The Indianapolis 500, also known as Indy 500, is a race of dreams (and sometimes nightmares). Every May, drivers from around the world gather at the Brickyard with one goal: 33 cars on the starting grid. But for every car that takes the green flag, dozens more see their dreams dashed on the asphalt or in the timing sheets. Here’s a look at some of the most unforgettable qualifying failures in Indy 500 history.
Known for his defiance and love of classic machinery, Jim Hurtubise attempted to qualify his front-engine roadster a couple of times in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. His car, called the “Mallard”, was introduced long after rear-engine cars became the standard. Year after year, he fell short of the required speed, turning heads not for success, but for audacity. His persistence made him a fan favorite, proving that sometimes passion outshines results. But a front-engine car was doomed to be unable to qualify.
A big name in motorsports does not automatically means that you qualify on the front-row of the Brickyard. Neil Bonnett and Hurley Haywood had found this out in 1979. Both stars of other racing series, Bonnett and Haywood ventured into Indy with high expectations. Unfortunately, rain and early spins ended their qualifying days before they could make a meaningful attempt. Even champions in other arenas learned that Indy has its own unforgiving rhythm.
In the early 1980’s there was also Phil Caliva. Caliva’s repeated attempts to qualify epitomized the struggle of underfunded drivers. Despite several runs, his cars were never fast enough. Each year, he came back with hope, only to be reminded of the brutal reality of the Speedway: talent alone isn’t enough without speed, equipment, and a strong team.
That the oval of Indianapolis is dangerous, is shown by the attempt of Jovy Marcelo in 1992. Marcelo’s attempt ended not only in failure to qualify but in his fatal crash during practice, ten years after the fatal crash of Gordon Smiley during practice. His story is a reminder of how dangerous Indy has historically been, and how small mistakes can have huge consequences. In 1996 another fatality struck after, in this case, a very successful qualifying attempt; Scott Brayton, who claimed the pole position a year earlier and also for the 1996 edition of the Indy 500, lost his life during a practice session leading up to the Indy 500.
Willy T. Ribbs did two attempts to qualify, in 1991 and 1994, but his historic attempts to qualify highlighted both his talent and the obstacles of underfunded teams. Despite his skill, technical limitations and limited resources kept him from making the field on multiple occasions, a stark reminder of the financial and logistical challenges at Indy.
Dan Drinan was even more stubborn and did three attempts, in 1996, 1998 and 2000. Drinan’s story is one of sheer determination against overwhelming odds. With outdated chassis and engines, he tried repeatedly to qualify. Crashes and mechanical failures repeatedly ended his attempts, but his persistence became a testament to the spirit of privateer racing.
A big name in motorsports, and also able to qualify for the Indy 500 as shown in previous years: Fernando Alonso. Two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso returned to Indy in 2019 with McLaren, confident and prepared. But a combination of car issues, limited track time, and a narrowly missed qualifying speed (just 0.019 mph short) left him bumped from the field. Even legends aren’t immune to Indy’s harsh realities.
Qualifying for the Indy 500 is one of the toughest challenges in motorsport. Talent alone isn’t enough; speed, equipment, teamwork, and a bit of luck all play a role. For every driver who makes the grid, many more face heartbreak, mechanical failures, or worse, proving that just reaching the starting line is an achievement in itself.
Originally published: 21st of May, 2025
