# Arie Luyendyk
**Arie Luyendyk** (born 1953 in Rosmalen, the Netherlands) is a Dutch former racing driver who won the [Indianapolis 500](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-500) in 1990 and 1997 and set the [Indianapolis Motor Speedway](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-motor-speedway)'s all-time qualifying speed record in 1996[1](https://www.theautochannel.com/news/events/indy500_97/bios/aluyendyk.html) • [2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk). Known as "The Flying Dutchman," he was the first driver from the Netherlands to win the Indianapolis 500[3](https://nl.motorsport.com/indycar/news/retro-arie-luyendyk-indianapolis-500-1990-zege-terugblik/4797099/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953, Rosmalen, the Netherlands; residence Scottsdale, Arizona[1](https://www.theautochannel.com/news/events/indy500_97/bios/aluyendyk.html) |
| Indianapolis 500 record | 2 wins (1990, 1997), 17 starts, 3 poles, 4 top fives, 7 top tens, $6,110,861 in winnings[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk) |
| 1990 victory | Started third for Doug Shierson Racing in a Lola/Chevrolet, led 37 laps, won at a record 185.981 mph average, earning $1,090,940[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk) • [4](https://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-12-Indy-500-history-Luyendyk-wins-first-race-in-1990) |
| 1997 victory | Won from the pole for Treadway Racing in a G Force/Oldsmobile Aurora, led 61 laps, earned $1,568,150[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk) |
| Qualifying record | Four-lap average of 236.986 mph (381.392 km/h), with a one-lap best of 237.498 mph, set May 12, 1996 in a Reynard-Ford-Cosworth[5](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/63893-fastest-qualifcation-for-the-indianapolis-500-race) |
| Career wins | Luyendyk had seven career Indy car victories and 170 career starts under CART, USAC, and IRL sanction; the 166 starts comprising 131 CART, 11 USAC, and 24 IRL were from 1984-1998.[6](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2015/05/12/luyendyk-remembers-track-record-run-19-years-ago-today) • [7](https://www.indycar.com/-/media/Files/2014/News/IndyCar_Historical_Record_Book_2015-All-Time-Records.pdf?la=en) • [19](https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-arie-luyendyk-fact-sheet/1733024/) |
| Honors | 1985 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year; inductee of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[1](https://www.theautochannel.com/news/events/indy500_97/bios/aluyendyk.html) • [6](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2015/05/12/luyendyk-remembers-track-record-run-19-years-ago-today) |
## Early life and move to America
Luyendyk grew up in a racing family on the [South Holland](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-holland) island of Goeree-Overflakkee. His father, Jaap Luyendyk, was a butcher and mechanic with a degree from a Dutch technical school who raced in South Africa and won a Super Vee Western European Zone championship after the family returned to the Netherlands in 1965. Arie first sat in a race car at 18[8](https://www.indycar.com/news/2019/07/07-02-voices-query).
The family name was originally spelled Luyendijk, and he changed it to Luyendyk after moving to the United States[9](https://racingnews365.nl/arie-luyendyk). He came to America from Sommelsdijk in 1981 as a road-racing specialist and developed into one of the leading oval-track racers in open-wheel racing[10](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-29-sp-42259-story.html).
## Indianapolis 500 career
Luyendyk passed his driver's test at [Indianapolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis) in 1985 and was named Rookie of the Year that year, finishing seventh after starting 20th[1](https://www.theautochannel.com/news/events/indy500_97/bios/aluyendyk.html). He made the field every year through the decade, driving for entrants including Provimi Racing, Dick Simon Racing, Hemelgarn Racing, and Doug Shierson Racing[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk).
