List of Indianapolis 500 pole-sitters

The Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter is the driver who places first in qualifying for the annual Indianapolis 500 (also called the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race), an American open-wheel car race held on American Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), in Speedway, Indiana. The pole-sitter begins the race in pole position, at the inside of the front of the starting grid.

Since 1989, the pole-sitter has received a cash prize, currently $100,000, and they and their car owner receive a small trophy at a ceremony that takes place after qualifying. The award is currently sponsored by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone; past sponsors include Anheuser-Busch through its Budweiser brand, PPG Industries, MBNA America Bank, WorldPoints Visa Card, AAMCO Transmissions, Peak Performance Motor Oil, and Verizon.

The race has been held annually since 1911 except in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I and from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II. Out of the 108 completed Indianapolis 500s (as of the 2023 race), the driver that has started in first place has gone on to win the race 21 times.

The qualifying speed format has been changed four times since the first race in 1911. The starting grid for the first race was determined by the date the IMS received entries, and all cars had to reach 75 mph (121 km/h) on a quarter-mile part of the main straight. This was adjusted to drivers averaging 75 mph (121 km/h) on the whole track in 1912, while the starting grid was still set by the order IMS received postal entries. A blind draw was conducted in both 1913 and 1914 once drivers reached the 75 mph (121 km/h) minimum speed. The qualifying format was revised in 1915 so that the grid was determined by drivers' speeds over a single lap, with a minimum speed of 80 mph (130 km/h). From 1920 to 1932, drivers set the starting order by completing four-lap (10 mi (16 km)) qualifying runs at a set minimum speed between 80 and 95 mph (129 and 153 km/h). From 1933 to 1938, it was a ten-lap (25 mi (40 km)) qualifying speed format with cars carrying 3 US gal (11 L; 2.5 imp gal) of fuel. The four-lap speed format was reinstated in 1939, and the minimum speed requirement was dropped after 1963.

Qualifying is held on the Saturday (Bump Day) and Sunday (Pole Day) of the weekend preceding the event, whereas qualifying was formerly held over two weekends. Several qualifying systems have been used. From 2005 to 2009, pole position through eleventh was determined on the first day of qualifying, with the rest of the grid order set over the next three days. Since 2010, drivers have competed in a knockout-style qualifying system and some qualifiers are awarded season points towards the IndyCar Series championship. The top 12 cars from the first day proceed to the second round the following day, and the top six drivers from that round advance to the third and final round, which determines the top six starting places, including pole position.

In early decades, the qualifying order was set by teams presenting their cars in a queue beginning at the garage area. Since 1965, a blind draw is held the night before to determine it. Since 1971, every car has been guaranteed at least one attempt to qualify in the pole-position round, even if weather or other circumstances interfered. After World War II, drivers received three warm-up laps, which dropped to two in 1982. Unlike other IndyCar events, each driver completes a four-lap qualifying run with no other cars on track across two days, and their average speed over each lap is used to determine their final starting position.

As of the 2023 race, 67 drivers have won the pole position. Rick Mears holds the record for the most: six. Scott Dixon has five, while Hélio Castroneves, A. J. Foyt, and Rex Mays are third with four poles. Eleven drivers have qualified in the pole position for two consecutive years, but no one has won in three years in a row. Mays and Cliff Bergere are the youngest and oldest Indianapolis 500 pole winners, qualifying on pole at the ages of 22 years, 81 days in 1935 and 49 years, and 175 days in 1946, respectively. Scott McLaughlin and Gil Andersen set the fastest and slowest four-lap average pole speeds of 234.220 mph (376.941 km/h) in 2024 and 80.93 mph (130.24 km/h) in 1912, respectively.