List of Indianapolis 500 lap leaders
The Leaders Circle Award Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
Two hundred fourteen drivers have led the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in ninety-nine races.
Career lap leader percentage rounded to hundredths of a percent.
Green indicates drivers active as of most recent race.
Rank |
Driver |
Laps Led |
Career Laps Run |
Career Lap Leader Percentage |
Race Wins |
Years Won |
1 | Al Unser | 644 | 4,356 | 14.78% | 4 | 1970 | 1971 | 1978 | 1987 |
2 | † Ralph DePalma | 612 | 1,594 | 38.39% | 1 | 1915 | |
3 | Mario Andretti | 556 | 3,040 | 18.29% | 1 | 1969 | |
4 | A. J. Foyt | 555 | 4,909 | 11.31% | 4 | 1961 | 1964 | 1967 | 1977 |
5 | Wilbur Shaw | 508 | 2,019 | 25.16% | 3 | 1937 | 1939 | 1940 | |
6 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 505 | 1,785 | 28.29% | 2 | 1989 | 1993 | |
7 | Parnelli Jones | 492 | 1,130 | 43.54% | 1 | 1963 | |
8 | Bill Vukovich | 485 | 676 | 71.75% | 2 | 1953 | 1954 | |
9 | Bobby Unser | 466 | 2,611 | 16.85% | 3 | 1968 | 1975 | 1981 | |
10 | Scott Dixon | 434 | Active driver | 1 | 2008 | |
11 | Michael Andretti | 431 | 2,653 | 16.25% | |
12 | Rick Mears | 429 | 2,342 | 18.32% | 4 | 1979 | 1984 | 1988 | 1991 |
13 | Billy Arnold | 410 | 821 | 49.94% | 1 | 1930 | |
14 | Gordon Johncock | 406 | 3,158 | 10.73% | 2 | 1973 | 1982 | |
15 | Louis Meyer | 332 | 1,916 | 17.33% | 3 | 1928 | 1933 | 1936 | |
16 | Dario Franchitti | 329 | 1,940 | 16.96% | 3 | 2007 | 2010 | 2012 | |
17 | Tony Kanaan | 309 | Active driver | 1 | 2013 | |
18 | Jim Clark | 298 | 682 | 43.69% | 1 | 1965 | |
19 | Bill Holland | 297 | 914 | 32.49% | 1 | 1949 | |
20 | Johnny Rutherford | 296 | 2,770 | 10.69% | 3 | 1974 | 1976 | 1980 | |
21 | Hélio Castroneves | 296 | Active driver | 3 | 2001 | 2002 | 2009 | |
22 | Rex Mays | 266 | 1,385 | 19.21% | |
23 | Rodger Ward | 261 | 2,160 | 12.08% | 2 | 1959 | 1962 | |
24 | Mauri Rose | 256 | 2,326 | 11.01% | 3 | 1941 | 1947 | 1948 | |
25 | Dan Wheldon | 235 | 1,129 | 20.73% | 2 | 2005 | 2011 | |
26 | Jimmy Murphy | 220 | 907 | 24.26% | 1 | 1922 | |
27 | Tommy Milton | 218 | 1,204 | 18.11% | 2 | 1921 | 1923 | |
28 | Jimmy Bryan | 216 | 1,411 | 15.31% | 1 | 1958 | |
29 | Tom Sneva | 208 | 2,180 | 9.54% | 1 | 1983 | |
30 | Frank Lockhart | 205 | 280 | 73.21% | 1 | 1926 | |
31 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 192 | Active driver | 2 | 2000 | 2015 | |
32 | Arie Luyendyk | 187 | 2,957 | 6.32% | 2 | 1990 | 1997 | |
33 | Jimmy Snyder | 181 | 495 | 36.57% | |
