Every true NASCAR fan would want to know who won the Indianapolis 500 the year he or she was born, and the real fanatics want to know every since the race's inception. This list chronicles every champion since 1911, many of whom kissed the track and drank the milk.
2018: Will Power
Brian Spurlock / USA TODAY Sports
Will Power won for Team Penske in just under three hours. He became the first Australian to win the race, averaging nearly 167 miles per hour.
2017: Takuma Sato
Brian Spurlock / USA TODAY Sports
Takuma Sato became not only the first Japanese driver to win the Indy 500 but also the first Asian driver to accomplish the feat. Racing for Andretti Autosport, Sato won in just over three hours and 13 minutes, averaging 155 miles per hour.
2016: Alexander Rossi
Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports
With an average speed of 166.6 miles per hour, American Alexander Rossi took home the checkered flag at the 2016 Indy 500. It was his first victory in the heralded race.
2015: Juan Pablo Montoya
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Juan Pablo Montoya won at Indy 15 years after his first win, averaging 161 miles per hour.
2014: Ryan Hunter-Reay
Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images
Hunter-Reay was the first American to win the race since 2006, finishing in two hours and 48 minutes.
2013: Tony Kanaan
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Kanaan became the fourth Brazilian to win the Indianapolis 500 in 2013, averaging over 187 miles per hour and finishing in the fastest time ever at just over two hours and 40 minutes.
2012: Dario Franchitti
Nick Laham / Getty Images
Franchitti won for the second time in three years and third time overall in 2012.
2011: Dan Wheldon
Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images
Wheldon returned as the Indy 500 winner six years after his first win.
2010: Dario Franchitti
Robert Laberge / Getty Images
Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 for the second time, in 2010, albeit at a slower pace than his first.
2009: Helio Castroneves
Robert Laberge / Getty Images
Castroneves won for the third time in 2009 and celebrated by climbing the fence on the track.
2008: Scott Dixon
Donald Miralle / Getty Images
Dixon became the first Aussie to win at Indy in 2008 in one of the slower paces in the race's history, finishing in just under three-and-a-half hours.
2007: Dario Franchitti
Darrell Ingham / Getty Images
Franchitti was the second English driver to win in three years, taking home the first of his three Indy 500 victories.
2006: Sam Hornish Jr.
Robert Laberge / Getty Images
Hornish Jr. won for Marlboro Team Penske in 2006.
2005: Dan Wheldon
Donald Miralle / Getty Images
Wheldon was the first Brit to win the Indianapolis 500 since Graham Hill in 1966.
2004: Buddy Rice
Darrell Ingham / Getty Images
Rice won for Rahal Letterman Racing in 2004 in a shortened 450-mile race.
2003: Gil de Ferran
Robert Laberge / Getty Images
Gil de Ferran prevented Helio Castroneves from three-peating, but he did keep alive the streak of having a Brazilian win at Indy.
2002: Helio Castroneves
Robert Laberge / Getty Images
Castroneves won his second straight Indy 500 in 2002.
2001: Helio Castroneves
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Castroneves became the second Brazilian to win at Indy, in 2001, the first of his three victories.
2000: Juan Pablo Montoya
ANN MILLER CARR / AFP / Getty Images
The legendary Colombian driver won at Indy in 2000, finishing in just under three hours.
1999: Kenny Brack
Vincent Laforet / Getty Images
Brack won for A.J. Foyt Enterprises and became the first Swede to win at Indy.
1998: Eddie Cheever Jr.
Vincent Laforet / Getty Images
Cheever won in 1998 as both an owner and driver, averaging 145 miles per hour.
1997: Arie Luyendyk
Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
Luyendyk won his second Indy 500 in 1997, seven years after winning his first in 1990.
1996: Buddy Lazier
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Lazier won the race in 1996 for Hemelgarn Racing, averaging 148 miles per hour.
