Odds & Ends

Longest Gap Between Wins
 
Driver Yr Mo Day Start of Gap Race End of Gap Race
John Paul, Jr. 15 2 3 7/17/1983 MIS 1 9/20/1998 Ft. Worth 2
Babe Stapp 11 11 8 9/19/1927 Charlotte 3 8/27/1939 Milwaukee
Barney Oldfield 9 5 17 9/29/1905 Poughkeepsie 3/17/1915 Venice
Gary Bettenhausen 8 11 0 10/6/1973 TWS 2 9/6/1982 DuQuoin
Johnny Rutherford 8 0 25 8/1/1965 Atlanta 8/26/1973 Ontario H2
Dave Lewis 7 1 4 7/19/1919 Uniontown 3 8/23/1926 Charlotte 3
Wilbur Shaw* 6 10 26 7/4/1930 Bridgeville 5/30/1937 Indianapolis
Howdy Wilcox 6 2 15 9/3/1910 Indianapolis 7 11/18/1916 Santa Monica 2
Eddie Hearne 6 1 20 9/9/1911 Cincinnati 1 10/29/1917 Uniontown 3
Roger McCluskey 6 0 28 7/15/1973 MIS 1 8/12/1979 Milwaukee 2
Louis Unser 6 0 6 9/1/1947 Pikes Peak 9/7/1953 Pikes Peak
Mauri Rose 6 0 0 5/30/1941 Indianapolis 5/30/1947 Indianapolis
Teo Fabi 5 10 5 10/29/1983 Phoenix 9/3/1989 Mid-Ohio
Mike Mosley 5 2 25 6/13/1976 Milwaukee 1 6/7/1981 Milwaukee 1
Joe Leonard 4 9 24 8/14/1965 Milwaukee 2 6/7/1970 Milwaukee 1
Mario Andretti 4 9 1 7/3/1988 Cleveland 4/4/1993 Phoenix
Scott Goodyear 4 7 28 7/31/1994 MIS 3/28/1999 Phoenix
Al Unser, Jr. 4 7 19 9/3/1995 Vancouver 4/22/2000 Las Vegas
Frank Elliott 4 6 30 9/3/1917 Uniontown 2 4/2/1922 Beverly Hills 5
Jim McElreath 4 5 17 3/20/1966 Phoenix 1 9/6/1970 Ontario
Arie Luyendyk 4 5 11 10/6/1991 Nazareth 3/17/1996 Phoenix
Rex Mays* 4 2 4 6/20/1936 Goshen 8/24/1940 Springfield
Ryan Hunter-Reay 4 1 1 6/5/2004 Milwaukee 7/6/2008 Watkins Glen
Earl Cooper 4 0 28 9/3/1917 Tacoma 10/1/1921 Fresno 2
Roger McCluskey 4 0 17 8/17/1968 Springfield 9/3/1972 Ontario
Mauri Rose 4 0 4 9/10/1932 Detroit 2 9/14/1936 Syracuse

