100th Anniversary: Who Were the Best Indy Drivers Never to Win

Tony Kanaan recently said that you win the 500 when the track let's you win.  There is more than a little truth to his statement.  If in 1961 Eddie Sachs car could have gotten by for two more laps on his tires, and if Parnelli Jones turbine car had not broken down with a little more than two laps, A.J. Foyt might only have been a two-time winner.  If Danny Sullivan had been a little less lucky and made contact with the wall when he spun in the 1985 race, he would have not been a 500 Winner, and Mairo Andretti would have won twice. 

So who are the best Indy drivers who were deprived of the sip of milk in Victory Lane?  Here's my list:

1.  Michael Andretti:  Michael inherited his father's incredible racing skill, but also his racing luck.  He is on the top 10 list at the 500 for laps lead, miles competed and prize money won -- and he is the sole member on each of those lists who has not won at least one Indianapolis 500.  In 1992, he so dominated the race that he lead 160 of the first 189 laps, and had victory nearly in sight, when his car lost fuel pressure. Even as an owner, his luck isn't much better.  Son Marco led the 2006 race coming out of turn 4, only to be passed by Sam Hornish in the last 100 yards, the latest pass for the lead in the history of the 500.

2.  Rex Mays:   Despite being robbed of four of the prime years of his career when the 500 was suspended during World War II, Mays took the pole position four times in just 12 races.  In an era when cars did not make up distance by bunching up under the yellow flag, he led nine of his 12 starts.  He twice finished second to three-time winner Wilbur Shaw.

3.  Lloyd Ruby.  Never has a man talked soooooo slowwwww, driven so fast.  The plain spoken racer from Witchita Falls, TX was the epitome of bad luck at the 500 during the mid and late 1960s.  In 1966 he held a 50 second lead with only 53 laps to go, when he was black flagged due to an oil leak and forced to give up the lead.  In 1969, near the halfway point, he seemed to have the car to beat.  Eventual race leader Mario Andretti was nursing an overheating car.  But as Ruby tried to leave the pits, the fuel hose was still connected and ripped a hole in the side of his car, ending another chance at Victory Lane.

4.  Ted Horn:  Not remembered as often as he should be, Horn had the most remarkable finishing record ever at the 500.  In 10 races, he only once finished outside the top 4, and that was his rookie year in 1935.  No one has come close to his streak of nine straight top 4 finishes.  He also took the pole position one year.  Like Rex Mays, he was denied four 500s during the peak of his racing career due to World War II.

5.  Tony Kanaan (at least not yet):   In seven races, Kanaan has never started outside the first two rows, and has led every 500 in which he has raced.  His best finish was second in 2004 when Buddy Rice won the rain-shortened race.  Rain may have also cost Kanaan his best chance at winning in 2007, as rain caught him behind several drivers who had not yet pitted, including winner and teammate Dario Franchiti.  But nearly every racing expert expects Kanaan to eventually claim one -- or more -- wins at the Brickyard -- just like they expected it of Michael Andretti, for whom Kanaan drives