List of Indianapolis 500 pole-sitters

The Indianapolis 500 (also called the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race) is an annual American open-wheel car race held on American Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), in Speedway, Indiana. It was first held in 1911 after the track's owners had experimented with several other long-distances auto races over the previous two years. The race was not held in 1917 or 1918 and again from 1942 to 1945 because of war. It was administered by the American Automobile Association between 1911 and 1955, then by the United States Auto Club from 1956 to 1997, and finally by the Indy Racing League/IndyCar beginning in 1998. The polesitter is the driver that has qualified for the event in pole position, at the inside of the front of the starting grid. Since 1989, the polesitter has received a $100,000 cash prize, and they and their car owner receive a small trophy at a ceremony that takes place after qualifying. The award is currently sponsored by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone; past sponsors include Anheuser-Busch through its Budweiser brand, PPG Industries, MBNA America Bank, WorldPoints Visa Card, AAMCO Transmissions, Peak Performance Motor Oil, and Verizon. Out of the 107 completed Indianapolis 500s (as of the 2023 race), the driver that has started in first place has gone on to win the race 21 times.

The qualifying speed format has been changed four times since the first race in 1911. The starting grid for the first race was determined by the date the IMS received entries, and all cars had to reach 75 mph on a quarter-mile part of the main straight. This was adjusted to drivers averaging 75 mph on the whole track in 1912, while the starting grid was still set by the order IMS received postal entries. A blind draw was conducted in both 1913 and 1914 once drivers reached the 75 mph minimum speed. The qualifying format was revised in 1915 so that the grid was determined by drivers' speeds over a single lap, with a minimum speed of 80 mph. From 1920 to 1932, drivers set the starting order by completing four-lap (10 mi) qualifying runs at a set minimum speed between 80 and 95 mph. From 1933 to 1938, it was a ten-lap (25 mi) qualifying speed format with cars carrying 3 USgal of fuel. The four-lap speed format was reinstated in 1939, and the minimum speed requirement was dropped after 1963.

Qualifying is held on the Saturday (Bump Day) and Sunday (Pole Day) of the weekend preceding the event, whereas qualifying was formerly held over two weekends. There have been a number of different qualifying systems in the past; earlier, from 2005 to 2009, pole position through eleventh was determined on the first day of qualifying, with the rest of the grid order set over the next three days. Since 2010, drivers have competed in a knockout-style qualifying system and select qualifiers are awarded season points towards the IndyCar Series championship. The top twelve cars from the first day proceed to the second round the following day, and the top six drivers from that round advance to the third and final round, which determines the top six starting places, including pole position. Since 1965, a blind draw is held the night before to determine the qualifying order, and every car has been guaranteed at least one attempt to qualify in the pole position round, regardless if weather or other circumstances interfered since 1971. Previously, the qualifying order was set by teams presenting their cars in a queue beginning at the garage area. Warm-up laps were limited to three after World War II before dropping to two in 1982. Unlike other IndyCar events, each driver completes a four-lap qualifying run with no other cars on track across two days, and their average speed over each lap is used to determine their final starting position.

A total of 66 drivers have won the pole position. Rick Mears holds the record for the most Indianapolis 500 pole positions, having qualified first on six occasions. Scott Dixon is second with five pole positions and Hélio Castroneves, A. J. Foyt, and Rex Mays are third with four poles. Eleven drivers have qualified in the pole position for two consecutive years, but no one has won in three years in a row. Mays and Cliff Bergere are the youngest and oldest Indianapolis 500 pole winners, qualifying on pole at the ages of 22 years, 81 days in 1935 and 49 years, and 175 days in 1946, respectively. Scott McLaughlin and Gil Andersen set the fastest and slowest four-lap average pole speeds of 234.220 mph in 2024 and 80.93 mph in 1912, respectively.

Procedure
Speeds were recorded by the front wheels of cars travelling over a wire stretched across the circuit at the start/finish line an inch from the ground to activate the mechanism to record a lap time on a paper card before switching to using an electric eye in 1946. Since 1990, lap times and speeds have been recorded by electronic scoring devices or timing beacon wires embedded in certain places of the track (such as the start/finish line) and are activated by wireless transponders with a unique digital identification carried inside each car. They send digital timing information to a computer system via radio, which includes speed and lap time estimated to the thousandth of a second.

All drivers have been permitted two warm-up laps since 1982, down from three between 1946 and 1981. The decision to continue or abandon the effort had to be made before the second warm-up lap was completed. A qualifying attempt begins when a team representative waves a green flag. If they wave the yellow flag, the attempt will not count, and the driver must return to the pit lane. If the team did not display a green flag, a vehicle may leave the pit lane as many times as it wanted. Prior to 1974, drivers raised one of their hands in the air to signal to officials that they wanted to start their qualifying run before the change was made to be in line with the procedure conducted at other race circuits. Teams are allowed to modify certain parts or electronics on their cars in their pit box following the completion of their qualifying run.

