welcome race fans to krazyaboutracing.com the leader in motorsports coverage on the world wide web we are now in our 24th year

WE MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE WHISTLES & BELLS OF OTHER SITES , hOWEVER have THE most complete MOTORSPORTS COVERAGE on the web !

(HOME) (CONTACT US) ( THE PIT ) (LOCAL RACING) (PREVIOUS NEWS) (PREVIOUS RACING) (SITE NEWS) (MEET THE STAFF) (HALL OF FAME) (MULTIMEDIA) (SPECIAL EVENTS) (ANNUAL AWARDS)

(DRIVER & TEAM RELEASES) (LOCAL TRACK NEWS) (MISC RELEASES)

for more coverage on the series click on the series lOgo

2026 M0nth of may at indianapolis

Indiana Pacers Guard Andrew Nembhard in Fastest Seat at Sonsio GP

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race on IMS Road Course Kicks Off Epic Month of May

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 6, 2026) – Andrew Nembhard, point guard for the Indiana Pacers, will ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 9.

Nembhard was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 31st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He has completed four seasons with the Pacers and has proved to be one of the NBA's best and most versatile defensive players.

Providing some of the most memorable moments in Pacers’ postseason history, Nembhard is known for hitting key shots during Indiana's deep playoff runs over the past three seasons. He signed a contract extension to stay in Indiana in 2024 and helped lead the Pacers to the NBA Finals for the second time in team history in June 2025. Nembhard averaged career highs this season with 16.9 points and 7.7 assists per game and will be a key returning member of the Pacers' core for the 2026-27 season.

He joins a long list of celebrated INDYCAR Fastest Seat in Sports passengers as he leads the field to the green flag in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat. This high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride has been taken by the likes of Tom Brady, Simu Liu, Jon Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Channing Tatum and Rudy Pankow. Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton has been in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the very same race.

Coverage of the Sonsio Grand Prix begins at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX. All INDYCAR programming also streams live on FOX One.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series with drivers competing at speeds of 200+ mph across a thrilling and demanding set of ovals and road and street circuits. The full schedule is available here.

Expanded Availability of Push to Pass in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,

Sonsio Grand Prix Fast Facts

Race weekend: Friday, May 8-Saturday, May 9

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise)

Media Links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | | Weekend Event Schedule (PDF)

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 85 laps / 207.3 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 35 laps / 85.365 miles or 55 minutes (Race 1 - Friday); 30 laps / 73.17 miles or 50 minutes (Race 2 - Saturday)

Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum single duration of 20 seconds. Push to Pass will be available and allowed for use at all times once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 65 seconds of total time. Push to Pass will be available and allowed for use at all times once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed.

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 425 kilojoules (kj) per lap

Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary (hard) and five sets alternate (soft) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires in the first practice session. Teams must use one set of primary and one new (sticker) set of alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend, with one new set used for qualifying and another new set used during one of the two races. Qualifying tires must be used during one of the two races. Two carryover sets from the Barber Motorsports Park event may be used during pre-qualifying practice.

X: @IMS, @IndyCar, #INDYGP, #INDYCAR

Instagram: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYGP, #INDYCAR

Threads: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYGP, #INDYCAR

Facebook: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR

TikTok: @indianapolismotorspeedwy, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR

YouTube: @IMS, @INDYCAR

Event website: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

NTT INDYCAR SERIES website: www.indycar.com | INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com

2025 race winners:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Race 1: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global)

Race 2: Dennis Hauger (No. 28 Andretti Global)

2025 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES):

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1 minute, 9.3417 seconds, 126.625 mph

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:

Race 1: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global) 1:14.7849, 117.410 mph

Race 2: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global) 1:14.8433, 117.317 mph

Qualifying records:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Will Power, 1:07.7044, 129.687 mph, May 12, 2017 (Set in Round 3 of knockout qualifying)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Ed Jones 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016

FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 9 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 1 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Warmup, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. | INDY NXT By Firestone: Practice 1, 8 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, Noon ET Friday, FOX One App (live); Race 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Race 2, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.

INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Alex Wolff, Rob Blackman and Rich Nye are the pit reporters. The Sonsio Grand Prix race (4 p.m. ET Saturday), the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix doubleheader (3:55 p.m. ET Friday and 2:55 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):

FRIDAY, MAY 8

8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2 (Live)

9:05-10:25 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (split group format), FS2 (Live)

Noon-12:30 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, (two groups/12 minutes each), FOX One (Live)

1:05-2:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (split group format), FS1 (Live)

4:01 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 “Drivers, start your engines”

4:06 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 (35 laps/55 minutes), FS2 (Live)

5:35 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications), FS2 (Live)

SATURDAY, MAY 9

11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (Live)

2:31 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 “Drivers, start your engines”

2:36 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 (30 laps/50 minutes), FS1 (Live)

4:30 p.m. FOX on air

4:40 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

4:47 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), FOX (Live)

“WHAT TO LOOK FOR” AT IMS:

Palou chasing more history: Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing has won three of 2026’s first five races and leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings by 17 points. He’ll look to add to his historic INDYCAR SERIES run this weekend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Palou has won the past three Sonsio Grands Prix and could become the fifth driver since 1946 to win four consecutive INDYCAR SERIES events at the same track.

RACE WINNER	TRACK	SEASONS
Al Rogers	Pikes Peak (Hill Climb)	1948, 1949, 1950, 1951
A.J. Foyt	DuQuoin	1960, 1961, 1963, 1964* * - No race held in 1962
Bobby Rahal	Laguna Seca	1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Al Unser Jr.	Long Beach	1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

* Note: A.J. Foyt (Five straight wins at Trenton 1963-64), Mario Andretti (Mont Tremblant, 1967-68) and Rick Mears (Atlanta, 1979, 1981-82) won four consecutive races at the same track.

Penske’s Power Play: It’s fitting that Roger Penske owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway, because IMS has long been a Team Penske playground. Team Penske’s Indy dominance, which includes 20 wins in the Indianapolis 500, also carries over to races on the 2.439-mile road course. Will Power scored five of Team Penske’s eight wins on the road course, with the other wins coming from Simon Pagenaud (2016, 2019) and Josef Newgarden (2020). Can a Team Penske driver start the Month of May off strong for “The Captain”?

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:

The Sonsio Grand Prix will be the 18th INDYCAR SERIES event conducted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Active race winners expected to compete are Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden and Will Power.

ACTIVE RACE WINNER	WINS	SEASONS
Will Power	5	2015, 2017, 2018 (Sonsio Grand Prix); 2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-2); 2021 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Alex Palou	3	2023 (Sonsio Grand Prix), 2024, 2025
Scott Dixon	2	2020 (Sonsio Grand Prix); 2023 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Josef Newgarden	1	2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-1)
Alexander Rossi	1	2022 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Rinus VeeKay	1	2021 (Sonsio Grand Prix)

Seven NTT P1 Award winners have won on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course from the pole: Alex Palou won the last two Sonsio Grands Prix from the pole. Will Power won the 2015, 2017 and 2018 Sonsio Grands Prix and the second Harvest GP race in 2020 from the pole. Simon Pagenaud also won the Sonsio Grand Prix from the pole in 2016.

ACTIVE POLE WINNER	POLES	SEASONS
Will Power	5	2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 (Sonsio Grand Prix and Harvest Grand Prix-2)
Alex Palou	2	2024, 2025
Felix Rosenqvist	2	2019, 2022 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Graham Rahal	1	2023 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Christian Lundgaard	1	2023 (Sonsio Grand Prix)
Pato O’Ward	1	2021 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Rinus VeeKay	1	2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-1)

Four drivers have competed in every INDYCAR SERIES race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Graham Rahal. All are entered this weekend.
Team Penske has eight wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-Race 2, 2020-Race 3, 2021-Race 2). Chip Ganassi has five wins - with Scott Dixon in 2020-Race 1 and 2023-Race 2 and Alex Palou in 2023-Race 1, 2024 and 2025. Andretti Global and ECR are the only other teams to win at the track. Andretti Global won the Sonsio Grand Prix with Colton Herta in May 2022 and Gallagher Grand Prix with Alexander Rossi in August 2022, while ECR won in 2021-Race 1 with Rinus VeeKay.
Three NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year contenders – Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher - are entered and will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on the IMS road course for the first time. Hauger won one of the two INDY NXT by Firestone races at the track in 2025.
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 362nd consecutive start, the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:

