INDIANAPOLIS — The 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 26, 2024. Here is a look back at seven races marking milestone anniversaries this year:
5 years ago
Simon Pagenaud dominated the month of May in Indianapolis in 2019.
After winning the Indy Grand Prix to open the month, he claimed the pole for the Indianapolis 500. After leading 114 of the first 197 laps of the race, Pagenaud battled 2016 champion Alexander Rossi, reeling him in and taking over the lead with less than two laps to go.
He crossed the finish line two-tenths of a second ahead of Rossi to claim victory.
The Frenchman parked on the Yard of Bricks at IMS and saluted the crowd before making his way to Victory Circle.
Through 2023, Pagenaud was the last polesitter to win the Indianapolis 500.
10 years ago
In one of the closest finishes in race history, Ryan Hunter-Reay climbed from starting 19th to beat then-three-time winner Hélio Castroneves by a car length to win the 2014 Indianapolis 500.
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Hunter-Reay passed Castroneves under the white flag, then held on for the win by .06 seconds.
20 years ago
With severe weather bearing down on central Indiana, Buddy Rice led the field when rain stopped the 2004 Indianapolis 500.
Rain stopped the race for nearly two hours on Lap 28, then halted the race with 50 miles to go when severe storms, including tornadoes, moved into central Indiana, including the vicinity of the Speedway.
Rice, the pole-sitter for the race, led 91 laps, taking the checkered flag ahead of Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon as thunder rumbled over IMS, while fans were being instructed to seek shelter from the storms.
The traditional victory podium was moved inside, where Rice celebrated his win with team owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman.
25 years ago
Kenny Brack became the first of two Swedish drivers to win the 500, the fifth win for team owner A.J. Foyt, who won four as a driver.
RELATED: Watch the 1999 Indianapolis 500
Brack started the race eighth, but led a race-high 66 laps, including the final two laps after snatching the lead from Robby Gordon, who led laps 171 through 198, but had to stop for fuel and finished fourth.
50 years ago
Johnny Rutherford won his first Indianapolis 500 in his 11th try, racing from 25th at the start of the race to defeat Bobby Unser by more than 22 seconds. Rutherford and Unser were the only drivers in the 58th Running of the Indianapolis 500 to finish all 200 laps.
The win was the first for McLaren at Indianapolis.
Rutherford went on to win twice more at IMS, claiming victory two years later in 1976 and again in 1980.
75 years ago
Bill Holland finally broke through to victory in the 1949 Indianapolis 500.
After finishing second in 1947 and 1948, Holland led the last 146 laps of the 33rd Indianapolis 500 to get the win over rookie Johnnie Parsons.
Holland finished second again in 1950, capping a remarkable four-year run at the Brickyard.
100 years ago
Lora Corum and Joe Boyer teamed up to win the 12th Running of the Indianapolis 500, the first first time drivers shared an Indy 500 victory.
Starting 21st, Boyer replaced Corum on Lap 111, leading the final 24 laps to claim victory. The winning drivers are one of just two pairs of drivers to share a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
The race was the sixth and final Indy 500 for Boyer, who died from injuries sustained in a crash during a race in Altoona, Pennsylvania, three months after he and Corum's win.
Automotive pioneer Henry Ford attended the race.