Since 1965, a blind draw conducted by a selected representative from each team (a driver, family member or team representative) has been held the night before qualifying to decide the qualifying order in order to reduce congestion or misunderstandings. All participants have been guaranteed at least one try to qualify in the pole position round, regardless of weather or other circumstances since 1971. Every driver does their qualifying run with no other car on the circuit and their average speed over all of their laps is used to determine their final starting place. The grid is arranged by 11 rows of three participants each for a total of 33 starting drivers.

1911–2004
In 1911, the starting order was determined by the date the IMS received entries, and all cars had to reach 75 mph on a quarter-mile part of the main straight. This was adjusted to drivers averaging 75 mph on the whole track in 1912, while the starting grid was still set by the order IMS received postal entries. A blind draw was conducted in both 1913 and 1914 once drivers reached the 75 mph minimum speed. The qualifying format was revised in 1915 so that the grid was determined by drivers' one-lap speeds, with a minimum speed of 80 mph. From 1920 to 1932, participants set the starting order by completing four-lap (10 mi) qualifying runs at a set minimum speed between 80 and 95 mph. From 1933 to 1938, it was a ten-lap (25 mi) qualifying speed format with cars carrying 3 USgal of fuel. The four-lap speed format was reinstated in 1939, and the minimum speed requirement was dropped after 1963.

The draw is conducted on a "first-come, first-served" basis, with the fastest 33 drivers starting the race regardless of when they qualified. Previously, the qualifying order was set by teams presenting their cars in a queue that began in the garage area. The quickest qualifier on the first day or the top qualifier following a single trip through the original timing line took pole position, whichever came last. All cars were given three attempts to qualify and its speed was made official after completing four-laps (10 mi) and cannot re-qualify. The driver could requalify in another vehicle if it did not qualify or withdrew. After 33 cars qualified, the slowest qualifier, regardless of position in the provisional starting order, could be demoted by a faster car. All successful qualifiers were assured participation in the race based on their qualifying time and speed. The first day's quickest qualifier took the pole position, while the first day qualifiers were followed by those from the previous two or three days through their set qualifying speed, respectively.

In 1996 and 1997, the top 25 cars in the Indy Racing League (IRL) points standings were guaranteed a starting position in the race with the final eight spots open for all other entries.

2005–2009
In order to boost interest, increase action, and attract more spectators, IMS officials changed the qualifying format to a four-session format known as "11-11-11" in 2005. On the first three days, 11 cars qualified, and bumping occurred on each day once position 11 was taken and within the allocated positions. Positions 11 to pole position were taken on the first day, positions 12 to 22 on the second, and positions 23 to 33 on the third. If the third day completed the starting order, the fourth and final day (Bump Day) permitted a participant that lapped faster than one that qualified in the previous three days to demote the slowest entrant from the starting order. It would take 33rd place or better if the driver went faster than any other Bump Day qualifier. Bumping would be widespread throughout the starting order under this format, rather than being restricted to the slowest vehicles. If the 11 starting slots on one day were not filled, they would be considered for the next day. Rain could not end a session early if all 33 spots were filled. If the field was not complete, the IRL and IMS decided the time teams would have for the next available day.

All cars, backup or primary, were given three attempts each day or twelve over all four days to qualify for the race. Any driver who set the same qualifying time and speed as a participant on the first day would be placed based on where they qualified on that day. If the time and speed are the slowest overall, the participant who set the time and speed on the second day will be the first to fail to qualify. If a vehicle failed to qualify on any qualifying day, it was allowed to return to the qualifying line and attempt to re-qualify based on how many attempts it had left. Entrants could still withdraw a qualified car if necessary, although it could still attempt to qualify based on the number of tries it had left for that day. Unlike previous formats, no car had to be withdrawn from the race. If a car was withdrawn from the event, the rest of the field would gain one position. This system, according to IMS historian Donald Davidson and author Rick Shaffer, offered the best drivers more chances to claim the pole position.

2010–2013
In 2010, a new "made-for-TV" two-day shootout format based loosely on the IndyCar Series' road and street course qualifying procedure was implemented. The format gradually decreased the field to determine the pole position starter. The first six-hour qualifying day filled the top 24 spots. All cars had three tries to set a qualifying speed, and positions 10 through 24 were set after the session. The quickest nine entrants' lap times and speeds were erased, and they all advanced to the 90-minute Fast Nine Shootout session, which determined pole position through ninth. They started from the fastest to the slowest, and each driver had to finish at least one more run with the option of another if time allowed.

