Who is the unluckiest driver in Indianapolis 500 history?

Leading laps at Indianapolis is not the same as winning it, and this list is made entirely of the difference.

1

Michael Andretti

Led more laps at Indianapolis than any driver who never won it, across 16 starts.

1000pts

2

Lloyd Ruby

Eighteen starts, five races led, and a torn fuel tank in 1969 while running down the leader.

809pts

3

Ted Horn

Finished fourth or better nine straight times at Indianapolis and never won.

607pts

4

Robby Gordon

Ran out of fuel while leading with nine laps left in 1999.

607pts

5

Mario Andretti

Won in 1969 on his fifth attempt, then went 0-for-24, including a 1981 victory handed back four months later.

550pts

6

Roberto Guerrero

Rookie runner-up in 1984, then spun on the warm-up lap from pole in 1992.

550pts

7

Ed Carpenter

Three Indianapolis poles as an owner-driver and never better than second.

485pts

8

Paul Tracy

Believed he had won the 2002 race, and lost it to a caution-flag ruling.

411pts

9

J.R. Hildebrand

Crashed in the final corner of the final lap in 2011 while leading.

324pts

10

Scott Goodyear

Beaten by 0.043 seconds in 1992 and penalised out of the lead in 1995.

221pts

11

Rex Mays

Four poles and two runner-up finishes in fifteen starts without a victory.

221pts

12

Marco Andretti

Lost the 2006 race to Sam Hornish Jr. by 0.0635 seconds as a rookie teenager.

221pts

13

Tony Bettenhausen

Fourteen starts, no win, and died testing a friend's car at the Speedway in 1961.

221pts

14

Danny Ongais

Led comfortably in 1981 before a crash that nearly cost him his life.

221pts

15

Duke Nalon

Started from pole twice and survived a fiery crash in the 1949 race.

221pts