*Mays won two non-points races during this stretch, and Shaw won one

Drivers Who Won Their First Start
 
Driver Date Race Notes
Louis Chevrolet 6/10/1905 Morris Park 1 First race
Barney Oldfield 6/17/1905 Hartford  
Charles Burman 8/14/1905 Glenville* Had one non-points start first, won only points-paying start
Howard Covey 6/12/1909 Portland 1*  
Charlie Arnold 6/12/1909 Portland 2*  
Joe Matson 6/18/1909 Crown Point 1*  
Eaton McMillan 7/5/1909 Denver* Won only start
Harris Hanshue 7/10/1909 Santa Monica 1*  
Leigh Lynch 8/21/1909 Indianapolis 3* Had one DNS/Q before first start
Frank Lescault 9/29/1909 Riverhead 2* Won only start
Jack Fleming 10/24/1909 San Francisco 1*  
Louis Nikrent 11/6/1909 LA-Phoenix Win came not in first start but first ever appearance, as a relief driver
Bill Endicott 5/6/1910 Atlanta 2  
Dave Buck 8/26/1910 Elgin 1*  
Al Livingstone 8/26/1910 Elgin 2*  
Ralph Mulford 8/27/1910 Elgin 3  
Charles Bigelow 2/22/1911 San Francisco 1* Had one DNS/Q and one relief appearance before first start
Cyrus Patschke 5/30/1911 Indianapolis* Had one DNS/Q before first race competed in, win in that race came as a
relief driver
Harvey Herrick 7/4/1911 Bakersfield Also won second career start (10/14/1911 Santa Monica 1)
Don Herr 8/25/1911 Elgin 2  
George Joerimann 5/4/1912 Santa Monica 1*  
Eddie Pullen 7/5/1912 Tacoma 1  
George Hill 1/1/1913 San Diego* Had one relief appearance before first start
Jules Goux 5/30/1913 Indianapolis*  
Rene Thomas 5/30/1914 Indianapolis*  
Dario Resta 2/27/1915 San Francisco 1 Also won second career start (3/6/1915 San Francisco 2)
George Souders 5/30/1927 Indianapolis*  
Bill Cummings 5/3/1930 Langhorne  
Tazio Nuvolari 10/12/1936 Westbury*  
Bernd Rosemeyer 7/5/1937 Westbury* Won only start
Walt Ader 4/14/1946 Williams Grove 1  
Bus Wilbert 5/26/1946 Winchester 1 May have made prior appearances that season, unknown
Bumpy Bumpus 5/30/1946 Altamont 1* May have made prior appearances that season, unknown
Oscar Ridlon 6/9/1946 Thompson 1 Also won second career start (6/23/1946 Thompson 2), only two starts on record
Did make other appearances that year, but do not know when
Elbert Booker 6/23/1946 Dayton 1 May have made prior appearances that season, unknown
Louis Unser 9/1/1947 Pikes Peak Had one DNS/Q and one non-points start before first points-paying start
Won that non-points race as well (9/2/1946 Pikes Peak)
Buck Baker 5/10/1952 Darlington* Had one non-points start first, won that race as well (2/8/1952 Daytona Beach)
Tex Keene 5/25/1952 Martinsville* Had one relief appearance before first start
Wayne Alspaugh 6/14/1953 Martinsville*  
Graham Hill 5/30/1966 Indianapolis* Had one DNS/Q before first start
Nigel Mansell 3/21/1993 Surfers Paradise  
Buzz Calkins 1/27/1996 Orlando*  

*Only win of career

Drivers Who Won Their Final Start
 
Driver Date Race Start # Notes
Charles Burman 8/14/1905 Glenville* 1 Had one non-points start first, won only points-paying start
Guy Vaughn 9/18/1905 Syracuse* 2  
Eaton McMillan 7/5/1909 Denver* 1 Won only start
Frank Lescault 9/29/1909 Riverhead 2* 1 Won only start
William Sharp 9/29/1909 Riverhead 3* 2  
Arthur See 9/29/1909 Riverhead 5* 2  
Frank Gelnaw 10/1/1910 Long Island 2* 6 Had two DNS/Qs after final start
Ray Harroun 5/30/1911 Indianapolis 17  
Bruce Keen 10/14/1911 Santa Monica 3* 2  
Frank Lockhart 10/12/1927 Rockingham 3 24 Won next to last start (10/27/1927 Rockingham 2)
and prior non-points start (9/5/1927 Cleveland) as well
Jimmy Gleason 9/7/1931 Altoona 2* 14 Had relief appearance and DNS/Q after final start
Bernd Rosemeyer 7/5/1937 Westbury* 1 Won only start
Billy Winn 9/12/1937 Syracuse 14 Had relief appearance and non-points start after final start
Oscar Ridlon 6/23/1946 Thompson 2 2 Also won prior start (6/9/1946 Thompson 1), only two starts on record
Did make other appearances that year, but do not know when
Bob Finney 9/5/1955 Pikes Peak* 6 Made four non-points starts after final start, including one win
(7/4/1957 Pikes Peak)
Van Johnson 6/14/1959 Langhorne* 6 Made one non-points start after final start
Dick Atkins 10/23/1966 Sacramento* 13  
Roger McCluskey 8/12/1979 Milwaukee 2 229  
Hector Rebaque 9/19/1982 Elkhart Lake* 6  
Keith Kauffman 12/4/1982 Nazareth* 3  
Gil de Ferran 10/12/2003 Ft. Worth 2 160  
Sébastien Bourdais 11/11/2007 Mexico City 74  

