When Indianapolis Motor Speedway was first conceived in 1909, it’s quad-oval design was specifically chosen to all for the drivers and their machines to reach their highest possible performance level across the 2.5-mile course. From that moment on, speed has remained an integral part of folklore at the Brickyard, with the aura that comes with track records and fastest laps coming close to surpassing the prestige of victory in the 500 itself, and it was during the sport’s peak of the 1990s that one man’s speed achievements during the month of May saw him earn a deserved place in 500 folklore.

Born on the 21st of September 1953, Arie Luyendyk first came to prominence in the racing community competing in European junior formula events throughout the 1970s, winning a number of national championships in his native Netherlands before claiming victory in the European Super Vee championship in 1977. Following a failed spell competing in Formula Three, Luyendyk turned his attention to competing in America, where he repeated his European success at Super Vee level by winning the American version of the series in his first year in the states. The success of Luyendyk soon began to attract the attention of countryman Aat Groenevelt, who began to sponsor Luyendyk under the Provimi Veal banner.

With the help of Groenevelt, Luyendyk made his debut in Indycar racing in 1984, when he piloted a year old March to an encouraging eighth place finish in a one-off drive at Road America. A full season with Groenevelt followed in 1985, where Luyendyk continued to demonstrate his potential with a seventh placed finish at the Indianapolis 500, earning Luyendyk that season’s Rookie of the Year honours in the process. For the next four years however Luyendyk began to earn himself a reputation of something of a series journeyman, enduring short-lived spells with Ron Hemelgarn and Dick Simon Racing in which he was often hampered by out-dated and under-funded machinery. Despite this however the Dutchman was still able to demonstrate some signs of potential through those barren years, giving Ron Hemelgarn his best ever finish with a third placed result at Phoenix in 1987 before finishing a career best second at Portland in 1988, and leading many to believe that the Dutchman could be a regular threat if provided with the right equipment.

Following a 1989 campaign in which he finished 10th in points, Luyendyk was approached by team owner Doug Shierson to drive his iconic Dominoes Pizza machine for the 1990 campaign. Shierson’s outfit had previously claimed a second placed finish in the championship with Al Unser Jr. in 1985, before taking third place in the Indianapolis 500 with Raul Boesel in 1989. Armed with a new version of the all-important Chevrolet V8 engine, and with Shierson’s previous pedigree in the series, Luyendyk came into that season’s Indianapolis 500 quietly confident of an encouraging result. After showing strong pace throughout the month of May, Luyendyk placed the Dominoes machine third on the grid, and during the first half of the race remained part of a four car breakaway pack that included Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr and the long-time race-leading Penske of Emerson Fittipaldi.

When Fittipaldi was forced to make an unscheduled pit-stop to replace a blistered rear tyre, Luyendyk moved up into second place, and as new race leader Rahal began to struggle with handling issues Luyendyk was able to close the gap to the 1986 winner, and on lap 168 dove up the inside of the Galles Racing driver heading into turn number three. From that point on Luyendyk didn’t look back, continuing to stretch his lead over Rahal lap after lap to claim victory by over 11 seconds. The victory was the first ever of Luyendyk’s Indycar career, and at an average speed of 185 miles an hour broke the record for the fastest 500 ever completed (a record that would stand until Tony Kanaan’s victory in the 2013 edition of the event). Following his 500 triumph, Luyendyk found his life transformed both on and off the track, being named as one of People Magazine’s 50 most attractive people of 1991, and seeing the former journeyman as one of the most sought-after drivers in the series in particular when the Month of May arrived. A third placed finish for the Granatelli team in 1991 was followed securing the first Indianapolis pole position for himself and Chip Ganassi Racing on his way to a second placed finish in 1993.

In 1996, Luyendyk became the most high-profile driver to choose to compete in Tony George’s Indy Racing League, signing a deal to race for Rick Treadway’s upstart outfit for the three-race including the Indianapolis 500. With former winners Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr and Bobby Rahal all part of the CART boycott of the event, Luyendyk earned the title of the only former winner competing in that season’s race, and from once being an overlooked journeyman in the series was soon the undoubted man to beat heading into qualifying.

On that Sunday, Luyendyk was the first driver to take to the track, using the circuit’s cool surface to provide him with the opportune conditions to extract the most speed from his year-old Reynard. Armed with new turbo boost regulations for that year’s race, Luyendyk produced four laps that saw him enter 500 history, setting one and four lap records with a top speed of 237.498 mph on his fourth and final lap of his qualifying attempt, a record that still stands at the speedway even to this day thanks to changes in engine regulation may likely not be beaten for a long time to come. Despite his heroics in qualifying however, Luyendyk’s effort came on the second day of practice, forcing the Dutchman to start 20th on the grid and behind those that made it into the race on pole day. In the race itself Luyendyk quickly worked his way through the field to lead the race entering the middle-stages, only to suffer suspension damage in a collision with Eliseo Salazar exiting the pit-lane, and forcing the Dutchman to retire from the race on lap 149.

Arie Luyendyk may have struggled to make a name for himself in the early stages of his career, but through hard work and a little fortune was able to show the potential and skill many saw in him during his time in Holland, and doing it with the bravery and speed that has defined many a great champion of the 500 in years past. And as long as his four lap average remains at the Speedway he will always remain and icon when it comes to the Brickyard and the Memorial Day classic itself.

For today’s video Luyendyk speaks about his two speed records at the Brickyard: