Indianapolis 500
Starting Grid for the 1987 Indianapolis 500
| Position | Car Num. | Driver | Car Name/Entrant* | Make/Model | Qual Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Mario Andretti (W) | Hanna Auto Wash | Lola/Chevrolet Indy | 215.390 |
| 2 | 1 | Bobby Rahal (W) | Budweiser | Lola/Cosworth | 213.310 |
| 3 | 8 | Rick Mears (W) | Pennzoil Z-7 | March/Chevrolet Indy | 211.460 |
| 4 | 14 | A.J. Foyt (W) | Copenhagen/Gilmore | Lola/Cosworth | 210.930 |
| 5 | 4 | Roberto Guerrero | True Value/STP | March/Cosworth | 210.680 |
| 6 | 22 | Dick Simon | Soundesign | Lola/Cosworth | 209.960 |
| 7 | 71 | Arie Luyendyk | Living Well/Provimi Veal/WTTV | March/Cosworth | 208.337 |
| 8 | 21 | Johnny Rutherford (W) | Vermont American | March/Cosworth | 208.290 |
| 9 | 18 | Michael Andretti | Kraco/STP | March/Cosworth | 206.129 |
| 10 | 23 | Ludwig Heimrath, Jr. (R) | MacKenzie Financial/Tim Horton Doughnuts | Lola/Cosworth | 207.590 |
| 11 | 81 | Rich Vogler | Byrd's Kentucky Fried Chicken/Living Well | March/Buick | 205.880 |
| 12 | 11 | Jeff MacPherson (R) | McHoward Leasing | March/Brab./Hon.(Judd) | 205.680 |
| 13 | 91 | Scott Brayton | Amway/Autostyle | March/Cosworth | 205.640 |
| 14 | 15 | Geoff Brabham | Team Valvoline | March/Brab./Hon.(Judd) | 205.500 |
| 15 | 56 | Gary Bettenhausen | Genesee Beer Wagon | March/Cosworth | 204.500 |
| 16 | 3 | Danny Sullivan (W) | Miller American | March/Chevrolet Indy | 210.270 |
| 17 | 12 | Fabrizio Barbazza (R) | Arciero Winery | March/Cosworth | 208.030 |
| 18 | 2 | Gordon Johncock (W) | STP Oil Treatment | March/Buick | 207.990 |
| 19 | 77 | Derek Daly | Scheid Tire/Superior Training/Metrolink | March/Buick | 207.520 |
| 20 | 25 | Al Unser (W) | Cummins/Holset Turbo | March/Cosworth | 207.420 |
| 21 | 33 | Tom Sneva (W) | Skoal Bandit | March/Buick | 207.250 |
| 22 | 30 | Al Unser Jr. | Domino's Pizza | March/Cosworth | 206.752 |
| 23 | 24 | Randy Lewis (R) | Toshiba/Altos/Oracle | March/Cosworth | 206.200 |
| 24 | 7 | Kevin Cogan | Marlboro | March/Chevrolet Indy | 205.990 |
| 25 | 55 | Josele Garza | Bryant Heating & Cooling/Schaefer | March/Cosworth | 205.690 |
| 26 | 41 | Stan Fox (R) | Kerker Exhaust/Skoal Classic | March/Cosworth | 204.510 |
| 27 | 16 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. | Nationwise/Payless | March/Cosworth | 203.890 |
| 28 | 44 | Davy Jones (R) | Skoal Classic/Gilmore/UNO | March/Cosworth | 208.110 |
| 29 | 29 | Pancho Carter | Hardee's | March/Cosworth | 205.150 |
| 30 | 98 | Ed Pimm | Skoal Classic | March/Cosworth | 203.280 |
| 31 | 84 | George Snider | Calumet/Copenhagen | March/Chevrolet | 203.190 |
| 32 | 87 | Steve Chassey | United Oil/Life of Indiana | March/Cosworth | 202.480 |
| 33 | 20 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Marlboro | March/Chevrolet Indy | 205.580 |
- * complete car name/entrant data not available for all entries
- (R) - Indicates Rookie
- (W) - Indicates Past Winner