Danica Patrick and the Top 10 Drivers to Never Win the Indy 500
With the Indy 500 in three days, this will be the final "Top 10 Thursday Indy 500 Edition."
I compiled a list of the top 10 drivers to have never won at the famous Speedway. These 10 drivers have had their fair share of heart break in the 500—most of them in notable fashion.
There are obviously tons and tons of drivers to have raced in the 500, but this list is the best of those that have never won it.
10. Tony Stewart
1 of 10
Many people forget “Smoke” raced in the 500. He made five starts in the race, his first coming in 1996. He started on the pole that year, only because teammate and pole-sitter Scott Brayton was fatally injured in a practice wreck in Turn 2.
Tony never really had good luck in the 500. He always ran and started up front, but never had the finishes to back it up.
His stats include two top-sixes and two front-row starts in just five total races. His best finish in the 500 is fifth. He also led 122 laps around the famous oval in the 500.
9. Robby Gordon
2 of 10
Robby made 10 starts in the famous race with a best finish of fourth in 1999. That year, Robby was in the lead with just a few laps to go, but ran out of fuel in the north end of the track. That was probably Robby’s best shot at winning the 500.
But Robby had a very solid career in Indy. Nothing too glamorous but very solid. He has four top-six finishes and two front-row starts.
Robby’s led 53 laps in his 500 career.
8. Roberto Guerrero
3 of 10
Roberto Guerrero made 15 starts at the Speedway, but his most famous screw-up came in the 1992 race. Roberto qualified on the pole and set a track record. On the pace lap, he was warming up his tires and lost control and wrecked exiting Turn 2. He finished last before he even got a chance to take the green flag.
Roberto’s best finish in the 500 was second (twice). He had five top-six finishes, and his lone front-row start was the 1992 race.
Roberto led 56 laps in his 500 career.
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7. Eddie Sachs
4 of 10
Eddie is most notably known for his fiery crash that fatally injured him in the 1964 race. The wreck killed himself and fellow driver Dave MacDonald.
A little bit of history behind the wreck in 64:
MacDonald drove for car owner and designer Mickey Thompson. The car was horribly constructed and built, and very difficult to drive.
Mickey Thompson actually had USAC officials come to his shop in California to inspect the car so if it failed inspection he wouldn’t have to put any more money in it and save a trip to Indianapolis. USAC officials actually passed the car and he came for the 64 race.
In May, the officials changed their mind and failed it at the Speedway. So the guys worked feverishly to try and rebuild the car to the USAC specs. They didn’t have the resources, time nor space, so the car was actually built worse.
Graham Hill tested the car at the Speedway, and refused to drive it. Masten Gregory crashed it in early May due to aerodynamic lift. Gregory told anyone who had an interest of driving the car to stay away from it. MacDonald didn’t listen and qualified the car for the race. Jim Clark even told MacDonald on Carb Day to get out of the car and walk away.
On the second lap of race day, MacDonald lost control exiting the fourth turn. He hit the inside wall right before where Gate 7 is today and the fuel tank exploded. Sachs, having no where to go, slammed into his burning car and caused a second explosion.
Eddie or “Clown Price of Auto Racing” made eight starts in the 500. He qualified on the pole twice and made four front-row starts.
Eddie’s best finish at the Speedway was a second-place finish in 1961. He has two top-three finishes to his credit, and two top-six finishes. He led only 66 laps in his 500 career.
6. Danica Patrick
5 of 10
Danica comes in on my list at No. 6. This one will be very controversial because people that love to bash her think she shouldn’t belong on the track. I look at talent and stats.
Danica has six starts going into Sunday and has finished five of them. The lone DNF was at the fault of Ryan Briscoe.
Danica has three top-six finishes with a career-best third two years ago. She has five top-10 finishes and is the first female to ever lead a lap at Indy. She led 19 laps, all in her rookie year at the Speedway.
5. Tony Kanaan
6 of 10
Tony should have won this race at least twice by now. He’s been very dominant, but the curse of the green car and the Andretti Curse has bit him.
Tony has nine starts at Indy and has a best finish of second. He has two top-three finishes, three top-six finishes and has led 214 laps.
Tony also is the 2005 pole winner and has three front-row starts to his credit.
4. Scott Goodyear
7 of 10
No one knows heartbreak in Indy like Scott Goodyear does. In his 11 starts, he’s had two really good chances to win at Indy.
In 1992, he drove that No. 15 McKenzie Lola on a great run all day. In the blustery conditions and crash-fest, he found himself second in the closing laps and closing on Al Unser Jr. By the last lap, he was tailing him and made his move on the front stretch. He ended up second in the closest finish in 500 history. That still stands today.
In 1995, Scott was leading the 500 late in the race, still trying to become the first Canadian driver to ever win the 500. He made a costly mistake on a late restart by passing the pace car in Turn 4 coming to the green flag.
I can picture the image now of that red-and-yellow Tasmain car blowing by the pace car and taking the green flag. Scott was penalized, but failed to heed the black flag and ended up getting his last few laps disqualified while fellow Canadian Jacques Villeneuve came from two laps down to become the first Canadian to ever win the 500.
Scott’s stats are two top-three finishes, two top-six finishes and one front-row start that came in 1995. His best finish is second in 1992, and he has led 49 laps at Indy.
3. Dan Gurney
8 of 10
Dan made nine starts at Indy with a best finish of second twice. His last three 500 finishes were second, second and third.
He raced in just about anything he could. He was very successful in Formula One, and also raced in NASCAR.
Dan’s 500 stats are three top-threes, three top-sixes and two front-row starts. He only led two total laps around the Speedway, which is very shocking because of how good of a racer he truly was.
2. Lloyd Ruby
9 of 10
Lloyd made 18 starts at the Speedway. He in considered by many as one of the best to have never won. He never made a front-row start and his best start was fifth, but he knew how to race at Indy.
1969 was his best shot at winning. Mario Andretti was leading, but was suffering from overheating problems all race. On a pit stop, a crew member motioned him to pull out of the pits too early and the refueling nozzle was still connected to the car. Lloyd dropped the clutch and the sudden jerk of trying to leave put a hole in the gas tank.
Lloyd only has one top-three finish, but has three top-six finishes. He led the 500 a total of 126 laps.
Many believe Lloyd should have at least a couple of 500 victories.
1. Michael Andretti
10 of 10
It’s no surprise who No. 1 is. Michael was so dominant at Indy and has zero victories to show for it. He caught his father's misfortunes and bad-luck gene at the Speedway.
Michael has 16 starts in the famed 500 with a best finish of second. He has only one front-row start, but was a solid contributor on race day every year. The 1984 co-rookie of the year is truly a Speedway great even though he never won.
Michael has three top-three finishes and seven top-six finishes.
He holds the record for most laps led without winning with 431 laps.
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