1995: Jacques Villeneuve
John Maxwell / Getty Images
Villeneuve became the first Canadian to win the Indianapolis 500, finishing in just over three hours and 15 minutes.
1994: Al Unser Jr.
Al Bello / Getty Images
Unser Jr. won for the second time in three years in 1994, averaging nearly 161 miles per hour.
1993: Emerson Fittipaldi
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Fittipaldi won for the second time in 1993, four years after his first victory.
1992: Al Unser Jr.
ISC Archives / Getty Images
Unser Jr. claimed victory, winning only five years after his father won at Indy.
1991: Rick Mears
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Mears won the race for the fourth time, in 1991, tying Al Unser Sr. and A.J. Foyt for the most Indy 500 wins in history.
1990: Arie Luyendyk
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
The Dutch Luyendyk made it two straight wins for non-U.S. drivers, averaging almost 187 miles per hour.
1989: Emerson Fittipaldi
Bettmann
Fittipaldi, one of the best drivers ever, won Indy in 1989. He was the first non-U.S. driver to win since 1966.
1988: Rick Mears
Bob Harmeyer / Archive Photos / Getty Images
Mears won the Indy 500 for the third time, in 1988.
1987: Al Unser
Bettmann / Getty Images
Unser won his fourth Indianapolis 500, in 1987, tying him for the most ever with A.J Foyt. Rick Mears, who won in 1988, joined Unser and Foyt in 1991 with his fourth win at Indy.
1986: Bobby Rahal
Bettmann / Getty Images
Legendary driver Bobby Rahal won at Indy in 1986, averaging nearly 171 miles per hour.
1985: Danny Sullivan
Bob Harmeyer / Getty Images
Sullivan made it back-to-back wins for Penske, in 1985, following up the victory in 1984 by Rick Mears.
1984: Rick Mears
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Mears won his second Indy 500, in 1984, halfway to his record-tying fourth.
1983: Tom Sneva
Bob Harmeyer / Getty Images
Tom Sneva won the race in 1983, finishing in three hours and five seconds.
1982: Gordon Johncock
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Johncock claimed victory for the second time, with his previous win coming in 1973.
1981: Bobby Unser
Bob Harmeyer / Getty Images
Unser won his third Indy 500 and his first since 1975.
1980: Johnny Rutherford
Bob Harmeyer / Getty Images
Rutherford won his third Indianapolis 500 in 1980.
1979: Rick Mears
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Mears claimed the win for Penske Racing at Indy in 1979, the first of four victories for Mears.
1978: Al Unser
Bob Harmeyer / Getty Images
Unser won his third Indy 500, in 1978.
1977: A.J. Foyt
Bob Harmeyer / Getty Images
Foyt became the first driver to win Indy four times, in 1977.
1976: Johnny Rutherford
Bettmann / Getty Images
Just two years after winning the Indy, Rutherford won a rain-shortened race in 1976.
1975: Bobby Unser
Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Unser won his second Indy 500 and his first since 1968.
1974: Johnny Rutherford
The Enthusiast Network / Getty Images
Rutherford won the Indy in 1974, his 11th time in the race.
1973: Gordon Johncock
Bettmann / Getty Images
Johncock won a rain-shortened Indy 500 in 1973, which went only 333 miles.
1972: Mark Donohue
Bob Olsen / Toronto Star / Getty Images
Donohue won the Indy 500 in 1972, driving for Roger Penske Enterprises.
1971: Al Unser
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Unser won his second Indianapolis 500 in a row, in 1971, finishing more than two seconds faster than his 1970 time.
1970: Al Unser
Underwood Archives / Getty Images
Just two years after his brother Bobby won the Indy 500, Al claimed victory.
1969: Mario Andretti
Bettmann / Getty Images
Legendary driver Mario Andretti won the race in 1969, adding to his long list of accomplishments.
1968: Bobby Unser
The Enthusiast Network / Getty Images
The first Indianapolis 500 win for the legendary Unser family came in 1968 with Bobby's victory.