**The 1990 victory.** Starting on the outside of the front row in the Domino's Pizza Lola/[Chevrolet](https://www.edgepedia.org/chevrolet), Luyendyk took the lead with 32 laps remaining and finished the 500 miles at an average speed of 185.981 mph, a race record that stood until 2013. [Bobby Rahal](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-rahal) finished second, 11.8 seconds behind, and defending winner [Emerson Fittipaldi](https://www.edgepedia.org/emerson-fittipaldi) third. The 1990 race was the fastest 500-mile race in Indy car history to that point[4](https://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-12-Indy-500-history-Luyendyk-wins-first-race-in-1990) • [11](https://newspapers.swco.ttu.edu/bitstreams/ed894e4a-0841-46de-9933-ef0a9dde3640/download). It was his first Indy car win, and he collected $1,090,940 for it[4](https://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-12-Indy-500-history-Luyendyk-wins-first-race-in-1990) • [12](https://www.witzwrites.com/_files/ugd/441e52_56c0de6ce3334e5caaf3e4165378f060.pdf). Luyendyk later said the victory made him an Indy 500 specialist and was huge news in the Netherlands[4](https://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-12-Indy-500-history-Luyendyk-wins-first-race-in-1990).
**Near-misses and the 1993 pole.** He came close to a second win in 1993: after taking the pole for [Chip Ganassi Racing](https://www.edgepedia.org/chip-ganassi-racing), he led 14 laps and dueled with [Nigel Mansell](https://www.edgepedia.org/nigel-mansell) and Emerson Fittipaldi before finishing second by two seconds[13](https://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/arie-luyendyk.html). In 1995 he started second for Team Menard and finished seventh[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk).
**The 1996 qualifying record.** On May 12, 1996, driving a red and white Cosworth Ford-powered Reynard on Firestone tires, Luyendyk set the four-lap qualifying record of 236.986 mph, including a one-lap record of 237.498 mph[5](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/63893-fastest-qualifcation-for-the-indianapolis-500-race) • [6](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2015/05/12/luyendyk-remembers-track-record-run-19-years-ago-today). Because he qualified on the second day rather than on Pole Day, the run did not put him on the pole; he started 20th and finished 16th[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk). The record still stands as the fastest qualifying speed in the speedway's history[8](https://www.indycar.com/news/2019/07/07-02-voices-query).
**The 1997 victory.** Racing for the small Treadway Racing team in the Indy Racing League, Luyendyk started from the pole in the WavePhore/Sprint PCS G Force/[Oldsmobile Aurora](https://www.edgepedia.org/oldsmobile-aurora), led 61 laps, and won, earning $1,568,150[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk). He also started from the pole in 1999, leading 63 laps before an accident ended his race[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk).
## Beyond Indianapolis
Luyendyk's Indy 500 success anchored a career spent largely in the CART and IRL championships, in which he recorded 170 starts under CART, USAC, and IRL sanction[7](https://www.indycar.com/-/media/Files/2014/News/IndyCar_Historical_Record_Book_2015-All-Time-Records.pdf?la=en). His seven career Indy car wins include the 1990 Indianapolis 500 and a victory at Phoenix the following year[4](https://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-12-Indy-500-history-Luyendyk-wins-first-race-in-1990) • [6](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2015/05/12/luyendyk-remembers-track-record-run-19-years-ago-today). He also won endurance races at Daytona and Sebring[14](https://as.com/motor/mas_motor/palmares-y-records-de-las-500-millas-n/).
He retired after the 2002 season, in which he finished 14th for Treadway and Associates Racing, but returned for a final Indianapolis 500 start in 2002 after a first retirement around 1999[2](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk) • [15](https://www.formule1.nl/nieuws/out-with-a-bang-het-eerste-en-tweede-einde-van-arie-luyendyks-indy-carriere/). In 1998 he was the only driver to race in both the IRL and CART series, and he described crashes that season including a head-on wall hit at 215 mph at California Speedway in Fontana[16](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-14-sp-49721-story.html).