INDY NXT by Firestone will conduct a doubleheader weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend with a 35-lap race on Friday and a 30-lap race on Saturday. Teenagers have dominated the first quarter of the season with 17-year-old Nikita Johnson leading the points on the strength of two wins. Two other youngsters – 18-year-old Max Taylor and 19-year-old Alessandro de Tullio have also won this season.
A record 24-car field for the INDY NXT Grand Prix of Indianapolis doubleheader is expected at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There were 21 cars in 2024 and 2025. Two drivers who have won INDY NXT by Firestone races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are expected to compete. Andretti Global’s Lochie Hughes won one of the doubleheader races in 2025 and Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR’s Matteo Nannini won a race at IMS in 2023.
A busy day of activity will greet drivers this weekend as practice and group qualifying precede Race 1. Like all road and street circuits, the Indianapolis doubleheader grid will be decided by two 10-minute groups, but with a twist. Based on the best lap times from the practice session, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 10 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded Race 1 pole position. The drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, will occupy the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group will occupy the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). The second-best laps set by each driver in their group will apply to Race 2. One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group.

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) – One day after veterans dominated the speed chart, rookie Caio Collet rode the aerodynamic wave to the fastest overall speed of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test on Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone series runner-up Collet turned a top lap of 226.381 mph in the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet during the early moments of testing Wednesday, the start of which was delayed 75 minutes by damp track conditions created by overnight and morning rain. That speed was better than Tuesday’s best of 225.394 by Conor Daly in the No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet, as drivers with at least 10 Indy 500 starts posted the five fastest speeds on the first day of the test.

SEE: Test Overall Speeds | Test Overall No-Tow Speeds | Wednesday AM | Wednesday PM

“No, no, never expected that,” Brazilian driver Collet said. “Obviously, the team has a good background here and has done really, really well the last couple of years, especially last year. As a rookie, I was just trying to learn things and see how everything went. But the team, they did a really good job and got me up to speed quickly, and I got really comfortable.

“Obviously, a lot of things I still have to learn, especially in traffic. I have to understand how to manage traffic and how to get by people. But I think by myself I felt really good, and the team gave me a really good car both days.”

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was second at 226.223 in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, also turned early in the session. Newgarden also led the afternoon session at 225.617.

Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou stepped up the speed chart by ending up third at 225.272 in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Two-time “500” runner-up Pato O’Ward was fourth at 225.109 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato rounded out the top five today at 224.957 in the No. 75 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.

All the top speeds over the two-day test on the historic 2.5-mile oval were boosted by a “tow,” the phenomenon when cars deeper in a line gain speed due to the leading cars creating a slipstream.

Once again, veteran Jack Harvey was the fastest driver running without a “tow.” His top solo lap of 221.112 in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet was even faster than his best solitary lap of 220.318 that led the “no-tow” charts Tuesday.

But there was a damper to Harvey’s continued solo speed. A large, billowing plume of white smoke erupted from the rear of his car between Turns 3 and 4 in traffic midway through the afternoon, and Harvey hurried into the pits. His day was over due to a mechanical problem.

“I had a little bit of a hesitation on the exit of (Turn) 3 and just looked down and saw the smoke immediately,” Harvey said. “I’ve had engines that have had issues here in the past, and when it happens it’s normally very obvious. What happened then wasn’t.

“Not how we wanted to end the day, but I still think overall it’s been a pretty productive test.”

Katherine Legge completed her veteran refresher test in the No. 11 HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. All 33 drivers are eligible to participate when practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge opens Tuesday, May 12, as all four rookies and four other veterans completed their required testing Tuesday.

All 33 cars combined to turn 4,697 incident-free laps – 11,742.5 miles – over the two-day test. Other than Harvey’s mechanical problem, the closest thing to an incident Wednesday occurred when a fox ran on the racing surface from the infield, triggering an immediate caution flag until the animal scurried from the facility.

Up next for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Sonsio Grand Prix, which opens the Month of May on May 8-9 on the IMS road course. The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24.

For more information or to buy tickets for both events, visit IMS.com.

