9 Pacific Northwest Racers With Indy 500 Connections

Tom Sneva: Spokane’s Indy 500 Winner

Spokane can claim something most cities cannot: an Indianapolis 500 winner. Tom Sneva spent years coming close, including three runner-up finishes, before taking the checkered flag in 1983. Better known to racing fans as “The Gas Man,” he had already become one of the sport’s quickest and most recognizable drivers.

Northwest connection: Born in Spokane, Washington.

Indianapolis 500: 18 starts from 1974 through 1992; winner in 1983.

Other accomplishments: 1977 and 1978 USAC national champion; three Indy 500 poles.

Tom Sneva: Breaking the 200-MPH Mark

Sneva made Speedway history before he won the big race. In 1977, he recorded the first official qualifying lap above 200 mph at Indianapolis. A year later, he became the first driver to average more than 200 mph across the full four-lap qualifying run. Same driver, two different milestones – and both were a long way from his racing roots in Spokane.

• 1977: First official lap above 200 mph at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (200.401 mph).
• 1978: Four-lap qualifying average of 202.156 mph.
• 1983: Finally won the Indy 500 after finishing second in 1977, 1978, and 1980.

Sting Ray Robb: Idaho’s Current Indy 500 Starter

Yes, Sting Ray really is his name, and according to his INDYCAR biography, it was inspired by the Corvette. The driver from Payette, Idaho, has now started four consecutive Indianapolis 500 races. His best result so far came in 2024, when he finished 16th and spent part of the afternoon leading the field.

Northwest connection: Payette, Idaho; INDYCAR currently lists Indianapolis as his residence.

Indianapolis 500: Four starts, 2023-2026; best finish of 16th in 2024.

Other accomplishments: 2020 USF Pro 2000 champion and 2022 INDY NXT championship runner-up.

Sting Ray Robb: Four Trips to Indianapolis

Robb has had a little bit of everything at the Speedway, from an early exit in his first 500 to running all 200 laps in 2024. By the end of the 2026 race, he had four starts under his belt. That is still a young career by Indy standards, but it puts him firmly on the list of Northwest drivers who have actually made the field.

• 2023: Finished 31st in his Indy 500 debut.
• 2024: Finished 16th and led 23 laps.
• 2025 and 2026: Finished 23rd in each race.

Josh Pierson: Portland’s New IndyCar Prospect

Josh Pierson has not raced in the Indianapolis 500, but his career took a major step forward on October 27, 2026. The Portland-area driver signed a multiyear agreement with AJ Foyt Racing to begin racing in the IndyCar Series in 2027. That puts him closer to the 500, although an IndyCar contract is not the same as a confirmed Indy 500 start.

Northwest connection: Portland, Oregon area.

Indianapolis 500: No race starts as of October 2026.

Current development: Signed to drive AJ Foyt Racing’s No. 4 Chevrolet in the 2027 IndyCar season.

Josh Pierson: From Le Mans to IndyCar

Pierson already had an unusual racing resume before that contract. At 16, he became the youngest driver to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, then continued gaining experience in sports cars and INDY NXT. He won his first INDY NXT race at Laguna Seca in 2026. His next challenge is moving up to IndyCar, where an Indianapolis 500 opportunity could follow – but has not happened yet.

• 2022: Became the youngest-ever 24 Hours of Le Mans competitor, at age 16.
• 2026: Earned his first INDY NXT victory at Laguna Seca.
• 2027: Scheduled to make his IndyCar Series debut with AJ Foyt Racing.

INDYCAR confirmed the 2027 team agreement on October 27, 2026.

Len Sutton: An Oregon Runner-Up at Indy

Len Sutton came from Aims, a small Oregon community east of Portland, and worked his way from Northwest dirt tracks to one of racing’s biggest events. His finest Indianapolis 500 finish came in 1962, when he placed second behind Rodger Ward. He made seven starts at the Speedway, proving you did not need to grow up in a major racing city to reach Indianapolis.

Northwest connection: Born in Aims, Oregon.

Indianapolis 500: Seven starts from 1958 to 1965; finished second in 1962.

Other racing: Competed in dirt-track racing and USAC championship cars.

Len Sutton: From Dirt Tracks to the Radio Booth

Sutton did not arrive at Indianapolis with a straight path to the podium. His early career included years racing dirt tracks, and his first Indy 500 start in 1958 ended without completing a lap. Four years later, he was the runner-up. After retiring from driving, he remained connected to the sport through race broadcasting.

• Won multiple Oregon dirt-track championships before moving into Indy cars.
• 1958: His first Indianapolis 500 ended in an accident on the opening lap.
• 1962: Started fourth and finished second.
• Later worked with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway radio network.

Jack Turner: Seattle’s Six-Time Indy Starter

Before he reached Indianapolis, Seattle-born Jack Turner had already built a formidable record in midget racing. He won back-to-back AAA National Midget championships, then started six Indianapolis 500 races between 1956 and 1962. His best finish at the Brickyard was 11th in 1957.

Northwest connection: Born in Seattle, Washington; died in Renton in 2004.

Indianapolis 500: Six starts, 1956-1959 and 1961-1962; best finish of 11th in 1957.

Other accomplishments: AAA National Midget champion in 1954 and 1955.