If the Fast Nine Shootout was cancelled due to inclement weather, the starting order would be set by each driver's lap times from the previous session. The following day's session determined places 24 to 33, and bumping commenced when 33 cars qualified. Any qualifying speed quicker than a previously qualified car would mean that car was demoted from the starting grid, regardless of the day it qualified, and any car other than those that qualified for the Fast Nine Shootout risked not qualifying. The demoted entrant was withdrawn from the field but granted three attempts to return to the grid, time permitting, and the car that demoted it was put at the back of the starting grid. There would only be one day of qualifying if rain disrupted the first day. All 33 starting positions would be set and the Fast Nine Shootout would not happen.

In contrast to previous IndyCar Series races, where only the polesitter received one point, all 33 qualifying drivers earned championship points. The pole winner earned 15 points, with second and third receiving 13 and 12, respectively. Those who qualified on the second and third rows scored between 11 and 6 points in descending order. Each driver in positions 10 to 24 gained four points, while drivers in positions 25 to 33 got three points. Following the first and fastest four-lap average speed recorded during the Fast Nine Shootout by driver Hélio Castroneves, which was therefore unbeatable, the rules were changed such that all nine entrants of the session would run in reverse order from slowest to quickest.

2014–2018
In 2014, a two-day format was established. IndyCar officials planned three sessions over two days to increase broadcast viewership, track attendance, and entertainment. On the first day, the top 33 entries completed the provisional starting grid, and each car had at least one qualifying attempt. The fastest nine entrants qualified for the following day's Fast Nine Shootout. If more than 33 vehicles were entered, a driver who was not among the top 33 qualifiers did not advance to the second day's session.

The pit lane was divided into two distinct lanes. The first was called the "Priority Lane" for non-qualified vehicles or ones that had their previous qualifying lap times withdrawn, while the second was for already qualified drivers who desired another attempt. The withdrawal of the time was unnecessary. All of the previous day's laps were erased the next day, and those in positions 10 to 33 had to make another attempt to set the starting order. To set the top nine positions, the Fast Nine Shootout's nine qualifiers went out in reverse order from the previous day's slowest to fastest speeds.

Every qualifier on the first day received points, with the fastest driver getting 33 points and the slowest contender receiving one point. The pole sitting earned nine points, while the driver in ninth received one point. In 2016, this was changed to qualifying's second day, with the pole sitter collecting 42 points down to the 33rd-placed qualifier earning one point. The qualifying points format was significantly revised in 2018, with the pole sitter receiving nine points, down to one point for the ninth-placed qualifier.

2019–present
Following debate when driver James Hinchcliffe failed to qualify in 2018, a modified version of the two-day format intended to be more exciting was used from 2019. Every driver had one qualifying run to claim a top 30 starting position on the first day, but more attempts could be made time and weather permitting until the track was closed. Positions 10 to 30 were claimed and did not re-qualify the following day. The second day included a one-hour Last Row Shootout for the slowest three qualifiers, as well as the Fast Nine Shootout. Each car in both sessions received one try, and their prior day's times were erased. The Last Row Shootout's order to set places 31 to 33 and demote any one from the starting order was based on the previous day's results, and the Fast Nine Shootout to set pole position through ninth ran in reverse order from the slowest to the quickest car from the previous day. The Last Row Shootout was extended to 75 minutes in 2020 to give each competitor three qualifying chances.

IndyCar modified the format again in 2022 to more closely resemble its qualifying procedure on road and street circuits. Following the first day of qualifying to determine positions 13 to 30 through drivers' speeds, there would be two sessions to set the first four rows, including the pole position. The 60-minute Last Chance Qualifying session would occur if there were more than 33 entries and all were guaranteed of one or multiple tries until the session ended to decide positions 31 to 33 and the car that does not qualify for the race. Those in 13th to 33rd had their starting positions guaranteed if just 33 cars were entered. If a driver makes multiple tries, all of their other times are deleted, and the top non-qualified entry takes 33rd place. Participants got an extra cool-down lap after each attempt to reduce the effect of heat soak and to make further tries until there were 10 minutes left. The top 12 qualifiers compete in the second round of qualifying, with the fastest six advancing to the ensuing Fast Six Shootout to determine pole position to sixth place based on their final performance. The top six slowest qualifiers start from places seven through twelve according to their set time. Each driver receives one attempt in each session, which are run in reverse order from slowest to fastest.

Beginning in 2023, the format's schedule was adjusted. The Top 12 Qualifying session now occurs before the Last Chance Qualifying session. Points are currently granted to the first 12 qualifiers, with the pole position starter earning 12 points and the driver starting in 12th place earning one.