102 Stats in 102 Days Until 102nd Indy 500 – Day 30, Most Cars Running at the Finish (March 15, 2018)

The 102nd Indianapolis 500 is 73 days away! This is the 30th day of the 102 Stats in 102 Days Until the 102nd Indy 500.

Each day from now until the Saturday before the Indianapolis 500, we’ll post a list of stats related to the race. Some are well-known statistics, while others are a little more in-depth.

Today’s list looks at the races which had the most number of cars running at the finish. At least 20 cars have finished a race 19 times, including 14 times since 2000, so all of those are listed.

Most Cars Running at the Finish of the Indianapolis 500

- 1976: 27 cars (102 laps)

- 1911: 26 cars (42 cars)

- 2013: 26 cars

- 2011: 25 cars

- 2014: 25 cars

- 2016: 25 cars

- 1993: 24 cars

- 2001: 24 cars

- 2002: 23 cars

- 1950: 22 cars (138 laps)

- 2000: 22 cars

- 2004: 22 cars (180 laps)

- 2007: 22 cars (166 laps)

- 2012: 22 cars

- 2015: 22 cars

- 1952: 21 cars

- 2008: 21 cars

- 2006: 20 cars

- 2009: 20 cars

Notes of Interest

- The record for most cars to finish a race that went 500 miles and consisted of the current lineup of 33 cars is 2013, when 26 cars finished the race. That race, won by Tony Kanaan, also marked the fastest race in history, at 187.433 mph (301.644 kph).

- Twenty cars or more finished the Indianapolis 500 in six consecutive races, between 2011 and 2016 (only 19 finished the 2017 race). Since 2006, 10 races have seen at least 20 cars finish.

- The 1976 race, which featured the record for most cars to finish the completed distance, ran only two laps past the halfway point before rain ended the race after 102 laps. Johnny Rutherford was the leader at the time and picked up his second victory.

- The 1911 race is tied for second all-time with most competitors to finish the race, but that came in a 42-car field.

- Car owner Bryan Herta has won the race twice, in 2011 with Dan Wheldon and 2016 with Alexander Rossi. Michael Andretti won the race in 2016 as co-owner, as well as the 2014 race. All of those races featured relatively low attrition rates, as 25 cars completed each of those races.

- Despite eight cautions for 56 laps under caution, as well as a red flag and an average speed of 141.574 mph, the 2001 race saw 24 cars complete the race.