If there was one common trend in the first day of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test, it’s that experience matters.

The top five drivers on the speed chart Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway each have made at least 10 starts in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” as 12-time “500” starter Conor Daly led with a best lap of 225.394 mph in the No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet.

SEE: Day 1 Test Results | Day 1 No-Tow Results

“There are several cars that aren’t running their race cars yet,” Daly said. “It’s just testing; we can’t overreact to test results. But honestly, every time we went out there, we did seem to be pretty quick, which is good. Our mission this month (May) is one day at a time.”

The most experienced driver in the field, four-time “500” winner Helio Castroneves, was second at 225.200 in the No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda. Castroneves is making his 26th Indy 500 start this season as he tries to become the first driver to win the race five times.

Another driver with vast experience, two-time Indy winner Takuma Sato, was third at 224.800 in the No. 75 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. Sato has made 16 “500” starts.

Daly, Castroneves and Sato each turned their best laps on the fabled 2.5-mile oval in the last 15 minutes of on-track action. Many cars circulated in large packs during “Happy Hour,” creating large aerodynamic “tows” that pulled the cars running toward the back of the line.

“Honestly, we changed pretty much everything but the color of the car for that last run, so we were not dialed in or optimized at all,” Daly said. “But this car is fast, so it’s easier to do those kinds of speeds when the car allows you to do it. It was a fun race car, but we were not in maximum race trim yet. Hopefully we’ll dial that in tomorrow and get a little more zesty with everyone out there.”

Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon, who has made 23 “500” starts and won in 2008, was fourth at 224.564 in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Alexander Rossi, who won the 2016 Indianapolis 500 as a rookie, rounded out the top five at 224.367 in the No. 20 ECR Chevrolet.

Nearly every driver’s fastest lap was aided by the “tow” from a leading car breaking a hole in the air. Leader Daly’s teammate, veteran Jack Harvey, was the fastest driver without any aerodynamic help, turning a top non-tow lap of 220.318 in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet in a marquee day for the team that fields cars only in the Indianapolis 500.

Four Indianapolis 500 rookies and four veteran drivers completed the Rookie Orientation Program and veteran refresher tests, respectively. The rookies: Jacob Abel, Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher. The veterans: Ed Carpenter, Helio Castroneves, Jack Harvey and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

“I think it’s obviously the best thing I’ve done in my life,” said Collet, driver of the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet. “The first time you’re actually here, you see guys flying by and think, ‘Oh, can I really do that?’ Once you get in the car, the team does a good job prepping you to be here and to do the laps. We got it all done, got up to speed quite quickly.”

Thirty-two of the 33 cars at the track combined to turn 2,262 incident-free laps – 5,655 miles, the approximate driving distance from Los Angeles to New York and back – on Tuesday. The eight-hour session was divided into six hours of track time for veterans and two hours for Rookie Orientation and veteran refresher tests. Katherine Legge, who was named to drive an HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet on Monday, was the only driver not on track.

Track activity during the two-day test continues from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Wednesday. The track is open to all cars from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., with noon-1 p.m. reserved for Legge’s refresher test.

Admission is free, with general admission seating in the Southeast Vista in Turn 2 and the Turn 2 mounds via Tunnel 3. Free parking is available in Lot 3P. All sessions also will be streamed live on the INDYCAR YouTube channel.

Practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts Tuesday, May 12. Race Day is Sunday, May 24. For more information or to buy tickets, visit IMS.com.

Indianapolis Preview 26

by Terry Daniels

LADY AND gentlemen Start your engines!

The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is taking place later this month on Sunday, May 24, as racing fans from around the world congregate in Indianapolis, Ind., to watch "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing" at the sport's most iconic track.

The Indy 500 promises its drivers “immortality” within the halls of IndyCar racing history if they can cross the finish line first. From the raceway’s famed 2.5-mile oval track and its bricklaid finish line, to its winner’s celebratory milk chug while wearing the famed “Victory Lane Wreath,” the Indy 500 is jam-packed with iconic imagery and historical significance within the racing community and the broader sports world.T

The annual IndyCar series race, which has run since 1911, features the sport’s top drivers, from reigning champion Alex Palou to four-time winner Helio Castroneves. (This year, Palou is favored slightly to become just the seventh driver to ever pull off back-to-back victories

Fans will be watching to see if aLEX Palou, can defend his 2025 Indy 500 title, and Castroneves MAY become the first-ever five-time Indy 500 champion. Castroneves, previously took home the Indy 500 title in 2001, 2002, 2009, and again in 2021, getting to show fans why he’s known as “Spider-Man” when he climbed the protective fence along the track after winning those previous four races.

