Indy 500 Trends & Stats
With the 2010
The Indy 500 doesn’t have a lot of trends to rely on when placing your bets, but knowing the key starting spots can be vital to having a successful Sunday.
In the history of the Indy 500, no position has won more times than the pole position. 20 victories went to the pole sitter while 11 wins went to the No. 2 spot and 10 to the No. 3 spot. In fact, the pole-sitter has won three of the last four Indy 500s.
Those stats favor this year’s pole-sitter and former three-time champion, Helio Castroneves, who starts up front on Sunday.
Starting spots that have never won the Indy 500 include the 18th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, and 33rd positions. That number casts a cloud of doubt over former winner Dan Wheldon, who is starting 18th on Sunday.
In IRL races, all events start three cars wide and for the Indy 500, a car starting in the first grid has claimed 41 victories while 17 winners came from the second row. The only row to never produce a winner is the 11th row, which features the final three drivers. Among drivers in the final row this year is Tony Kanaan.
If you are really seeking some superstitious luck, the No. 3 car has produced more Indy 500 wins than any other car number. No. 3 has had 11 victories in the race history. Again, that favors Castroneves, who drives the No. 3 car.
No. 1 and No. 2 have combined to produce 15 wins, but this year, only the No. 2 is running, as it is driven by Raphael Matos, who will start 12th on Sunday.
Starting Position – Number of Wins
1 – 20
2 – 11
3 – 10
5 – 7
4 – 6
7 – 5
6 & 13 – 4
15 & 20 – 3
8 & 10 & 11 & 17 & 28 – 2
9 & 12 & 14 & 16 & 19 & 21 & 25 & 27- 1
18 & 23 & 24 & 26 & 29 & 30 & 31 & 32 & 33 – winless
Staring Grid Position – Number of Wins
Row 1 – 41
Row 2 – 17
Row 3 – 8
Row 4 – 5
Row 5 – 8
Row 6 – 3
Row 7 – 5
Row 8 – 2
Row 9 – 2
Row 10 – 2
Row 11 – winless
Car Number – Number of Wins
No. 1 – 7
No. 2 – 8
No. 3 – 11
No. 4 – 5
No. 5 – 6
No. 6 – 5
No. 7 – 2
No. 8 – 3
No. 9 – 4
No. 12 – 1
No. 14 – 6
No. 15 – 3
No. 16 – 4
No. 17 – 1
No. 20 – 3
No. 23 – 2
No. 24 – 1
No. 25 – 1
No. 26 – 1
No. 27 – 3
No. 30 – 1
No. 31 – 1
No. 32 – 2
No. 34 – 1
No. 35 – 1
No. 36 – 1
No. 48 – 1
No. 51 – 1
No. 66 – 1
No. 68 – 1
No. 82 – 1
No. 91 – 1
No. 98 – 2
No. 99 – 1
*All numbers not listed have never won
2010
Race Date: Sunday, May 30
Location:
Pre-Race: 12:00PM ET
Green Flag: 1:11PM ET
TV Coverage: ABC
Radio Coverage: IMS
Track Type: Oval (200 laps)
Posted: 5/25/10 4:20PM ET