Jack Turner: A Career That Ended After Indy Crashes

Turner, often called “Cactus Jack,” also had a remarkable life outside the cockpit. He served in the South Pacific during World War II before resuming his racing career. He survived violent flips at Indianapolis in 1961 and 1962, but a serious crash during practice in 1963 brought his driving career to an end.

• Served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
• Survived crashes at Indianapolis in 1961 and 1962.
• Retired after another crash in practice at the Speedway in 1963.

Dick Simon: Seattle-Born Driver and Team Owner

Dick Simon made a long career out of Indianapolis. Born in Seattle, he started the Indy 500 17 times, stretching from 1970 to 1988. He never won the race, but his sixth-place finish in 1987 was a career best. His story also continued on the team-owner side, where he became an important name in Indy car racing.

Northwest connection: Born in Seattle, Washington.

Indianapolis 500: 17 starts from 1970 to 1988; best finish of sixth in 1987.

Other accomplishments: Founded Dick Simon Racing and fielded cars for other drivers.

Dick Simon: More Than a Driver

Simon was 54 when he made his last Indianapolis 500 start in 1988, an age that made him the oldest starter in that year’s field. As a team owner, he gave other drivers opportunities at the Speedway. One of those drivers was Ludwig Heimrath Jr., whose first 500 start in 1987 came in a Dick Simon Racing entry.

• 1987: Finished sixth in the Indy 500, his best result.
• 1988: Made his final Indy 500 start at age 54.
• 1987: His team fielded Ludwig Heimrath Jr.’s first Indy 500 entry.

Ludwig Heimrath Jr.: A Washington Connection

Ludwig Heimrath Jr. was born in Ontario, Canada, so calling him a Pacific Northwest native would be a stretch. His regional connection is more specific: the Road Racing Drivers Club lists Spanaway, Washington, as his hometown. On the track, he made three Indianapolis 500 starts from 1987 through 1989.

Northwest connection: Listed with Spanaway, Washington, as his hometown by the Road Racing Drivers Club; born in Scarborough, Ontario.

Indianapolis 500: Three starts, 1987-1989; best finish of 13th in 1989.

Other racing: Competed in Formula Ford, IMSA, Trans-Am, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Ludwig Heimrath Jr.: Three Starts in Three Years

Heimrath qualified 10th for his first Indy 500 in 1987, driving for Dick Simon Racing, but a spin ended his race early. He returned in 1988 and 1989 and improved his result to 13th in the final appearance. His wider career also included Canadian Formula Ford titles and international sports car racing.

• 1987: Started 10th, finished 30th for Dick Simon Racing.
• 1988: Finished 25th.
• 1989: Finished 13th, his best Indy 500 result.
• Won the Ontario Formula Ford championship in 1979 and 1980.

His Road Racing Drivers Club profile provides the documented Spanaway connection.

Mark Smith: An Oregon Driver Who Nearly Made the 500

McMinnville, Oregon, racer Mark Smith had the speed to reach top-level Indy car racing, but Indianapolis was particularly unforgiving. He made qualifying attempts in both 1993 and 1994, and both times was bumped from the starting field. He competed in CART races elsewhere, but never started the Indianapolis 500 itself.

Northwest connection: From McMinnville, Oregon.

Indianapolis 500: Attempted to qualify in 1993 and 1994; zero race starts.

Other accomplishments: 1989 U.S. Formula Super Vee champion; later competed in Indy Lights and CART.

Mark Smith: Two Attempts, No Starting Spot

Smith’s Indy record is a reminder that running a fast lap does not guarantee a place in the 33-car field. In 1993, he briefly held a qualifying spot before being bumped out on the final day. Another attempt in 1994 ended the same way. He still built a respectable junior-series career, including three Indy Lights victories.

• 1990: Indy Lights Rookie of the Year.
• 1991: Finished second in the Indy Lights championship.
• 1993 and 1994: Bumped out of the Indianapolis 500 starting field.
• 1994: Finished fifth in the Michigan 500, a separate CART race.

For the detailed Indy qualifying history, see DoctorIndy’s account of the 1993 and 1994 attempts.

Cheryl Glass: Seattle Racer With Indy Ambitions

Cheryl Glass grew up in Seattle and built an impressive racing career long before the Indianapolis 500 became a realistic possibility for her. She began in quarter-midgets, moved into sprint cars, and competed professionally around the country. The Indy 500 was a major goal, but she never qualified for or started the race.

Northwest connection: Raised in Seattle, Washington; born in Mountain View, California.

Indianapolis 500: Never started or qualified for the race; pursued an Indy 500 opportunity.

Other racing: Raced at Skagit Speedway and later competed in Indy Lights.

Cheryl Glass: A Pioneer Beyond the Starting Grid

Glass deserves a place in Northwest motorsports history even without an Indy 500 start. HistoryLink identifies her as the first African American female professional race-car driver in the United States. She raced in more than 100 events and pursued higher levels of competition, but the resources and opportunities needed to reach Indianapolis never came together.

• Began racing quarter-midget cars as a child in Washington.
• Became a professional racer in 1980 and raced at Skagit Speedway.
• Competed in Indy Lights in 1990.
• Never reached the Indianapolis 500 starting grid.

Her career is documented in HistoryLink’s biography of Cheryl Linn Glass.