Scott Dixon

Second in a series looking at historical Indy car statistical categories

Since 1946, 11 drivers have won an oval or road/street course race after starting 20th or lower on the grid.

Scott Dixon, who in 2015 will compete in his 14th consecutive with Target Chip Ganassi Racing, is the lone competitor on the list twice. Dixon, a CART rookie in 2001, earned his first victory after starting 23rd in the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix at Nazareth Raceway on May 6. On Aug. 3, 2014, Dixon started 22nd (last) at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and charged to victory.

Since 1946, there have been 20 road/street course races in which the winner started 11th or worse. Five came in the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season:

• Mike Conway – Long Beach (started 17th)
• Will Power – Belle Isle Race 1 (started 16th)
• Carlos Huertas – Houston Race 1 (started 19th)
• Mike Conway – Toronto Race 2 (started 11th)
• Scott Dixon – Mid-Ohio (started 22nd)

Conway and Michael Andretti are the only drivers on the all-time list to do it twice in the same season: Andretti -- 2001 Long Beach (started 15th) and Toronto (started 13th).

Helio Castroneves, who started 28th in the 2008 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway, holds the record for winning from the furthest back. Buddy Lazier (starting 26th at Phoenix International Raceway) in 2000 is second. He won the Indy Racing League championship that season.

Click to Download (PDF):
Wins from the Furthest Starting Position (1946 to 2014)

Wins from the Furthest Starting Position,
ALL EVENTS 1946 - 2014
28th Starting Position - Helio Castroneves - Chicagoland - 2008

Helio Castroneves

26th Starting Position - Buddy Lazier - Phoenix 2000

Buddy Lazier

25th Starting Position - Johnny Rutherford - Indianapolis 1974

Johnny Rutherford

25th Starting Position - Mike Mosley - Milwaukee 1981

Mike Mosley

25th Starting Position - Max Papis - Laguna Seca 2001

Max Papis

23rd Starting Position - Scott Dixon - Nazareth 2001

Scott Dixon

22nd Starting Position - Roberto Guerrero - Phoenix 1987

Roberto Guerrero

22nd Starting Position - Scott Dixon - Mid-Ohio 2014

Scott Dixon

21st Starting Position - Patrick Carpentier - Michigan 2001

Patrick Carpentier

20th Starting Position - Al Unser - Indianapolis 1987

Al Unser

20th Starting Position - Danny Ongais - Michigan 1978

Danny Ongais

 

Wins from the Furthest Starting Position,
ROAD/STREET COURSES 1946 - 2014

** 2014 Season

Starting
Position

Driver Track Year Sanctioning
Organization
25th Max Papis Laguna Seca 2001 CART
22nd Scott Dixon ** Mid-Ohio 2014 INDYCAR
19th Al Unser, Jr. Miami 1986 CART
Carlos Huertas ** Houston (Race 1) 2014 INDYCAR
18th Will Power ** Belle Isle (Race 1) 2014 INDYCAR
17th Paul Tracy Long Beach 2000 CART
Adrian Fernandez Australia (Surfer's Paradise) 2000 CART
Mike Conway ** Long Beach 2014 INDYCAR
16th Mario Dominquez Australia (Surfer's Paradise) 2002 CART
Michael Andretti Long Beach 2002 CART
15th Michael Andretti Long Beach 2001 CART
Robert Doornbos San Jose 2007 Champ Car
14th Dario Franchitti Cleveland 2001 CART
13th Alex Tagliani Elkhart Lake (Road America) 2004 Champ Car
Michael Andretti Toronto 2001 CART
12th Ryan Hunter-Reay Australia (Surfer's Paradise) 2003 CART
Will Power Long Beach 2012 INDYCAR
11th Mark Blundell Portland 1997 CART
Alex Zanardi Long Beach 1998 CART
Mike Conway ** Toronto (Race 2) 2014 INDYCAR