Indianapolis 500
Starting Grid for the 1981 Indianapolis 500
| Position | Car Num. | Driver | Car Name/Entrant* | Make/Model | Qual Speed |
| 1 | 3 | Bobby Unser (W) | Norton Spirit | Penske/Cosworth | 200.540 |
| 2 | 48 | Mike Mosley | Pepsi Challenger | Eagle/Chevrolet | 197.140 |
| 3 | 14 | A.J. Foyt (W) | Valvoline-Gilmore | Coyote/Cosworth | 196.070 |
| 4 | 20 | Gordon Johncock (W) | STP Oil Treatment | Wildcat/Cosworth | 195.420 |
| 5 | 1 | Johnny Rutherford (W) | Pennzoil | Chaparral/Cosworth | 195.380 |
| 6 | 55 | Josele Garza (R) | Psachie/Garza/ESSO | Penske/Cosworth | 195.100 |
| 7 | 7 | Bill Alsup (R) | AB Dick Pacemaker | Penske/Cosworth | 193.150 |
| 8 | 60 | Gordon Smiley | Intermedics | Wildcat/Cosworth | 192.980 |
| 9 | 88 | Al Unser (W) | Valvoline-Longhorn | Longhorn/Cosworth | 192.710 |
| 10 | 5 | Pancho Carter | Alex Foods | Penske/Cosworth | 191.020 |
| 11 | 8 | Gary Bettenhausen | Hopkins | Lightning/Cosworth | 190.870 |
| 12 | 32 | Kevin Cogan (R) | Jerry O'Connell Racing | Phoenix/Cosworth | 189.440 |
| 13 | 35 | Bob Lazier (R) | Montgomery Ward Auto Club | Penske/Cosworth | 189.420 |
| 14 | 56 | Tom Bigelow | Genesee Beer | Penske/Chevrolet | 188.290 |
| 15 | 50 | Geoff Brabham (R) | Psachie/Garza/ESSO | Penske/Cosworth | 187.990 |
| 16 | 16 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. (R) | Provimi Veal | McLaren/Cosworth | 187.010 |
| 17 | 53 | Steve Krisiloff | Psachie/Garza/ESSO | Penske/Cosworth | 186.720 |
| 18 | 33 | Vern Schuppan | Red Roof Inns | McLaren/Cosworth | 186.540 |
| 19 | 31 | Larry Dickson | Machinist Union | Penske/Cosworth | 186.270 |
| 20 | 2 | Tom Sneva | Blue Poly | March/Cosworth | 200.690 |
| 21 | 25 | Danny Ongais | Interscope Racing | Interscope/Cosworth | 197.690 |
| 22 | 6 | Rick Mears (W) | The Gould Charge | Penske/Cosworth | 194.010 |
| 23 | 81 | Sheldon Kinser | Sergio Valente Jeans | Longhorn/Cosworth | 189.450 |
| 24 | 79 | Pete Halsmer (R) | Hubler Chevrolet/KISS 99/Colonial Bread | Penske/Cosworth | 187.700 |
| 25 | 74 | Michael Chandler (R) | National Engineering Co. | Penske/Cosworth | 187.560 |
| 26 | 91 | Don Whittington | Whittington Brothers | March/Cosworth | 187.230 |
| 27 | 90 | Bill Whittington | Kraco Car Stereo | March/Cosworth | 197.090 |
| 28 | 4 | Dennis Firestone | Rhoades Aircraft Sales | Wildcat/Cosworth | 187.780 |
| 29 | 37 | Scott Brayton (R) | Forsythe Industries | Penske/Cosworth | 187.770 |
| 30 | 51 | Tom Klausler (R) | IDS Idea | Schkee/Chevrolet | 186.730 |
| 31 | 38 | Jerry Karl | Tonco Trailer | McLaren/Chevrolet | 186.000 |
| 32 | 40 | Mario Andretti (W) | STP Oil Treatment | Wildcat/Cosworth | 193.040 |
| 33 | 84 | Tim Richmond | UNO/WTTV/Guarantee Auto | Parnelli/Cosworth | 189.250 |
- * complete car name/entrant data not available for all entries
- (R) - Indicates Rookie
- (W) - Indicates Past Winner