34 | Lee Wallard | 178 | 591 | 30.12% | 1 | 1951 | |
35 | Danny Sullivan | 162 | 1,523 | 10.64% | 1 | 1985 | |
36 | Howdy Wilcox | 155 | 1,335 | 11.61% | 1 | 1919 | |
37 | Jim Rathmann | 153 | 2,320 | 6.59% | 1 | 1960 | |
38 | Tomas Scheckter | 153 | 1,691 | 9.05% | |
39 | Peter DePaolo | 152 | 738 | 20.60% | 1 | 1925 | |
40 | Marco Andretti | 141 | Active driver | |
41 | † Dario Resta | 140 | 407 | 34.40% | 1 | 1916 | |
42 | Sam Hanks | 140 | 1,566 | 8.94% | 1 | 1957 | |
43 | Jules Goux | 139 | 773 | 17.98% | 1 | 1913 | |
44 | †2 George Robson | 138 | 333 | 41.44% | 1 | 1946 | |
45 | Pat Flaherty | 138 | 812 | 17.00% | 1 | 1956 | |
46 | Gary Bettenhausen | 138 | 2,372 | 5.82% | |
47 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 134 | Active driver | 1 | 2014 | |
48 | Johnnie Parsons | 131 | 1,504 | 8.71% | 1 | 1950 | |
49 | Lloyd Ruby | 126 | 2,357 | 5.35% | |
50 | Bobby Rahal | 124 | 2,007 | 6.18% | 1 | 1986 | |
51 | Earl Cooper | 123 | 941 | 13.07% | |
52 | Tony Stewart | 122 | 700 | 17.43% | |
53 | Joe Boyer | 118 | 536 | 22.01% | 1 | 1924 | |
54 | Greg Ray | 116 | 920 | 12.61% | |
55 | René Thomas | 114 | 744 | 15.32% | 1 | 1914 | |
56 | Al Unser Jr. | 110 | 3,173 | 3.47% | 2 | 1992 | 1994 | |
57 | Kelly Petillo | 108 | 1,283 | 8.42% | 1 | 1935 | |
58 | Wally Dallenbach Sr. | 108 | 1,448 | 7.46% | |
59 | Sam Hornish Jr. | 107 | 1,346 | 7.95% | 1 | 2006 | |
60 | Babe Stapp | 106 | 960 | 11.04% | |
61 | Fred Frame | 106 | 1,281 | 8.27% | 1 | 1932 | |
62 | Buddy Rice | 99 | | | 1 | 2004 | |
63 | Ted Horn | 94 | 1,944 | 4.84% | |
64 | Dave Lewis | 93 | 384 | 24.22% | |
65 | Bill Cummings | 93 | 1,229 | 7.57% | 1 | 1934 | |
66 | Floyd Roberts | 92 | 883 | 10.42% | 1 | 1938 | |
67 | Kenny Bräck | 89 | 885 | 10.06% | 1 | 1999 | |
68 | Eddie Cheever, Jr. | 89 | 2,122 | 4.19% | 1 | 1998 | |
69 | Ray Harroun | 88 | 200 | 44.00% | 1 | 1911 | |
70 | Bob Sweikert | 86 | 825 | 10.42% | 1 | 1955 | |
71 | David L. Bruce-Brown | 81 | 224 | 36.16% | |
72 | Danny Ongais | 79 | 1,527 | 5.17% | |
73 | Arthur Duray | 77 | 200 | 38.50% | |
74 | Will Power | 74 | | | |
75 | †3 Gil de Ferran | 71 | 601 | 11.81% | 1 | 2003 | |
76 | Jack McGrath | 70 | 1,094 | 6.40% | |
77 | Mark Donohue | 70 | 748 | 9.36% | 1 | 1972 | |
78 | Buddy Lazier | 70 | Active driver | 1 | 1996 | |
79 | Frank Brisko | 69 | 1,330 | 5.19% | |
80 | Troy Ruttman | 69 | 1,472 | 4.69% | 1 | 1952 | |
81 | Ed Carpenter | 69 | | | |
82 | Leon Duray | 68 | 693 | 9.81% | |
83 | Ralph Hepburn | 68 | 1,864 | 3.65% | |
84 | George Souders | 67 | 400 | 16.75% | 1 | 1927 | |