*Only win of career

Most Starts Before First Win
 
Driver First Win Date Race Start #
Michel Jourdain, Jr. 5/31/2003 Milwaukee 129
George Snider 8/15/1981 Springfield 126
Wally Dallenbach 8/12/1973 Milwaukee 2 90
Eddie Cheever 1/25/1997 Orlando 87
Alex Tagliani 8/8/2004 Elkhart Lake 85
Patrick Carpentier 7/22/2001 MIS 79
Pancho Carter 7/25/1981 MIS 1 78
Arie Luyendyk 5/27/1990 Indianapolis 76
Roberto Moreno 7/2/2000 Cleveland 73
Christian Fittipaldi 7/11/1999 Elkhart Lake 72
Bryan Herta 9/13/1998 Laguna Seca 71
Scott Pruett 7/30/1995 MIS 69
Mauricio Gugelmin 8/31/1997 Vancouver 67
Don Branson* 8/26/1962 Langhorne 2 66
Roger McCluskey 8/7/1966 Langhorne 2 62
Max Papis 3/26/2000 Homestead 60
Mike Mosley 4/25/1971 Trenton 1 58
Bud Tingelstad 9/5/1996 DuQuoin 58
Buddy Lazier 5/26/1996 Indianapolis 57
Kevin Cogan 4/6/1986 Phoenix 1 56
Jimmy Vasser 3/3/1996 Homestead 56
Scott Goodyear 8/2/1992 MIS 52
Jeff Ward 6/8/2002 Ft. Worth 1 51
Danica Patrick 4/19/2008 Motegi 50

*Branson did win a non-points race (4/13/1960 Langhorne) before his first points-paying win

Longest Gap Between Starts (no other appearances in between)
 
Driver Yr Mo Day Start of Gap Race End of Gap Race
Marion Trexler 17 9 5 8/25/1912 Columbus 5/30/1930 Indianapolis
Roland Free 17 0 0 5/30/1930 Indianapolis 5/30/1947 Indianapolis
Cy Marshall 17 0 0 5/30/1930 Indianapolis 5/30/1947 Indianapolis
Jack Hewitt 14 8 19 9/5/1983 DuQuoin 5/24/1998 Indianapolis
Steve Kinser 13 8 20 9/5/1983 DuQuoin 5/25/1997 Indianapolis
John Andretti 12 11 28 5/29/1994 Indianapolis 5/27/2007 Indianapolis
Phil Shafer 12 10 24 10/12/1936 Westbury 9/5/1949 Pikes Peak
John Boling 11 0 0 5/30/1920 Indianapolis 5/30/1931 Indianapolis
Raul Riganti 10 0 0 5/30/1923 Indianapolis 5/30/1933 Indianapolis
Charles Basle 9 11 25 11/30/1911 Savannah 2 11/24/1921 Beverly Hills 11
Ken Fowler 9 8 18 9/12/1937 Syracuse 5/30/1947 Indianapolis
Danny Ongais 8 6 25 11/1/1987 Miami 5/26/1996 Indianapolis
Herb Ardinger 8 0 0 5/30/1939 Indianapolis 5/30/1947 Indianapolis

 

Longest Gap Between Appearances
 
Driver Yr Mo Day Start of Gap Race End of Gap Race
Billy Earl 31 3 13 5/30/1950 Indianapolis (NS) 9/12/1981 ISF (NS)
Lee Oldfield 23 0 0 5/30/1914 Indianapolis (RD) 5/30/1937 Indianapolis (NS)
Fred Clemons 21 0 0 5/30/1911 Indianapolis (NS) 5/30/1932 Indianapolis (NS)
Marion Trexler 17 9 5 8/25/1912 Columbus 5/30/1930 Indianapolis
Roland Free 17 0 0 5/30/1930 Indianapolis 5/30/1947 Indianapolis
Cy Marshall 17 0 0 5/30/1930 Indianapolis 5/30/1947 Indianapolis
Jack Hewitt 14 8 19 9/5/1983 DuQuoin 5/24/1998 Indianapolis
Arvol Brunmeier 14 0 0 5/30/1932 Indianapolis (NS) 5/30/1946 Indianapolis (NS)
Bill Schindler 13 10 10 6/20/1936 Goshen (NS) 4/30/1950 Arlington (NC)
Steve Kinser 13 8 20 9/5/1983 DuQuoin 5/25/1997 Indianapolis
Rick DeLorto 13 4 8 9/19/1982 Elkhart Lake (NS) 1/27/1996 Orlando (NS)
John Andretti 12 11 28 5/29/1994 Indianapolis 5/27/2007 Indianapolis
Nino Farina 12 10 25 7/5/1937 Westbury 5/30/1950 Indianapolis (NS)
Phil Shafer 12 10 24 10/12/1936 Westbury 9/5/1949 Pikes Peak
Jim Buick 12 7 29 5/29/1983 Indianapolis (NS) 1/27/1996 Orlando (NS)
Harry Schell 12 0 30 5/30/1946 Indianapolis (NS) 6/29/1958 Monza 1 (NC)
Bobby Allen 11 7 9 4/25/1971 Trenton 1 (NS) 12/4/1982 Nazareth
Brad Murphey 11 6 16 11/10/1984 Las Vegas (NS) 5/26/1996 Indianapolis
Bill Tempero 11 5 22 8/5/1984 Elkhart Lake (NS) 1/27/1996 Orlando (NS)
George Metzler 11 0 20 9/2/1935 Syracuse (NS) 9/22/1946 Milwaukee
John Boling 11 0 0 5/30/1920 Indianapolis 5/30/1931 Indianapolis
Frank Davidson 11 0 0 5/30/1922 Indianapolis (NS) 5/30/1933 Indianapolis (NS)
Andy Hillenburg 11 0 0 5/28/1989 Indianapolis (NS) 5/28/2000 Indianapolis
Ron Burke 10 10 11 10/4/1970 Sacramento (NS) 8/15/1981 Springfield (NS)
Eddie Meyer 10 7 29 10/1/1921 Fresno 2 (NS) 5/30/1932 Indianapolis (RD)
Speed McFee 10 4 11 4/28/1946 Williams Grove 2 9/8/1956 Syracuse (NS)
Bob Gregg 10 4 0 5/30/1950 Indianapolis (NS) 9/30/1960 Sacramento (NS)
Billy Cantrell 10 3 15 5/30/1953 Indianapolis (NS) 9/14/1963 ISF (NS)
Curtis Turner 10 2 25 5/25/1952 Martinsville (NS) 8/19/1962 Springfield (NS)
Raul Riganti 10 0 0 5/30/1923 Indianapolis 5/30/1933 Indianapolis

