This comprehensive chronicle details all IndyCar Champions by year across sanctioning bodies: AAA (American Automobile Association), USAC (United States Auto Club), CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams), CCWS (Champ Car World Series), IRL (Indy Racing League) and IndyCar Series .
A total of 129 champions have shaped American open-wheel racing since 1909, with Alex Palou clinching the latest title in dominant fashion.
IndyCar Champions by year (2008-Present)
Year Champion Team 2025 Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing 2024 Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing 2023 Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing 2022 Will Power Team Penske 2021 Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing 2020 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 2019 Josef Newgarden Team Penske 2018 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 2017 Josef Newgarden Team Penske 2016 Simon Pagenaud Team Penske 2015 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 2014 Will Power Team Penske 2013 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 2012 Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport 2011 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 2010 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 2009 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 2008 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing
IndyCar driver salaries 2025: Who are the highest paid drivers?
2026 IndyCar Schedule: 17 races, new venues and dates
Indy Racing League (1996-2007)
Year Champion Team 2007 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 2006 Sam Hornish Jr. Team Penske 2005 Dan Wheldon Andretti Green Racing 2004 Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing 2003 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 2002 Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing 2001 Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing 2000 Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn Racing 1999 Greg Ray Team Menard 1998 Kenny Brack AJ Foyt Racing 1997 Tony Stewart Team Menard 1996 Buzz Calkins & Scott Sharp Bradley Motorsports & AJ Foyt Racing
CART / Champ Car (2004-2007)
Year Champion Team 2007 Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 2006 Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 2005 Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 2004 Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 2003 Paul Tracy Player’s Forsythe 2002 Cristiana da Matta Newman/Haas Racing 2001 Gil de Ferran Team Penske 2000 Gil de Ferran Team Penske 1999 Juan Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing 1998 Alex Zanardi Chip Ganassi Racing 1997 Alex Zanardi Target Chip Ganassi Racing 1996 Jimmy Vasser Target Chip Ganassi Racing
CART (1979-1995)
Year Champion Team 1995 Jacques Villeneuve Team Green 1994 Al Unser Jr. Team Penske 1993 Nigel Mansell Newman/Haas Racing 1992 Bobby Rahal Truesports 1991 Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing 1990 Al Unser Jr. Galles-Kraco Racing 1989 Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing 1988 Danny Sullivan Team Penske 1987 Bobby Rahal Truesports 1986 Bobby Rahal Truesports 1985 Al Unser Team Penske 1984 Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing 1983 Al Unser Team Penske 1982 Rick Mears Team Penske 1981 Rick Mears Team Penske 1980 Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Racing 1979 Rick Mears Team Penske
USAC (1956-1978)
Year Champion 1978 Tom Sneva 1977 Tom Sneva 1976 Gordon Johncock 1975 A.J Foyt 1974 Bobby Unser 1973 Roger McCluskey 1972 Joe Leonard 1971 Joe Leonard 1970 Al Unser 1969 Mario Andretti 1968 Bobby Unser 1967 A.J. Foyt 1966 Mario Andretti 1965 Mario Andretti 1964 A.J. Foyt 1963 A.J. Foyt 1962 Rodger Ward 1961 A.J. Foyt 1960 A.J. Foyt 1959 Rodger Ward 1958 Tony Bettenhausen 1957 Jimmy Bryan 1956 Jimmy Bryan
AAA (1909-1955)
Year Champion 1955 Bob Sweikert 1954 Jimmy Bryan 1953 Sam Hanks 1952 Chuck Stevenson 1951 Tony Bettenhausen 1950 Henry Banks 1949 Johnnie Parsons 1948 Ted Horn 1947 Ted Horn 1946 Ted Horn 1945 N/A 1944 N/A 1943 N/A 1942 N/A 1941 Rex Mays 1940 Rex Mays 1939 Wilbur Shaw 1938 Floyd Roberts 1937 Wilbur Shaw 1936 Mauri Rose 1935 Kelly Petillo 1934 Bill Cummings 1933 Louis Meyer 1932 Bob Carey 1931 Louis Schneider 1930 Billy Arnold 1929 Louis Meyer 1928 Louis Meyer 1927 Peter De Paolo 1926 Harry Hartz 1925 Peter De Paolo 1924 Jimmy Murphy 1923 Eddie Hearne 1922 Jimmy Murphy 1921 Tommy Milton 1920 Tommy Milton 1919 Howdy Wilcox 1918 Ralph Mulford 1917 Earl Cooper 1916 Dario Resta 1915 Earl Cooper 1914 Ralph DePalma 1913 Earl Cooper 1912 Ralph DePalma 1911 Ralph Mulford 1910 Ray Harroun 1909 George Robertson
READ MORE:
Top 10 drivers with most IndyCar Championship wins