85 | Eddie Sachs | 66 | 1,069 | 6.17% | |
86 | Maurício Gugelmin | 59 | 396 | 14.90% | |
87 | Harry Hartz | 57 | 996 | 5.72% | |
88 | Roberto Guerrero | 56 | 1,735 | 3.23% | |
89 | Johnny Thomson | 55 | 1,044 | 5.27% | |
90 | James Hinchcliffe | 53 | | | |
91 | Joe Leonard | 52 | 1,072 | 4.85% | |
92 | Jeff Ward | 52 | | | |
93 | Robby Gordon | 52 | | | |
94 | Bruno Junqueira | 52 | | | |
95 | Scott Goodyear | 50 | | | |
96 | Deacon Litz | 49 | | | |
97 | Ray Keech | 46 | | | 1 | 1929 | |
98 | Pat O'Connor | 46 | | | |
99 | Davy Jones | 46 | | | |
100 | Jimmy Gleason | 43 | | | |
101 | Gil Anderson | 41 | | | |
102 | Bob Burman | 41 | | | |
103 | Jackie Stewart | 40 | | | |
104 | Louis Schneider | 39 | | | |
105 | John Paul, Jr. | 39 | | | |
106 | Alex Tagliani | 39 | | | |
107 | Teo Fabi | 37 | | | |
108 | Bob Carey | 36 | | | |
109 | Jim Hurtubise | 36 | | | |
110 | Cliff Bergere | 35 | | | |
111 | Paul Russo | 35 | | | |
112 | Simon Pagenaud | 35 | | | |
113 | Bob Swanson | 34 | | | |
114 | Nigel Mansell | 34 | | | |
115 | Bobby Marshman | 33 | | | |
116 | Tony Gulotta | 33 | | | |
117 | Art Cross | 32 | | | |
118 | Duke Nalon | 32 | | | |
119 | Takuma Sato | 31 | | | |
120 | Ryan Briscoe | 30 | | | |
121 | Phil Shafer | 29 | | | |
122 | Mark Dismore | 29 | | | |
123 | Danica Patrick | 29 | | | |
124 | Jacques Villeneuve | 26 | | | 1 | 1995 | |
125 | Jimmy Vasser | 26 | | | |
126 | Jimmy Davies | 25 | | | |
127 | Carlos Muñoz | 25 | | | |
128 | Tony Bettenhausen | 24 | | | |
129 | Lou Moore | 23 | | | |
130 | A. J. Allmendinger | 23 | | | |
131 | Raul Boesel | 21 | | | |
132 | Alessandro Zampedri | 20 | | | |
133 | George Amick | 18 | | | |
134 | Johnny Boyd | 18 | | | |
135 | Oriol Servià | 18 | | | |
136 | Kevin Cogan | 17 | | | |
137 | Johnny Aitken | 16 | | | |
138 | Jerry Grant | 16 | | | |
139 | Robbie Buhl | 16 | | | |
140 | Vitor Meira | 15 | | | |
141 | Mike Conway | 15 | | | |
142 | †3 Gaston Chevrolet | 14 | | | 1 | 1920 | |
143 | Ernie Triplett | 14 | | | |
144 | Alexander Rossi | 14 | | | 1 | 2016 | |
145 | Josef Newgarden | 14 | | | |
146 | Russ Snowberger | 13 | | | |
147 | Josele Garza | 13 | | | |
148 | Billy Boat | 13 | | | |
149 | Justin Wilson | 13 | | | |
150 | Charlie Kimball | 13 | | | |
151 | Townsend Bell | 13 | | | |
152 | Swede Savage | 12 | | | |
153 | Felipe Giaffone | 12 | | | |
154 | Bertrand Baguette | 11 | | | |
155 | J. R. Hildebrand | 11 | | | |
156 | Ralph Mulford | 10 | | | |
157 | Alex Barron | 10 | | | |
158 | Eddie Rickenbacker | 9 | | | |