Clay Corbitt started the non-points race 7/17/1933 at Milwaukee, and next appeared sometime in 1946, but I do not have a specific race date.
Bill Randall appeared sometime in 1946, but I do not have a specific race date, and his next start was 4/4/1959 at Daytona.

Longest Spanning Careers
 
Driver Yr Mo Day Debut Race Farewell Race
A. J. Foyt 35 9 13 8/17/1957 Springfield 5/30/1993 Indianapolis (NS)
Al Unser 34 10 25 7/4/1959 Pikes Peak (NC-NS) 5/29/1994 Indianapolis (NS)
Phil Shafer 34 1 4 5/30/1922 Indianapolis (RD) 7/4/1956 Pikes Peak (NC-NS)
Johnny Rutherford 31 8 14 9/15/1962 ISF 5/29/1994 Indianapolis (NS)
Billy Earl 31 3 13 5/30/1950 Indianapolis (NS) 9/12/1981 ISF (NS)
Mario Andretti 30 5 20 4/19/1964 Trenton 1 10/9/1994 Laguna Seca
Danny Ongais 30 2 7 3/17/1968 Hanford 1 (NS) 5/24/1998 Indianapolis (NS)
Gary Bettenhausen 30 1 2 4/24/1966 Trenton 1 (NS) 5/26/1996 MIS 1
Gordon Johncock 27 10 5 7/19/1964 Trenton 2 (NS) 5/24/1992 Indianapolis
George Snider 27 8 11 11/22/1964 Phoenix 2 8/2/1992 MIS
Johnny Parsons 27 3 16 5/30/1969 Indianapolis (NS) 9/15/1996 Las Vegas
Bobby Unser 26 8 24 9/5/1955 Pikes Peak 5/29/1982 Indianapolis (NS)
Lee Oldfield 26 7 29 10/1/1910 Long Island 1 5/30/1937 Indianapolis (NS)
Al Unser, Jr. 25 8 27 8/30/1981 DuQuoin 5/27/2007 Indianapolis
Louis Unser 25 1 4 5/30/1940 Indianapolis (NS) 7/4/1965 Pikes Peak
Paul Russo 25 0 1 5/30/1940 Indianapolis 5/31/1965 Indianapolis (NS)
Chet Miller 25 0 0 5/30/1928 Indianapolis (NS) 5/30/1953 Indianapolis (NS)
Ralph Hepburn 24 3 7 2/24/1924 Beverly Hills 5/31/1948 Indianapolis (NS)
Ralph DePalma 24 0 19 8/21/1909 Indianapolis 3 9/9/1933 Syracuse
Michael Andretti 23 7 19 10/8/1983 Las Vegas 5/27/2007 Indianapolis
Russ Snowberger 22 11 30 9/5/1927 Altoona 2 9/4/1950 Pikes Peak
Roger McCluskey 22 9 22 10/21/1956 Sacramento (NS) 8/12/1979 Milwaukee 2
Roberto Moreno 22 9 21 6/30/1985 Meadowlands 4/20/2008 Long Beach
Jim McElreath 22 6 29 9/16/1961 ISF 4/14/1984 Phoenix 1 (NS)
Cy Marshall 22 0 0 5/30/1928 Indianapolis (RD) 5/30/1950 Indianapolis (NS)
Fred Clemons 21 8 27 9/3/1910 Indianapolis 7 5/30/1932 Indianapolis (NS)
John Andretti 21 8 24 8/30/1987 Elkhart Lake 5/24/2009 Indianapolis
Jim Hurtubise 21 8 5 9/19/1959 ISF 5/24/1981 Indianapolis (NS)
Tom Sneva 21 6 3 11/21/1970 Phoenix 2 (NS) 5/24/1992 Indianapolis
Cliff Bergere 21 0 1 5/30/1927 Indianapolis 5/31/1948 Indianapolis (NS)
Tom Bigelow 20 8 26 9/2/1968 DuQuoin 5/28/1989 Indianapolis (NS)
Salt Walther 20 7 22 10/4/1970 Sacramento 5/26/1991 Indianapolis (NS)
Nino Farina 20 7 18 10/12/1936 Westbury 5/30/1957 Indianapolis (NS)
Bob Gregg 20 5 22 5/30/1950 Indianapolis (NS) 11/21/1970 Phoenix 2 (NS)
Pancho Carter 20 0 3 5/26/1974 Indianapolis 5/29/1994 Indianapolis (NS)
George Connor 20 0 1 5/30/1934 Indianapolis (NS) 5/31/1954 Indianapolis (NS)
Frank Brisko 20 0 0 5/30/1929 Indianapolis 5/30/1949 Indianapolis (NS)

