Abstract: An improved drive for the ignition distributor of an internal combustion engine of the type having a lubrication pump driven by its crankshaft. The pump has an internal gear driven by and coaxial with the crankshaft. An external gear has internal teeth and is driven, in planetary gear fashion, by the internal gear. A distributor shaft is rotatably mounted in the pump housing and has a helical tooth pinion gear that meshes with helical teeth on the external periphery of the external pump gear. Thus, the driven external gear drives the pinion gear and the distributor shaft. Preferably, the transmission ratio is 1 to 1.25 between the internal and external gears and 1 to 1.6 between the external and pinion gears, providing an overall ratio of 1 to 2 between crankshaft and distributor shaft.