Who was the first driver to qualify at over 230 mph for the Indianapolis 500?

Roberto Guerrero was the first driver to qualify at over 230 mph for the Indianapolis 500. He achieved the milestone during qualifying for the 1992 race, driving a Buick-powered Lola for King Racing.

Guerrero’s four-lap qualifying average was 232.482 mph, setting a new Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record. He also recorded a one-lap speed of 232.618 mph during the run. The achievement came during an unusually fast month at Indianapolis, when turbocharged Indy cars were reaching unprecedented speeds.

The wording can cause a common mix-up: Guerrero was the first to qualify over 230 mph, while several drivers had exceeded 230 mph in practice or unofficial running. Guerrero later experienced a notorious setback when he crashed on the pace lap before the 1992 race, despite starting from pole position.