The 18 Greatest IndyCar Rookie of the Year Winners

First-year sensations who went on to titles, Indy 500 glory and even Formula 1 crowns sit beside cult heroes from the sport's wildest eras. Decades of debut brilliance, one question. Where do you stand?

1

Mario Andretti

1964 Rookie of the Year who became a four-time IndyCar champion, Indy 500 winner, and F1 world champion.

1000pts

2

Graham Rahal

2008 Rookie of the Year who became the youngest IndyCar race winner at the time in his debut season.

625pts

3

Teo Fabi

1983 Rookie of the Year who won the Indy 500 pole and four races in a sensational debut season.

535pts

4

Jacques Villeneuve

1994 Rookie of the Year who won the 1995 Indy 500 and CART title, then the 1997 F1 championship.

416pts

5

A.J. Foyt

1957 Rookie of the Year and the first four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, an American racing icon.

416pts

6

Scott Dixon

2001 CART Rookie of the Year who became a six-time IndyCar champion and an all-time wins leader.

416pts

7

Johnny Rutherford

1962 Rookie of the Year who went on to win the Indianapolis 500 three times.

416pts

8

Felix Rosenqvist

2019 Rookie of the Year whose strong debut earned him a seat with championship-winning teams.

341pts

9

Bobby Rahal

1982 Rookie of the Year who won two races as a rookie and later the 1986 Indianapolis 500.

341pts

10

Marco Andretti

2006 Rookie of the Year who nearly won the Indy 500 in his debut, extending the Andretti legacy.

341pts

11

Juan Pablo Montoya

1999 CART Rookie of the Year who won the title as a rookie, then the Indy 500 and Monaco Grand Prix.

341pts

12

Simon Pagenaud

2012 Rookie of the Year who became the 2016 IndyCar champion and 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner.

341pts

13

James Hinchcliffe

2011 Rookie of the Year, a multiple race winner and one of the sport's most popular personalities.

250pts

14

Alexander Rossi

2016 Rookie of the Year who stunned the field by winning the 100th Indianapolis 500 as a rookie.

250pts

15

Dan Wheldon

2003 Rookie of the Year who won two Indianapolis 500s before his untimely death in 2011.

250pts

16

Sebastien Bourdais

2003 CART Rookie of the Year who promptly won four straight Champ Car championships.

139pts

17

Rick Mears

1976 Rookie of the Year who went on to win the Indianapolis 500 a record-tying four times.

139pts

18

Danica Patrick

2005 Rookie of the Year whose breakthrough rookie season redefined visibility for women in motorsport.

139pts