159 | Albert Guyot | 9 | | | |
160 | Josef Christiaens | 9 | | | |
161 | †4 Louis Chevrolet | 9 | | | |
162 | Dutch Bauman | 9 | | | |
163 | Graham Hill | 9 | | | 1 | 1966 | |
164 | Len Sutton | 9 | | | |
165 | Jimmy Daywalt | 8 | | | |
166 | Pancho Carter | 8 | | | |
167 | Jim Crawford | 8 | | | |
168 | Scott Pruett | 8 | | | |
169 | Don Freeland | 7 | | | |
170 | Roger McCluskey | 7 | | | |
171 | Ira Hall | 6 | | | |
172 | Graham Rahal | 6 | | | |
173 | Cecil Green | 5 | | | |
174 | Jimmy Jackson | 5 | | | |
175 | Spencer Wishart | 5 | | | |
176 | E. J. Viso | 5 | | | |
177 | James Jakes | 5 | | | |
178 | Fred Belcher | 4 | | | |
179 | Cliff Durant | 4 | | | |
180 | Mike Mosley | 4 | | | |
181 | Buzz Calkins | 4 | | | |
182 | Sam Schmidt | 4 | | | |
183 | George Snider | 3 | | | |
184 | Davey Hamilton | 3 | | | |
185 | Scott Sharp | 3 | | | |
186 | Bryan Herta | 3 | | | |
187 | Adrian Fernández | 3 | | | |
188 | Mario Moraes | 3 | | | |
189 | Bryan Clauson | 3 | | | |
190 | Caleb Bragg | 2 | | | |
191 | Teddy Tetzlaff | 2 | | | |
192 | Joe Dawson | 2 | | | 1 | 1912 | |
193 | Robert Evans | 2 | | | |
194 | Paul Bost | 2 | | | |
195 | Herb Ardinger | 2 | | | |
196 | Dan Gurney | 2 | | | |
197 | Roger Rager | 2 | | | |
198 | Don Whittington | 2 | | | |
199 | John Andretti | 2 | | | |
200 | Robby McGehee | 2 | | | |
201 | Tora Takagi | 2 | | | |
202 | Jaques Lazier | 2 | | | |
203 | Rubens Barrichello | 2 | | | |
204 | Sage Karam | 2 | | | |
205 | Jean Chassagne | 1 | | | |
206 | Art Klein | 1 | | | |
207 | Roscoe Sarles | 1 | | | |
208 | Howdy Wilcox II | 1 | | | |
209 | Fred Agabashian | 1 | | | |
210 | Jack Brabham | 1 | | | |
211 | Bobby Allison | 1 | | | |
212 | Bill Vukovich II | 1 | | | |
213 | Tim Richmond | 1 | | | |
214 | Gordon Smiley | 1 | | | |
215 | Scott Brayton | 1 | | | |
216 | Stephan Gregoire | 1 | | | |
217 | Jeff Simmons | 1 | | | |
218 | Mikhail Aleshin | 1 | | | |
Note | Lora L. Corum* | 0 | | 1 | 1924 | |
Floyd Davis* | 0 | | 1 | 1941 | |
- * Lora L. Corum and Floyd Davis are credited as being co-winners of the Indianapolis 500 in 1924 and 1941, respectively. However, as the winning entries in either race led only after their secondary drivers drove (and to the conclusion), Corum and Davis are not credited with leading any of those laps, nor did they lead throughout the remainder of their careers.
Lap Leaders, Individual Races
Most Laps Led
Fifty-six of ninety-eight Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by the driver leading the most laps, 57.14%.