1967: A.J. Foyt
The Enthusiast Network / Getty Images
Foyt claimed his third Indianapolis 500 win, in 1967.
1966: Graham Hill
Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Hill made it back-to-back wins for British drivers, following up Jim Clark in 1965 with a victory of his own.
1965: Jim Clark
The Enthusiast Network / Getty Images
Clark was the first non-U.S. winner of the Indy 500 since 1920.
1964: A.J. Foyt
The Enthusiast Network / Getty Images
Foyt won his second Indianapolis 500, in 1964.
1963: Parnelli Jones
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Jones won the Indianapolis 500 in 1963, finishing in just under three-and-a-half hours.
1962: Rodger Ward
The Enthusiast Network / Getty Images
Ward claimed his second Indy 500 in 1962 after first tasting Victory Lane in 1959.
1961: A.J. Foyt
Bettmann / Getty Images
Legendary driver A.J. Foyt won his first Indy 500 in 1961, and he became the first driver to win four, a record he now shares with two other drivers.
1960: Jim Rathmann
RacingOne / Getty Images
Rathmann won in 1960 with a time of 3:36:11.384.
1959: Rodger Ward
RacingOne / Getty Images
Ward won in 1959 with a record 16 cars participating in the race.
1958: Jimmy Bryan
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Owner George Salih won for the second year in a row when Jimmy Bryan claimed victory in 1958.
1957: Sam Hanks
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Hanks set a then record time of 3:41:14.238 in 1957.
1956: Pat Flaherty
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Flaherty won with a time of 3:53.28.872.
1955: Bob Sweikert
Bettmann / Getty Images
Sweikert won the race with a time of 3:53:59.576 in 1955.
1954: Bill Vukovich
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Vukovich became the second back-to-back Indianapolis 500 winner, in 1954.
1953: Bill Vukovich
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Vukovich won in 1953 with a time of 3:53:01.668.
1952: Troy Ruttman
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Ruttman won with a time of 3:52:41.930 in 1952.
1951: Lee Wallard
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Wallard was the first winner to break four hours over the full race.
1950: Johnnie Parsons
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Parsons won a rain-shortened Indy 500 in 1950.
1949: Bill Holland
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Holland won in 1949 with a time of 4:07:15.939, easily the fastest ever at the time.
1948: Mauri Rose
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Rose became the first back-to-back Indianapolis 500 winner in 1948.
1947: Mauri Rose
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Rose, the 1941 co-winner, won as a solo driver in 1947.
1946: George Robson
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
Robson won the first Indy 500 since 1941 with a time of 4:21:16.711.
1942-1945 (no race)
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
No race was held from 1942-45 due to World War II.
1931-1941
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
1931: Louis Schneider; 1932: Fred Frame; 1933: Louis Meyer; 1934: Bill Cummings (pictured); 1935: Kelly Petillo; 1936: Louis Meyer; 1937: Wilbur Shaw; 1938: Floyd Roberts; 1939: Wilbur Shaw; 1940: Wilbur Shaw; 1941: Floyd Davis/Mauri Rose
1919-1930
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
1919: Howdy Wilcox; 1920: Gaston Chevrolet; 1921: Tommy Milton; 1922: Jimmy Murphy; 1923: Tommy Milton (pictured); 1924: L.L. Corum/Joe Boyer; 1925: Peter DePaolo; 1926: Frank Lockhart; 1927: George Souders; 1928: Louis Meyer; 1929: Ray Keech; 1930: Billy Arnold
1917-1918 (no race)
RacingOne / ISC Archives / Getty Images
The Indianapolis 500 wasn't held in 1917 or 1918 due to World War I.
1911-1916
Bettmann / Getty Images
1911: Ray Harroun (pictured); 1912: Joe Dawson; 1913: Jules Goux; 1914: Rene Thomas; 1915: Ralph DePalma; 1916: Dario Resta