Castroneves could manage to climb up the leaderboard once more after posting one of the top-two fastest times at an Indy 500 test run late last month IN THE OPEN TEST

driver Josef Newgarden is looking to get back in the Indy 500 winner’s circle for the first time since winning back-to-back races at the event in 2023 and 2024. Japanese racer Takuma Sato (2017, 2020) is also trying to add a third Indy 500 victory to his own resume

Veteran driver Katherine Legge will also have her sights set on history, looking to become the first woman to ever win the Indy 500. The e.l.f. Cosmetics-sponsored Legge, is just the ninth woman to ever compete at the Indy 500, though the annual event has allowed drivers of all gender to participate since 1977. No woman has ever won the race, while Legge’s best finish was 22nd place in her 2012 rookie year.

“It honestly feels like Christmas being back at the ‘500,’ “ Legge said ahead of this year’s running. “Every time I return, I gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes, not just to compete here but to earn the opportunity to be here in the first place. I’m reminded that I’m a small part of this enormously storied event.”

The 2026 Indianapolis 500 (branded as the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge for sponsorship reasons) is an upcoming IndyCar Series race that will be held on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana The race will be round seven of the NTT IndyCar Series season. The month of May activities formally begin with the Sonsio Grand Prix on the combined road course on May 9. The race will be televised on Fox.This will be the first "500" since the Fox Corporation acquired a one-third stake in IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway parent company Penske Entertainment in August 2025

Practice will begin on Tuesday, May 12, and Time Trials will be held on May 16–17. Carb Day, the traditional final day of practice, along with the Pit Stop Challenge, will take place on May 22.[3] A full-field open test is planned for April 28–29, which will include rookie orientation. Álex Palou is the defending winner, and three-time defending IndyCar Series champion.

The Indianapolis 500, commonly called the Indy 500, is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.5-mile (4.02 km) paved oval. First held in 1911, it is currently a points-paying race of the NTT IndyCar Series. The event is contested by "Indy cars", a formula of professional-level, single-seat, open cockpit, open-wheel, purpose-built race cars. The race is the most prestigious event of the IndyCar calendar, and one of the oldest and most important automobile races in the world The race traditionally has a field of 33 cars.

According to Speedway president Doug Boles, track maintenance crews been investigating bumps in Turn 2 since 2019. During track evaluations prior to the 2025 race, the Turn 2 bump in question was considerably higher than in the past. The pavement was pressed in an attempt to reduce the severity. In July 2025, during the Brickyard 400, the severity of the bumps in Turn 2 were reported by drivers and crew chiefs during the track walk and all sessions.

On September 23, 2025, construction crews excavated the section of track in question. It was determined that bricks originally installed in 1909 (that had been paved over by asphalt in 1937) had expanded and split due to moisture, which raised the pavement. The damaged bricks were removed and a new base was applied. The section of the track was repaved, followed by diamond grinding to blend the new section with the adjacent asphalt. The track was allowed to cure for four weeks before the late October Speedway tests for Firestone.

A new Independent Officiating Board (IOB) has been created, tasked with presiding over the IndyCar Series and Indy NXT. The new entity, titled IndyCar Officiating, Inc. will be led by three members: Ray Evernham, Raj Nair (Ford), and Ronan Morgan (FIA). The decisions separates race control and technical inspection from Penske Entertainment, which owns IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in an effort to eliminate perceived conflicts of interest. In 2025, Team Penske was penalized for technical infractions during qualifying, resulting in two cars being moved to the back of the grid, monetary fines, and points deductions. The controversy led to the dismissal of team president Tim Cindric, and widespread calls for officiating reform. In January 2026, Team Penske revealed that Cindric had returned to the team as a strategist.[15]

Tire ramp flaps will be mandatory on all cars. The flaps are designed to deploy in a spin and/or during rearward movement in order to reduce the likelihood of lift, preventing the car from becoming airborne.[16] The flaps are similar in concept to the roof flaps introduced in NASCAR in 1994.

