Dario Franchitti became just the seventh driver to earn three Indianapolis 500 victories when he crossed the "yard of bricks" under caution on Sunday, May 27, taking home the win in the 96th running of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
An emotional Franchitti, sporting the white sunglasses made famous by his friend, the late Dan Wheldon, in victory lane, joined Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Helio Castroneves as three-time winners. Franchitti also won in 2007 and 2010.
Louis Meyer - Meyer won the Indy 500 in 1928, 1933 and 1936. He perhaps most famous for the tradition of drinking milk in Victory Lane: after winning in 1936, Meyer asked for buttermilk, which his mother always suggested he drink on hot days.
Wilbur Shaw - Shaw won the Indy 500 in 1937, 1939 and 1940; he was the first to win the race twice in a row. Shaw served as president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1945 until his death in a small plane crash in 1954.
Mauri Rose - Rose won the Indy 500 three times, but his first win was as a relief driver for Floyd Davis after Rose's Maserati had spark plug problems 60 laps into the 500 in 1941; Davis was 17th when Rose took over the ride. He also won the Indy 500 in 1947 and 1948.
Johnny Rutherford - "Lone Star JR" won the Indy 500 in 1974, 1976 and 1980; he also won three poles at Indianapolis (1973, 1976 and 1980). Rutherford is a veteran of CART (now IndyCar), USAC and NASCAR: he won the 1965 USAC Sprint Car championship, the 1980 CART PPG World Championship and the 1986 Michigan 500 Cup Series race.
Bobby Unser - Unser, whose brother Al Unser Sr. is one of three drivers to win the Indy 500 four times, is one of two drivers to win the Indy 500 in three different decades: 1968, 1975 and 1981. Unser won the IROC (International Race of Champions) title in 1975 and competed in NASCAR's Grand National division (now Sprint Cup Series) from 1969 to 1973; he also has 13 wins in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Helio Castroneves - Castroneves won the Indy 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009, and also has four poles in the event: 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2010. Castroneves was the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 2001, when he earned the nickname "Spiderman" after he climbed the frontstretch catchfence following his win.
A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears all have four victories in the Indy 500.
Paula is a long-time auto racing fan who also covers the sport at Skirts & Scuffs and Examiner.com.
