Indy 500 2026: Start Time, Weather Forecast, Odds & Best Bets

• The 110th Indy 500 goes green Sunday, May 24 at 12:45 p.m. ET from Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Alex Palou starts from pole and sits as the heavy favorite at +290 on BetMGM
• Read below for the full Indy 500 2026 schedule, weather, odds, best bets, and how to watch

Race day is finally here. The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 takes the green flag today, Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 12:45 p.m. ET from the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thirty-three drivers, 200 laps, one Borg-Warner Trophy.

Defending winner Alex Palou rolls off the pole after a qualifying lap of 232.248 mph. The Spaniard has already won three races in 2026 and enters as a clear favorite over a deep field that includes nine former 500 winners.

Below is everything you need for the Indy 500 2026, from the schedule to the weather forecast to the latest odds and best bets.

Indy 500 Start Time and Schedule

The Indy 500 race start time is 12:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 24. Gates at Indianapolis Motor Speedway open at 6 a.m., and FOX’s pre-race coverage kicks off at 10 a.m. ET. Will Buxton handles play-by-play with analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell.

Here is the full race day schedule:

Cord cutters can stream the race on Fubo, FoxSports.com, the FOX Sports app, and INDYCAR LIVE. Radio coverage runs on SiriusXM Channel 218 and the IndyCar Radio Network.

Indy 500 Weather Forecast: Rain Delay Risk

The Indy 500 weather forecast is the biggest variable today, and it isn’t pretty. The National Weather Service is calling for an 80% chance of precipitation with scattered showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 p.m., followed by more likely showers into the late afternoon. AccuWeather has the rain chance up at 88% with a 53% thunderstorm probability.

Temperatures will sit around 75 to 79 degrees with south winds near 5 to 6 mph and humidity above 80%. Weather Underground is the most optimistic of the bunch, pegging the rain chance closer to 47% with the possibility of skies clearing after a one or two-hour shower.

Either way, expect a real chance of an Indy 500 rain delay. This would be the third straight year weather has played a role at the Brickyard, and IMS has the jet dryers ready.

2026 Indy 500 Odds

Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook on May 24. Register with the BetMGM promo code to wager on the Indianapolis 500.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK

Offer

T&Cs

Get Up To $1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US), 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.

LOCK IN PROMO

CODE: SBD1500

CODE: SBD1500

SIGNUP BONUS

GET UP TO
$1,500 BACK

IN BONUS BETS!

BET NOW

Palou at +290 carries an implied probability of about 25.6%, which is a steep number to take with 32 other cars in the field. Malukas, Daly, and O’Ward all sit at +700 or shorter, with another seven drivers priced inside +1300. For a deeper look at full-season prices, check out the latest NASCAR Cup Series odds on the futures board.

Indy 500 Best Bets

Palou is the right favorite, but +290 is asking a lot at a race this unpredictable. Last year alone we saw a pole-lap pace car wreck before the green flag, a fuel-out leader, and a post-race DQ of the runner-up. The 500 chews up clean afternoons.

Pato O’Ward at +700 is the best bet on the board. The Arrow McLaren driver has finished inside the top six in five of his six career Indy 500 starts and has three top-three finishes in the past four runnings. He has also led laps in each of the last five 500s. Starting sixth in Row 2 gives him plenty of track to work with, and his aggression on restarts has been a hallmark of his Indy resume.

David Malukas at +600 also gets a hard look from the inside of Row 1. He crossed the line third in the 2025 race and was elevated to second after Marcus Ericsson’s post-race disqualification. The young Team Penske driver has the equipment and the starting spot to chase his first IndyCar win on the biggest stage.

• Indy 500 Best Bet: Pato O’Ward (+700 at BetMGM)

Indy 500 Longshot Pick

Scott Dixon at +1800 stands out further down the board. The 2008 winner is starting his 24th Indianapolis 500 and has led more laps in the race than any driver in history.

The Iceman owns 14 career top-10 finishes at IMS, including a third in 2024, and rolls off 10th in a Chip Ganassi car that won this race a year ago. With weather possibly scrambling strategy, his experience and patience could pay off in a big way.

• Indy 500 Longshot Pick: Scott Dixon (+1800 at BetMGM)

Kyle Busch Indy 500 Number Tribute

This year’s race carries a heavy storyline. Kyle Busch passed away on May 21 at age 41, just days before the green flag.

As a tribute, Dale Coyne Racing will run their No. 18 car using the same font Busch wore during his championship years at Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch made two career attempts at the Indianapolis 500 that never came together, and the No. 18 in the field today gives him a presence at the Brickyard that he chased for years.

NASCAR Today: Coca-Cola 600 Also on the Slate

Sunday is a true doubleheader for motorsports fans. NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 takes the green flag at 6 p.m. ET from Charlotte Motor Speedway, streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Tyler Reddick starts from pole after qualifying was rained out. Katherine Legge will also attempt The Double, running the Indy 500 earlier in the day before starting 37th at Charlotte.

The 600-mile race is the longest event on the NASCAR Cup schedule, covering 400 laps around the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval. New to wagering on stock cars? The NASCAR betting basics guide covers the prop and futures markets worth knowing before tonight.

How Long is the Indy 500 Parade?

The 70th Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade rolled through downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, May 23. The 2026 theme was “Racing Through History,” and the parade typically runs about two hours after stepping off at noon ET.

It drew more than 200,000 spectators and featured all 33 drivers, marching bands, celebrity floats, military units, and the famous giant helium balloons.