## Later roles and recognition
After retiring, Luyendyk stayed in the sport as a driver coach for IndyCar competitors, a pace car driver, and a safety car driver at select Verizon IndyCar Series races[4](https://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-12-Indy-500-history-Luyendyk-wins-first-race-in-1990) • [15](https://www.formule1.nl/nieuws/out-with-a-bang-het-eerste-en-tweede-einde-van-arie-luyendyks-indy-carriere/). He has served as a race steward for the NTT IndyCar Series, in a fixed panel with Max Papis and Dan Davis, for roughly 12 years[8](https://www.indycar.com/news/2019/07/07-02-voices-query) • [17](https://autosport.nl/klasse/nieuws/41092/nieuw-meldt-je-aan-voor-het-gratis-autosport-nl-e-magazine-12/).
He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2014[6](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2015/05/12/luyendyk-remembers-track-record-run-19-years-ago-today). His son, [Arie Luyendyk Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/arie-luyendyk-jr), has also raced in the Indianapolis 500[18](https://doctorindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2007_indy500_media_guide.pdf).
## References
1. [IRL Driver Biography: Arie Luyendyk, The Auto Channel](https://www.theautochannel.com/news/events/indy500_97/bios/aluyendyk.html)
2. [Driver Details: Arie Luyendyk, Indianapolis 500 Historical Stats, Indianapolis Motor Speedway](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/arie-luyendyk)
3. [Retro: Hoe Luyendyk geschiedenis schreef in de Indianapolis 500, Motorsport.com](https://nl.motorsport.com/indycar/news/retro-arie-luyendyk-indianapolis-500-1990-zege-terugblik/4797099/)
4. [25 years ago: Luyendyk earns first victory, INDYCAR](https://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-12-Indy-500-history-Luyendyk-wins-first-race-in-1990)
5. [Fastest qualification for the Indianapolis 500 race, Guinness World Records](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/63893-fastest-qualifcation-for-the-indianapolis-500-race)
6. [Luyendyk Remembers Track-Record Run, 19 Years Ago Today, Indianapolis Motor Speedway](https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2015/05/12/luyendyk-remembers-track-record-run-19-years-ago-today)
7. [All Time Indy Car Records (1946-2014), INDYCAR Historical Record Book](https://www.indycar.com/-/media/Files/2014/News/IndyCar_Historical_Record_Book_2015-All-Time-Records.pdf?la=en)
8. [A father and a truck part of Luyendyk's story, INDYCAR](https://www.indycar.com/news/2019/07/07-02-voices-query)
9. [Arie Luyendyk, RacingNews365](https://racingnews365.nl/arie-luyendyk)
10. [500 Miles to Retirement, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-29-sp-42259-story.html)
11. [WORL newspaper clipping, Southwest Collection, Texas Tech University](https://newspapers.swco.ttu.edu/bitstreams/ed894e4a-0841-46de-9933-ef0a9dde3640/download)
12. [Witz Writes: 1990 Indy 500 feature](https://www.witzwrites.com/_files/ugd/441e52_56c0de6ce3334e5caaf3e4165378f060.pdf)
13. [Arie Luyendyk, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America](https://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/arie-luyendyk.html)
14. [Palmarés y récords de las 500 Millas, AS.com](https://as.com/motor/mas_motor/palmares-y-records-de-las-500-millas-n/)
15. [Out With A Bang: Het eerste en tweede einde van Arie Luyendyks Indy-carrière, Formule1.nl](https://www.formule1.nl/nieuws/out-with-a-bang-het-eerste-en-tweede-einde-van-arie-luyendyks-indy-carriere/)
16. [He'll Take Indy, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-14-sp-49721-story.html)
17. [Hoe is het nu met… Arie Luyendijk, Autosport.nl](https://autosport.nl/klasse/nieuws/41092/nieuw-meldt-je-aan-voor-het-gratis-autosport-nl-e-magazine-12/)
18. [2007 Indianapolis 500 Media Guide: Arie Luyendyk Jr.](https://doctorindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2007_indy500_media_guide.pdf)
19. [IRL: Arie Luyendyk Fact Sheet](https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-arie-luyendyk-fact-sheet/1733024/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Cycling and motor sport › North American open-wheel racing › North American open-wheel drivers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license