Which driver led a race-record 198 laps while winning the 1930 Indianapolis 500?

Billy Arnold led a race-record 198 laps while winning the 1930 Indianapolis 500. Starting from pole, Arnold took the lead on lap 3 after Louis Meyer led the opening two laps, then remained in front through lap 200.

Arnold’s 198 laps led were both consecutive and the most ever recorded by an Indianapolis 500 winner. He defeated Shorty Cantlon by more than seven minutes, completing the 500 miles in 4 hours, 58 minutes, and 39.72 seconds at an average speed above 100 mph.

The 1930 race was notable for a major rules shift. Engine displacement limits increased dramatically, superchargers were generally banned, and riding mechanics were mandatory. Arnold drove the entire race without relief, a significant endurance achievement in an era when driver changes were common.

The record is sometimes confused with the number of laps Arnold completed, but he finished all 200. His total of 198 led reflects the two laps Meyer controlled at the start. Arnold returned to Indianapolis in 1931 and again led heavily, but a crash ended his race while he held a large advantage.