All entries will utilize a spec Dallara DW12 chassis with the UAK-18 universal aero kit and the 2020-adopted aeroscreen. Honda (HRC US) and Chevrolet (Ilmor) are the engine providers. Firestone is the exclusive tire supplier. This will be the second year of hybrid energy recovery system powertrains at Indianapolis.

The official entry list is typically released in early May. Based on officially announced rides, as of April 8 there are currently 32 confirmed entries for the race. This includes 25 full-time IndyCar Series entries,[24] and seven one-off or "Indy-only" entries for:

Ed Carpenter — Ed Carpenter Racing
Hélio Castroneves — Meyer Shank Racing[25]
Conor Daly — Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Jack Harvey — Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Ryan Hunter-Reay — Arrow McLaren
Takuma Sato — Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL)[26][27][28]
Jacob Abel — Abel Motorsports[29]

Andretti Global was planning to run a fourth car in an "Indy-only" entry with the #98 car, but on April 9, Formula 2 (F2) announced it had added a race in Canada that conflicts with the 500, which precludes Colton Herta, who is competing full-time in F2 in 2026, from racing in the 500 The original F2 calendar had no races scheduled for May, which would have allowed Herta to compete at Indy.However, the F2 schedule was revised due to the Iran war,and a direct scheduling conflict arose for Herta.[34]

PREMA Racing currently has two Chevrolet engine leases for the 2026 IndyCar Series season, but is currently undergoing an ownership shake-up which has left the team in limbo regarding competing in any of the 2026 events On April 10, it was announced PREMA will not enter the Indianapolis 500. As a result, one of the engines was released for use by Abel Motorsports for Jacob Abel and a third car run by A. J. Foyt Racing with a driver yet to be named, to complete the field of 33. Drivers pursuing entries are: Devlin DeFrancesco, who raced full-time for RLL in 2025, Katherine Legge, the most recent female to have competed in the Indy 500 (2024), and Stefan Wilson, who last competed in 2023.

OPEN TEST | April 28-29

Before the month of May even begins, teams get two days on the oval to shake off the rust. Rookies get their first look at Indy, veterans knock off the cobwebs, and everyone starts learning what this year’s package is going to do at speed.

Tuesday, April 28

10:00 AM to Noon | Veteran Test

Noon to 2:00 PM | Rookie Orientation and Refresher

2:00 to 6:00 PM | All Cars

Wednesday, April 29

10:00 AM to 2:00 PM | All Cars

1:00 to 5:00 PM | All Cars

Broadcast: YouTube

OPENING PRACTICE | May 12-14

Three days for teams to find speed, dial in setups, and figure out what the 2.5-mile oval is going to give them this year. Every lap matters before qualifying locks the grid.

Tuesday, May 12

Noon to 2:00 PM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

2:00 to 4:00 PM | Oval Veterans Practice

4:00 to 6:00 PM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

Wednesday, May 13

Noon to 6:00 PM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

Thursday, May 14

Noon to 6:00 PM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

Broadcast: TBD

FAST FRIDAY | May 15

The last practice day before qualifying, and the one that carries real weight. Teams are allowed to run full qualifying boost for the first time, and speeds jump noticeably. This is where you find out who has been sandbagging all week and who is genuinely fast.

Noon to 6:00 PM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

6:15 PM | Qualification Draw, IMS Pagoda Plaza

Broadcast: TBD

QUALIFYING WEEKEND | May 16-17

This is where the month gets serious. Day 1 sets the field. Day 2 decides who is on the bubble, who gets bumped, and who earns the pole. Drama is guaranteed.

Saturday, May 16 | Qualifying Day 1

8:30 to 9:30 AM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

11:00 AM to 5:50 PM | Day 1 Qualifying

Sunday, May 17 | Bump Day

1:00 to 2:00 PM | Practice, Top 12

2:00 to 3:00 PM | Practice, Last Chance Qualifiers

4:05 to 5:05 PM | Top 12 Qualifying

5:15 to 6:15 PM | Last Chance Qualifying

6:25 to 6:55 PM | Firestone Fast Six

The Fast Six is the moment the front two rows are decided. The six fastest qualifiers from Day 1 go back out for one more shot, and whoever turns the quickest four laps earns the pole position. It is one of the best half hours in motorsport.