Year |
Leader, Most Laps |
Laps Led |
Percentage Race Led |
Won Race |
1911 | Ray Harroun | 88 | 44.0% | Yes |
1912 | 1 Ralph DePalma | 196 | 98.0% | No |
1913 | Jules Goux | 138 | 69.0% | Yes |
1914 | René Thomas | 102 | 51.0% | Yes |
1915 | 1 Ralph DePalma | 132 | 66.0% | Yes |
1916 | 1 Dario Resta | 103 | 51.5% | Yes |
1919 | Howdy Wilcox | 98 | 49.0% | Yes |
1920 | Joe Boyer | 93 | 46.5% | No |
1921 | 1 Ralph DePalma | 108 | 54.0% | No |
1922 | Jimmy Murphy | 153 | 76.5% | Yes |
1923 | Tommy Milton | 128 | 64.0% | Yes |
1924 | Earl Cooper | 119 | 59.5% | No |
1925 | Peter DePaolo | 115 | 57.5% | Yes |
1926 | Frank Lockhart | 95 | 59.4% | Yes |
1927 | 110 | 55.0% | No |
1928 | Leon Duray | 64 | 32.0% | No |
1929 | Louis Meyer | 65 | 32.5% | No |
1930 | Billy Arnold | 198 | 99.0% | Yes |
1931 | 155 | 77.5% | No |
1932 | Fred Frame | 58 | 29.0% | Yes |
1933 | Louis Meyer | 71 | 35.5% | Yes |
1934 | Frank Brisko | 69 | 29.5% | No |
1935 | Kelly Petillo | 102 | 51.0% | Yes |
1936 | Louis Meyer | 96 | 48.0% | Yes |
1937 | Wilbur Shaw | 131 | 65.5% | Yes |
1938 | Floyd Roberts | 92 | 46.0% | Yes |
Jimmy Snyder | No |
1939 | Louis Meyer | 79 | 39.5% | No |
1940 | Wilbur Shaw | 136 | 68.0% | Yes |
1941 | 107 | 53.5% | No |
1946 | 2 George Robson | 138 | 69.0% | Yes |
1947 | Bill Holland | 143 | 71.5% | No |
1948 | Mauri Rose | 81 | 40.5% | Yes |
1949 | Bill Holland | 146 | 83.0% | Yes |
1950 | Johnnie Parsons | 177 | 88.5% | Yes |
1951 | Lee Wallard | 159 | 79.5% | Yes |
1952 | Bill Vukovich | 150 | 75.0% | No |
1953 | 195 | 97.5% | Yes |
1954 | 90 | 45.0% | Yes |
1955 | Bob Sweikert | 86 | 43.0% | Yes |
1956 | Pat Flaherty | 127 | 63.5% | Yes |
1957 | Sam Hanks | 136 | 68.0% | Yes |
1958 | Jimmy Bryan | 139 | 69.5% | Yes |
1959 | Rodger Ward | 130 | 65.0% | Yes |
1960 | Jim Rathmann | 100 | 50.0% | Yes |
1961 | A.J. Foyt | 71 | 35.5% | Yes |
1962 | Parnelli Jones | 120 | 60.0% | No |
1963 | 167 | 83.5% | Yes |
1964 | A.J. Foyt | 146 | 73.0% | Yes |
1965 | Jim Clark | 190 | 95.0% | Yes |
1966 | Lloyd Ruby | 68 | 34.0% | No |
1967 | Parnelli Jones | 171 | 85.5% | No |
1968 | Bobby Unser | 127 | 63.5% | Yes |
1969 | 1 Mario Andretti | 116 | 58.0% | Yes |
1970 | Al Unser | 190 | 95.0% | Yes |
1971 | 103 | 51.5% | Yes |
1972 | Gary Bettenhausen | 138 | 69.0% | No |
1973 | Gordon Johncock | 64 | 48.1% | Yes |
1974 | Johnny Rutherford | 122 | 47.0% | Yes |
1975 | Wally Dallenbach | 96 | 48.0% | No |
1976 | Johnny Rutherford | 48 | 73.0% | Yes |
1977 | Gordon Johncock | 129 | 64.5% | No |
1978 | Al Unser | 121 | 60.5% | Yes |
1979 | Bobby Unser | 89 | 44.5% | No |
1980 | Johnny Rutherford | 118 | 59.0% | Yes |
1981 | Bobby Unser | 89 | 44.5% | Yes |
1982 | Rick Mears | 77 | 38.5% | No |
1983 | Tom Sneva | 98 | 49.0% | Yes |
1984 | Rick Mears | 119 | 59.5% | Yes |
1985 | 1 Mario Andretti | 107 | 53.5% | No |
1986 | Rick Mears | 76 | 38.0% | No |
1987 | 1 Mario Andretti | 170 | 85.0% | No |
1988 | Danny Sullivan | 91 | 45.5% | No |
1989 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 158 | 79.0% | Yes |
1990 | 128 | 64.0% | No |
1991 | Michael Andretti | 97 | 48.5% | No |
1992 | 160 | 80.0% | No |
1993 | 1 Mario Andretti | 72 | 36.0% | No |
1994 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 145 | 72.5% | No |
1995 | Maurício Gugelmin | 59 | 29.5% | No |
1996 | Roberto Guerrero | 47 | 23.5% | No |
1997 | Tony Stewart | 64 | 32.0% | No |
1998 | Eddie Cheever | 76 | 38.0% | Yes |
1999 | Kenny Bräck | 66 | 33.0% | Yes |
