as early as 1904. In the early years of the sport, only two seasons (1905 and 1916) an official national championship was recognized and awarded. The 1946 season is a source of a statistical anomaly. The AAA Contest Board included a substantial number of "Big Car" races in the national championship for 1946, swelling the season to 77 events (6 Champ Car races and 71 Big Car races). Some later texts chose to dismiss the 71 Big Car races from record, but reliable records and historians contend that the season should be regarded as the full 77-race schedule.

Officially, Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year Award named after the late founder of the two-time champion TrueSports Racing Team, it was presented from 1979 Season to 2007 Season to the rookie who accumulates the most Champ Car Championship Series points among first year drivers.

CART Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year winners
The Rookie of the Year award in CART was named in the honor of Jim Trueman.

IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year winners
As of 2018 IndyCar Series season The Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the top-finishing rookie in the IndyCar Series Drivers point standings. Winner also receives a $50,000 bonus. The Rookie of the Year Award is based on points for the IndyCar Series Drivers' Championship earned at each event.