If you’ve been asking when is the Indy 500 this year, the answer is right around the corner. The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, officially branded as the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, is set for Sunday, May 24, at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Green flag drops at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Key Points Summary
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ – The Indy 500 this year is on Sunday, May 24, at 12:30 p.m. ET. ║
║ – This is the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. ║
║ – Defending champion Álex Palou starts from pole position. ║
║ – The race airs live on FOX, with over 60 hours of coverage. ║
║ – Nine former Indy 500 winners are in the 33-car starting field. ║
║ – Carb Day (final practice + concert) is Friday, May 22. ║
║ – Helio Castroneves, 51, chases a record-breaking 5th victory. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝Race Day at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Race | 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge |
| Date | Sunday, May 24 |
| Green Flag | 12:30 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana |
| TV Network | FOX |
| Pole Sitter | Álex Palou – 232.248 mph |
| Defending Champion | Álex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Field Size | 33 cars |
| Sanctioning Body | IndyCar / NTT IndyCar Series |
Full Month of May Schedule & Timeline
The buildup to the Indy 500 is a month-long spectacle. Here is the complete schedule timeline for the 110th Running:
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, May 9 | Sonsio Grand Prix | Month of May officially opens on the combined road course |
| Tue, May 12 | Opening Day – Practice 1 | Rookie Orientation Program; first official practice |
| Wed, May 13 | Practice 2 | Veterans and rookies continue on-track work |
| Thu, May 14 | Practice 3 | Teams dial in race setups |
| Fri, May 15 | Fast Friday – Practice 4 | Turbocharger boost applied; cars reach peak qualifying speeds |
| Sat, May 16 | Qualifying Day 1 | All 33 entrants make timed four-lap runs; FS2/FS1 coverage |
| Sun, May 17 | Qualifying Day 2 (Full Field → Top 12 → Fast Six) | Pole decided; Palou wins NTT P1 Award at 232.248 mph |
| Mon, May 18 | Practice 7 | Final open practice after qualifying |
| Fri, May 22 | Carb Day | Final Practice (11 a.m.–1 p.m. ET, FS1) + Pit Stop Challenge + Counting Crows Concert |
| Sat, May 23 | Legends Day | Driver autograph session; Public Drivers’ Meeting; Indy 500 Festival Parade |
| Sun, May 24 | 🏁 RACE DAY – Indianapolis 500 | Pre-Race: 10 a.m. ET (FOX); Green Flag: 12:30 p.m. ET (FOX) |
Where and How to Watch the Indy 500
The 110th Indianapolis 500 airs live on FOX, marking the second consecutive year the race has been broadcast on the network. Announcers Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe, and Townsend Bell return to the booth. FOX Sports is presenting over 60 hours of live Indy 500 programming across FOX, FS1, and FS2 throughout the month of May, covering practices, qualifying, and race-week features.
Pre-race coverage begins at 10:00 a.m. ET on FOX, with the green flag at 12:30 p.m. ET. Fans outside the US can check their local sports broadcasters for regional coverage.
Carb Day: The Last Party Before the Race
One of the most beloved traditions in motorsport, Carb Day takes place on Friday, May 22 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The name dates back decades to when teams used the final pre-race practice to tune their carburetors — even though carburetors haven’t been used in the race since 1963, the name has stuck.
The schedule for Carb Day runs as follows:
| Time (ET) | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Gates Open |
| 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Final Practice (FS1) |
| 2:00 p.m. | Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 |
| 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge |
| 4:00 p.m. | Carb Day Concert – Counting Crows |
This year, Counting Crows headline the Carb Day Concert, continuing a tradition of major musical acts that has featured Foreigner, Bryan Adams, and Kool & the Gang in recent years.
Starting Grid: Álex Palou Leads the Field
Qualifying was held on Sunday, May 17, after rain pushed the schedule back by one day. In a remarkable 51-run qualifying session that lasted nearly seven hours, defending champion Álex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing claimed pole position with a four-lap average of 232.248 mph — earning the NTT P1 Award.
