The 102nd Indianapolis 500 is 40 days away! This is the 63rd day of the 102 Stats in 102 Days Until the 102nd Indy 500 blog.
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.
Here is a look at the birth countries of the polesitters for the Indianapolis 500. Ten countries are represented by 68 drivers, with the United States leading the way: 51 drivers have combined to start from the pole in 86 races.
- United States: 75 (51 drivers)*
- Brazil: 7 (4 drivers)
- Italy: 6 (3 drivers)
- Australia: 4 (2 drivers)
- Netherlands: 3 (1 driver)
- France: 2 (2 drivers)
- Canada: 2 (2 drivers)
- Norway: 1 (1 driver)
- United Kingdom: 1 (1 driver)
- Colombia: 1 (1 driver)
Notes of Interest
- The polesitter of the Indianapolis 500 has actually been represented by the United States on 75 occasions. Scott Brayton won the pole for the 1996 Indianapolis 500, but was killed during practice the following week. Tony Stewart started on the pole. Brayton had started on the pole for the 1995 race, thus only Stewart added to the total, becoming the 46th different driver from the United States to start from the pole.
- Ralph DePalma and Mario Andretti combined for five of Italy’s six pole positions. Though both drivers were born in Italy, they eventually became U.S. citizens, thus the U.S. has claims to 54 drivers and 80 poles.
- Helio Castroneves has accounted for four of Brazil’s seven pole positions. Castroneves has the most poles of a driver born outside the United States.
- Mario Andretti was the first driver born outside the United States with three pole positions. He was joined by Arie Luyendyk (Netherlands), Helio Castroneves (Brazil) and Scott Dixon (Australia).
- Scott Dixon was born in Australia, but has raced as a New Zealand citizen. He owns three of four poles won by Australia-born driver; Ryan Briscoe owns the other.
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