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.043 -- Closest finish, in seconds, in Indy history. In 1992, Al Unser Jr. nipped Scott Goodyear by less than a car length.
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Eddie Cheever is one of only
three drivers in this year's race
to drink Indy's victory milk.
Vincent Laforet/Allsport
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1 -- Lead changes in the 1930 Indy 500, the fewest in the race's history. Billy Arnold led 198 laps en route to the win.
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2 -- Laps Joe Dawson led in his 1912 500 win, also the fewest in history. |
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3 -- Former winners in this year's Indy field -- Arie Luyendyk, Eddie Cheever and Buddy Lazier. |
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4 -- Drivers that have won the 500 in consecutive years -- Wilbur Shaw (1939-40), Mauri Rose (1947-48), Bill Vukovich (1953-54) and Al Unser (1970-71). |
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5 -- Times the race has been shortened because of rain, including three times in a four-year span in the '70s. In 1976, only 102 laps (255 miles) were completed before Johnny Rutherford was declared the winner of the shortest race in Indy history. |
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6 -- Consecutive years a rookie has finished either second or third. There are four rookies in this year's field. A rookie has won the race six times, the last in 1966. |
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9 -- Number of victories by the No. 3 car, highest of any car number. Raul Boesel will drive the No. 3 car this year and will start from the 33rd position.
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11 -- Front-row starts by Rick Mears, the most in Indy history. Not coincidentally, Mears also holds the record for most pole positions (six) and shares the mark for wins (four). |
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14 -- Indy 500 starts by pole-sitter Luyendyk. Luyendyk, who won the 1990 and 1997 500s, has more Indy experience than any other driver in the field. |
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15 -- Drivers that have been fatally injured during the Indy 500, the last in 1973 when Swede Savage was killed. Twenty-five others have been killed during practice. |
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17 -- Starting position of last year's winner Cheever. Cheever, whose best previous Indy finish was fourth in 1992, led 76 of the 200 laps. |
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22 -- Years since the first 200-mph lap was turned at Indy. Tom Sneva was the first to accomplish the feat. |
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29 -- Lead changes in the 1960 race, the most in history. Only five drivers led, however. Jim Rathmann went on to win.
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35 -- Starts A.J. Foyt made in his career at the Brickyard, an Indy record. Foyt is one of only three drivers to win the race four times. |
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42 -- Most starters in an Indy race, set in 1933. |
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58 -- Different drivers that have won the Indy 500. Fifteen have won the race multiple times.
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74.602 -- Average mph of the first Indy winner, Ray Harroun, in 1912. The record speed is 185.981 mph, set by Luyendyk in 1990. |
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644 -- Laps Al Unser led at Indy in his career, the most of any driver. |
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12,272.5 -- Miles Foyt logged in his Indy career (4,904 laps). Foyt led the Indy 500 at 39 different times over the span of 13 races. |
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3,200,000 -- Approximate number of bricks laid during the Speedway's renovation in 1909. It took workers 63 days to lay the bricks. The track was first resurfaced to asphalt in 1937.
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5,207,421 -- Luyendyk's record for career earnings at Indy. He earned a record $1,568,150 alone for his 1997 victory.
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