Broadcast: TBD

POST-QUALIFYING PRACTICE | Monday, May 18

The grid is set. Now teams shift focus to race trim. Two hours to reset, regroup, and start building toward Race Day.

1:00 to 3:00 PM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

Broadcast: TBD

CARB DAY | Friday, May 22

The final on-track session before the green flag, and one of the best ticket values of the entire month. Final practice, the pit stop competition, and a concert all rolled into one afternoon at the Speedway.

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Indianapolis 500 Practice

2:00 PM | Wienie 500

2:30 to 4:00 PM | Oscar Mayer Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge

4:00 to 6:00 PM | Miller Lite Carb Day Concert

Broadcast: TBD

LEGENDS DAY | Saturday, May 23

Built around the history and personalities of the Indianapolis 500. Autograph sessions, a public drivers meeting, and a concert to close out the night before Race Day.

8:00 AM | Veteran Driver Autograph Session Wristband Distribution

9:00 to 10:00 AM | Full-Field Autograph Session

10:30 to 11:00 AM | Public Drivers Meeting

Noon to 1:00 PM | Veteran Driver Autograph Session A

1:30 to 2:30 PM | Veteran Driver Autograph Session B

6:00 PM | Legends Day Concert

Broadcast: None

RACE DAY | Sunday, May 24

The 110th Running. There is nothing else like it.

11:47 AM | Driver Introductions

12:24 PM | National Anthem

12:29 PM | “Drivers, to your cars”

12:36 PM | Back Home Again in Indiana

12:38 PM | Command to Start Engines

12:45 PM | Green Flag

TV: FOX

No.	Driver	Team	Engine	Sponsor
2	Josef Newgarden W	Team Penske	Chevrolet	Shell
3	Scott McLaughlin	Team Penske	Chevrolet	Pennzoil
4	Caio Collet R	A.J. Foyt Racing	Chevrolet	Combitrans Amazonia
5	Pato O'Ward	Arrow McLaren	Chevrolet	Arrow Electronics
6	Nolan Siegel	Arrow McLaren	Chevrolet	NTT Data
06	Hélio Castroneves W	Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian	Honda	Cleveland-Cliffs
7	Christian Lundgaard	Arrow McLaren	Chevrolet	VELO
8	Kyffin Simpson	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	Sunoco
9	Scott Dixon W	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	PNC Bank
10	Álex Palou W	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	DHL
12	David Malukas	Team Penske	Chevrolet	Verizon
14	Santino Ferrucci	A. J. Foyt Racing	Chevrolet	Home For Our Troops
15	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	Honda	TBC
18	Romain Grosjean	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	OnlyBulls and Bitcoin MAX
19	Dennis Hauger R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	Nammo
20	Alexander Rossi W	ECR	Chevrolet	Java House
21	Christian Rasmussen	ECR	Chevrolet	Splenda
23	Conor Daly	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Chevrolet	Kingspan
24	Jack Harvey	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Chevrolet	INVST
26	Will Power W	Andretti Global	Honda	TWG AI
27	Kyle Kirkwood	Andretti Global	Honda	JM Bullion
28	Marcus Ericsson W	Andretti Global	Honda	Delaware Life
31	Ryan Hunter-Reay W	Arrow McLaren	Chevrolet	Arrow Electronics
33	Ed Carpenter	ECR	Chevrolet	SlimFast
45	Louis Foster	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	Honda	Droplight
47	Mick Schumacher R	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	Honda	Enve
60	Felix Rosenqvist	Meyer Shank Racing	Honda	Sirius XM
66	Marcus Armstrong	Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian	Honda	Spectrum
75	Takuma Sato W	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	Honda	Amada
76	Rinus VeeKay	Juncos Hollinger Racing	Chevrolet	TBD
77	Sting Ray Robb	Juncos Hollinger Racing	Chevrolet	Good Heart Vet
TBA	Jacob Abel R	Abel Motorsports	Chevrolet	TBA