Who first won the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed over 100 mph?

Pete DePaolo was the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed above 100 mph.

DePaolo achieved the milestone in the 1925 Indianapolis 500, averaging 101.127 mph in a Duesenberg. It was the first time the race itself had been completed at an average above 100 mph, a landmark showing how rapidly Indianapolis cars and engines had advanced since Ray Harroun’s 74.602-mph average in 1911.

DePaolo’s winning margin and speed were especially notable because he was relieved for 21 laps. His victory still counts as his own, as was standard in an era when drivers could share driving duties during long races. The 1925 win also helped him secure that year’s national championship.

The record did not last forever. Fred Frame raised the Indianapolis 500 average to 104.14 mph in 1932. Another common mix-up is to confuse qualifying speed with race average: the figure in this question refers to the winner’s elapsed time over the full 500-mile distance, including pit stops.