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.
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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
26th Starting Position - Buddy Lazier - Phoenix 2000
25th Starting Position - Johnny Rutherford - Indianapolis 1974
25th Starting Position - Mike Mosley - Milwaukee 1981
25th Starting Position - Max Papis - Laguna Seca 2001
23rd Starting Position - Scott Dixon - Nazareth 2001
22nd Starting Position - Roberto Guerrero - Phoenix 1987
22nd Starting Position - Scott Dixon - Mid-Ohio 2014
21st Starting Position - Patrick Carpentier - Michigan 2001
20th Starting Position - Al Unser - Indianapolis 1987
20th Starting Position - Danny Ongais - Michigan 1978
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 |