Palou becomes the first defending Indy 500 champion to win the following year’s pole since Hélio Castroneves accomplished the feat in 2010.
| Row | Pos | Driver | Team | Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Álex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda) | 232.248 |
| 1 | 2 | Alexander Rossi | Ed Carpenter Racing (Chevrolet) | 231.990 |
| 1 | 3 | David Malukas | Team Penske (Chevrolet) | 231.877 |
| 2 | 4 | Felix Rosenqvist | Meyer Shank Racing (Honda) | 231.375 |
| 2 | 5 | Santino Ferrucci | A.J. Foyt Racing (Chevrolet) | 230.846 |
| 2 | 6 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren (Chevrolet) | 230.442 |
| 3 | 7 | Kyffin Simpson | Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda) | 230.883 |
| 3 | 8 | Conor Daly | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (Chevrolet) | 230.712 |
| 3 | 9 | Scott McLaughlin | Team Penske (Chevrolet) | 230.577 |
Note: Caio Collet (10th) and Jack Harvey (29th) had their qualifying runs disallowed for technical violations and will start from the back of the field.
Key Storylines to Watch in the Indy 500 This Year
Can Álex Palou Make History Back-to-Back?
Palou arrives at Indianapolis as one of the most dominant drivers in IndyCar history. The Spanish driver is the four-time and reigning series champion, and he won last year’s Indy 500 in addition to taking pole for this year’s race. Starting from P1, he has every ingredient to become the first back-to-back winner since Josef Newgarden in 2023–2024.
Helio Castroneves Hunting a Record Fifth Win
Few storylines in motorsport captivate quite like Helio Castroneves and the Indy 500. The four-time winner, now 51 years old, is chasing an unprecedented fifth victory at Indianapolis — a record that would stand alone in the history of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Nine Former Champions in the Field
The 33-car entry list features nine past Indy 500 winners, including Palou, Josef Newgarden (two-time winner, 2023–2024), Marcus Ericsson, and Castroneves. The depth of experience in the field makes for a fiercely competitive race.
Rookie Class: Mick Schumacher, Dennis Hauger & More
Four drivers are eligible for Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors this year: Mick Schumacher (son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher), Dennis Hauger, Caio Collet, and Jacob Abel. Schumacher’s debut at Indianapolis has drawn significant international attention.
Katherine Legge — the Only Woman in the Field
Katherine Legge, 45, is competing for A.J. Foyt Racing in this year’s race, making her one of the most experienced women in Indy 500 history with four previous starts. She is also doing double duty, planning to fly directly to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Fox Corporation’s New Stake in IndyCar
This race holds additional significance as the first Indianapolis 500 since Fox Corporation acquired a one-third stake in IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway parent company Penske Entertainment in August 2025 — adding a new dimension of corporate investment and broadcast commitment to the sport.
A Brief History of the Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500 has been run annually (with wartime exceptions) since 1911, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious motorsport events in the world. Held every year on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend at the 2.5-mile oval of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the race draws an estimated 350,000 spectators — the largest single-day sporting crowd on earth.
Past winners have become legends: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr., Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, and now modern greats like Josef Newgarden and Álex Palou.
Indy 500 Historical Winners: Recent Years Timeline
| Year | Edition | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 103rd | Simon Pagenaud | Team Penske |
| 2020 | 104th | Takuma Sato | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 2021 | 105th | Hélio Castroneves | Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2022 | 106th | Marcus Ericsson | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | 107th | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 2024 | 108th | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 2025 | 109th | Álex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| This Year | 110th | TBD – May 24 | — |
How to Get Tickets for the Indy 500 This Year
Race day grandstands have sold out for back-to-back years, reflecting the enormous popularity of the event. However, reserved seat tickets remain available through the IMS Marketplace. Reserved seats come with full General Admission access. Note that any individual — regardless of age — must have a ticket for a reserved seating area. General Admission tickets grant access to the infield viewing mounds, offering fans the chance to move around the track for different vantage points.
Legends Day on Saturday, May 23 also includes a public autograph session with all 33 Indy 500 starters — arrive early as space is limited.
FAQ
Q: When is the Indy 500 this year? A: Sunday, May 24, with the green flag at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Q: What channel is the Indy 500 on? A: FOX. Pre-race coverage starts at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Q: Who is on pole for the Indy 500? A: Defending champion Álex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, with a qualifying speed of 232.248 mph.
Q: Who is the defending Indy 500 champion? A: Álex Palou, who won the 109th Running in 2025.
Q: Where is the Indy 500 held? A: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana.
Q: What is Carb Day? A: The Friday before the race, featuring a final practice session, the Pit Stop Challenge, and a concert. This year’s headliner is Counting Crows.
Whether you’re a lifelong IndyCar fan or watching for the very first time, this Sunday’s race is shaping up to be one for the history books — drop a comment below and tell us who you’re rooting for, and make sure to bookmark this page for all the latest Indy 500 updates!