The 2026 INDYCAR season has ended and Alex Palou has captured his fifth series championship.
That fifth title — which is also his fourth consecutive — keeps the debate alive about where Alex Palou sits among the sport’s greats.
If you’ve been keeping up, then you already know that he’s not on my Mount Rushmore. But he is moving on up.
Here are the 10 best INDYCAR drivers of all time.
10 Best INDYCAR Drivers Of All Time
10. Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti after winning the Indy 500 in 2007.
One of the more recognizable names on the list, Franchitti made 265 INDYCAR starts and collected four championships in the process. He earned 31 wins, claimed 92 podiums and 33 poles over that span. Moreover, he had 119 top-five finishes and currently sits tied for third for most championships of all time.
9. Will Power
Will Power is a household name in INDYCAR.
With 337 starts under his belt, Power is a household name among INDYCAR followers. In that time, Powers has earned two championships with 45 race wins overall. He has also earned an impressive 71 poles. Those 71 poles are the most in INDYCAR history, making him one of the top drivers in the sport’s history.
8. Al Unser Jr.
Al Unser Jr is one of the sport’s most well-known drivers.
One of the most famous drivers ever, he’s the winningest driver in Long Beach history with six victories over eight years. Unser also claimed two Indy 500 wins in his decorated career.
7. Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti is accomplished as a driver and as an owner.
Andretti is one of the most accomplished drivers, continuing with the ownership of Andretti Autosport to this day. During his racing career, he claimed 42 INDYCAR wins and dominated with 32 poles. His most successful year came in 1991, when he earned the championship, had eight race wins and eight poles in just 17 total races.
6. Alex Palou
Alex Palou won his first Indy 500 in 2025.
Alex Palou knocked Johnny Rutherford off this list after last year as I put him 10th. Now that he has five INDYCAR titles (third on the all-time list), he is up to sixth. Palou has “just” 25 career victories, which — according to some people — should keep him lower. However, the five titles (including four consecutive ones) and the 2025 Indianapolis 500 victory have solidified his legacy in the sport. At the beginning of this season, I ranked him 10th.
5. Rick Mears
The legend of Rick Mears includes four wins at the Indy 500.
Perhaps the most impressive thing over the course of Mears’ career was the fact he was victorious at the Indy 500 four separate times, becoming one of just four racers to accomplish such a feat. He was also able to grab six poles and was a front-row starter in 11 of his 15 races there from 1978 to 1992. Mears was also able to cash in when, in 1991, he became the first driver to earn $10 million in career earnings from INDYCAR races. He won three INDYCAR titles.
4. Al Unser Sr.
Al Unser Sr. also has four Indy 500 wins under his hood.
Similar to Mears, Unser also won the Indy 500 four different times. When he reached the milestone, it had only been done one other time. His triumph there, though, wasn’t just from wins. He finished in the top three of the Indy 500 in 11 different races over his career. When his career was over, Unser had earned $6.7 million, with more than half of that money coming from Indy 500 races.
3. Scott Dixon
Scott Dixon has won six INDYCAR championships over the course of his successful career.
Dixon has been wildly successful in every race. Overall, he is a six-time INDYCAR champion and has collected 59 career wins, which is the most of any active driver and the second-most of all time. Last season was his 25th and last driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. He has been the longest-tenured driver in team history but he will move to Arrow McLaren next season. He leads all current drivers with 437 starts and has the all-time podium record with 146.
2. AJ Foyt
AJ Foyt is praised for his ability to adapt to different cars.
Now a team owner for AJ Foyt Racing, Foyt built a highly productive career. He won seven INDYCAR championships during his time behind the wheel, which remains the all-time record. Additionally, he had a great run during his Indy 500 starts, becoming the first to ever win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” four times. Even more notable was his ability to adapt. Foyt is still the only driver who has won the Indy 500 in both front- and rear-engined cars, a testament to his immense talent.
1. Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti’s legacy as a racer transcends INDYCAR.
It’s safe to say Andretti is the most well-known driver in the sport’s history. His success was a huge reason why, with the longtime driver winning four championships, 52 races, earning 67 pole positions and 141 podiums over the course of his INDYCAR run. His longevity was also something special, winning Driver of the Year three different times, each in a different decade (1967, 1978, 1984). To this day, he’s the only driver to win a Daytona 500, Indy 500 and Formula One world title.
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