INDIANAPOLIS – It’s time for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Hundreds of thousands of fans will pack the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday to see the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
This year’s storylines include Helio Castroneves’ quest for a record-breaking fifth 500 title and Kyle Larson’s second attempt at completing “The Double,” racing both IndyCar’s Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.
Josef Newgarden is also seeking his third straight Indy 500 win after taking the checkered flag in 2023 and 2024. He and Penske teammate Will Power were moved to the last row after inspections found their cars had unapproved attenuators.
Rookie Robert Shwartzman took the pole–making him the first rookie to win the pole position since 1983.
This year’s field includes eight past winners: Newgarden (2023, 2024), Marcus Ericsson (2022), Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021), Scott Dixon (2008), Will Power (2018), Alexander Rossi (2016), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014) and Takuma Sato (2017, 2020).
Here’s a look at the race day schedule:
- 6 a.m. Gates open
- 9 a.m. Cars to pit lane
- 10:30 a.m. Cars to grid on frontstretch
- 11:47 a.m. Driver introductions
- 12:20 p.m. National anthem
- 12:38 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines!”
- 12:45 p.m. Green flag drops
- 4 p.m. Gates close