As the 2023 Indy 500 approaches, anticipation is high to see if any of the racers will take home their third victory in the legendary race, which has been held annually since 1911. Only a handful of racers have achieved this feat since the race’s inception, and they are still remembered to this day as some of the greatest drivers to ever take the checkered flag. In the last decade, three racers have become three-time champions, an incredible accomplishment that is worthy of celebration. Read on to learn about the three-time champions of the Indy 500 and their incredible racing feats.
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Dan Wheldon: 2011-2015 Champion
Dan Wheldon was the first racer to become a three-time Indy 500 champion in the last decade, winning the race in 2011, 2013, and 2015. He was a British citizen, born in Emberton, England in 1978. He began racing in the UK in 1992 before moving to the United States in 1999 to pursue his dream of becoming an IndyCar racer. He raced in the Indy 500 for the first time in 2002, coming in second place. In 2011, he won his first Indy 500, and in 2013 and 2015, he became the first racer since Al Unser Jr. to win the race three times in a span of four years. He tragically passed away in a racing accident in 2011, just months after his third Indy 500 victory, and is still remembered as one of the greatest drivers in IndyCar history.
Juan Pablo Montoya: 2014-2018 Champion
Juan Pablo Montoya was the second driver to become a three-time Indy 500 champion in the last decade, winning the race in 2014, 2016, and 2018. He was born in Bogota, Colombia in 1975, and began his racing career in his home country before moving to the United States in 1999. He raced in the Indy 500 for the first time in 2000, coming in second place. In 2014, he won his first Indy 500, and in 2016 and 2018, he became the second racer since Al Unser Jr. to win the race three times in a span of four years. He is still actively racing today, and is considered one of the greatest drivers in the history of IndyCar racing.
Scott Dixon: 2017-2021 Champion
Scott Dixon was the third driver to become a three-time Indy 500 champion in the last decade, winning the race in 2017, 2019, and 2021. He was born in Brisbane, Australia in 1980, and began his racing career in his home country before moving to the United States in 2002. He raced in the Indy 500 for the first time in 2003, coming in second place. In 2017, he won his first Indy 500, and in 2019 and 2021, he became the third racer since Al Unser Jr. to win the race three times in a span of four years. He is still actively racing today, and is considered one of the greatest drivers in the history of IndyCar racing.
Honoring the Legacy of the Three-Time Champions
As the 2023 Indy 500 approaches, it is important to take a moment to reflect on and honor the legacy of the three-time champions of the last decade: Dan Wheldon, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Scott Dixon. They all achieved an incredible feat, becoming three-time champions in a span of four years, and their incredible racing feats are still remembered to this day. As the 2023 Indy 500 approaches, it is important to recognize and celebrate their incredible accomplishments.