 

Drivers Who Have Won A Non-Points Races But Not A Points-Paying Race
 

Driver

Date

Race

Best Points-Paying Finish

Caleb Bragg

10/5/1912

Milwaukee 2

2nd

Art Klein

3/28/1920

Beverly Hills 2

2nd - two times

Al Gordon

1/12/1936

Oakland

2nd

Sam Ross

10/24/1936

Detroit 3

2nd

Tony Willman

8/20/1938

Springfield

6th

Chet Gardner

8/28/1938

Milwaukee

3rd - three times

Duke Nalon

6/16/1940

Langhorne

2nd - two times

Duke Nalon

6/22/1941

Langhorne

2nd - two times

Jimmy Wilburn

3/31/1946

Lakewood

19th

Duane Carter

4/30/1950

Arlington

2nd

Dick Fraizer

6/27/1953

Hickory

2nd

Ed Elisian

8/12/1956

Dayton

3rd

Jackie Stewart

10/9/1966

Fuji

6th

Ted Foltz

7/4/1970

Pikes Peak

2nd - three times

 

Most Seasons With A Win
 

Driver

Total

Seasons

A. J. Foyt

18

1960-65, 67-69, 71, 73-79, 81

Mario Andretti

16

1965-70, 73, 78, 80, 83-88, 93

Michael Andretti

15

1986-87, 89-92, 94-2002

Al Unser

14

1965, 68-71, 73-74, 76-79, 83, 85, 87

Al Unser, Jr.

14

1984-86, 88-95, 2000-01, 03

Bobby Unser

14

1966-76, 79-81

Gordon Johncock

13

1965, 67-69, 73-79, 82-83

Rick Mears

13

1978-85, 87-91

Johnny Rutherford

12

1965, 73-81, 85-86

Ralph DePalma

11

1909, 12-21

Emerson Fittipaldi

11

1985-95

Paul Tracy

11

1993-95, 97, 99-2000, 02-05, 07

Helio Castroneves

10

2000-09

Bobby Rahal

10

1982-89, 91-92

 

Most Consecutive Seasons With A Win
 

Driver

Total

Seasons

Emerson Fittipaldi

11

1985-1995

Bobby Unser

11

1966-1976

Helio Castroneves

10

2000-2009

Ralph DePalma

10

1912-1921

Michael Andretti

9

1994-2002

Tommy Milton

9

1917-1925

Johnny Rutherford

9

1973-1981

Rick Mears

8

1978-1985

Bobby Rahal

8

1982-1989

Al Unser, Jr.

8

1988-1995

 

Most Wins In A Driver's Only Season With A Win
 

Driver

Wins

Year

Joie Chitwood

7

1946

George Robson

6

1946

A. J. Allmendinger

5

2006

Nigel Mansell

5

1993

Billy Arnold

3

1930

Mark Blundell

3

1997

Eddie O'Donnell

3

1915

Buddy Rice

3

2004

Teddy Tetzlaff

3

1912

Bus Wilbert

3

1946