2000 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 167 | 83.5% | Yes |
2001 | Hélio Castroneves | 52 | 26.0% | Yes |
2002 | Tomas Scheckter | 85 | 42.5% | No |
2003 | 63 | 31.5% | No |
2004 | Buddy Rice | 91 | 50.5% | Yes |
2005 | Sam Hornish, Jr. | 77 | 38.5% | No |
2006 | Dan Wheldon | 148 | 74.0% | No |
2007 | Tony Kanaan | 83 | 41.5% | No |
2008 | Scott Dixon | 115 | 57.5% | Yes |
2009 | 73 | 36.5% | No |
2010 | Dario Franchitti | 155 | 77.5% | Yes |
2011 | Scott Dixon | 73 | 36.5% | No |
2012 | Marco Andretti | 59 | 29.5% | No |
2013 | Ed Carpenter | 37 | 18.5% | No |
2014 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 56 | 28.0% | Yes |
2015 | Scott Dixon | 84 | 42.0% | No |
2016 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 52 | 26.0% | No |
50%+ Race Laps Led, non-winning entries
Nineteen separate entries in equal years, driven by fifteen drivers, have failed to win despite leading over half a given race's completed laps.
Notes
- 1 Italian-born
- 2 British-born
- 3 French-born
- 4 Swiss-born
Lap Leader records
|
Led opening lap and final lap: 19 drivers
- Jimmy Murphy, 1922
- Joe Boyer, 1924 (only occasion of occurrence in separate entries)
- Peter DePaolo, 1925
- Lee Wallard, 1951
- Bill Vukovich, 1953
- Jimmy Bryan, 1958
- Jim Clark, 1965
- Mario Andretti, 1969
- Al Unser, 1970
- Johnny Rutherford, 1976
- Johnny Rutherford, 1980
- Bobby Unser, 1981
- Rick Mears, 1984
- Emerson Fittipaldi, 1989
- Rick Mears, 1991
- Al Unser, Jr., 1994
- Buddy Rice, 2004
- Hélio Castroneves, 2009
- Dario Franchitti, 2010
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Autolite Pacemakers Club
In 1964, Autolite created the "Pacemakers Club," which recognized drivers who had led at least one lap during the Indianapolis 500. It quickly rose in stature and popularity, and became a highly-sought after honor associated with the Indianapolis 500. After changes in sponsorship, the organization was renamed the Leaders Circle Club.
The qualifications were simple, and driver who had led at least one lap during race, whether living or already deceased, were recognized as members. At its inception, 102 drivers were listed as members. A total of 56 were deceased at the time, and 46 were living.
Honorees receive a jacket, and are honored at a banquet in their honor. The number of new members inducted at the banquet varies annually, as it is solely based on the previous year's first-time lap leaders. Some years can have as few as one or zero new members inducted, while other years have had as many as 4-5. The "club" is still active as of 2012.
References
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Track and race information |
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Statistics | |
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Drivers | |
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Sanctioning bodies | |
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Ownership | |
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Officials | |
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Broadcasting | |
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Related events | |
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Lore | |
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Notable races | |
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Indianapolis 500 race summaries and box scores |
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