Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Bring on May.
The greatest month for racing in Indianapolis is upon us. It brings excitement and pageantry to a city known as the “Crossroads of America.”
The road is moving fast toward the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 (May 24, 12:45 p.m. ET on FOX).
The previous Indy 500 winners who are competing in the 2026 race (L-R) #9: Scott Dixon, #10: Alex Palou, #26: Will Power, #06: Helio Castroneves, #31: Ryan Hunter-Reay, #75: Takuma Sato, #28: Marcus Ericsson, #2: Josef Newgarden, #20: Alexander Rossi.
Here’s a primer to get you up to speed in what will be an eventful month of racing action:
What is the first race?
The first race at the speedway is technically a foot race — the annual Indianapolis mini-marathon, which will run Saturday (May 2) and includes the 2.5-mile oval as part of the course.
What is the first car race?
The month opens on May 9 with the Indianapolis Grand Prix, an 85-lap race on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course that utilizes much of the frontstretch and parts of the backstretch and Turns 1-2. The cars go the opposite direction than what they do in the Indianapolis 500.
Why the road-course race?
It’s twofold. When INDYCAR needed races, this was an easy race to add as the course was already constructed for Formula 1. And practice and qualifying for the Indy 500 used to last two weeks — there were two qualifying weekends consisting of two days apiece — but that was condensed to one week of practice and qualifying and then race week. For those used to a full month of activity at the track, the Grand Prix weekend provides just that.
So how many days are drivers on track?
INDYCAR drivers will practice and qualify for the Grand Prix on Friday, May 8 with the race the next day. The facility will take two days to convert from the road course to the oval configuration with Indy 500 practice days on May 12, 13, 14 and 15, and then qualification days on May 16 and 17 (the pole will be determined May 16). Then there will be practice May 18, a short “Carb Day” practice (along with the pit-stop competition and the Wienie 500) on May 22 and then the 500-mile race on May 24th.
Do the same drivers compete in both the Grand Prix and the 500?
There are 25 full-time drivers (with car numbers) who will compete in the Grand Prix and then an additional eight drivers for the 500.
The 25 full-time drivers: 2-Josef Newgarden, 3-Scott McLaughlin, 4-Caio Collet, 5-Pato O’Ward, 6-Nolan Siegel, 7-Christian Lundgaard, 8-Kyffin Simpson, 9-Scott Dixon, 10-Alex Palou, 12-David Malukas, 14-Santino Ferrucci, 15-Graham Rahal, 18-Romain Grosjean, 19-Dennis Hauger, 20-Alexander Rossi, 21-Christian Rasmussen, 26-Will Power, 27-Kyle Kirkwood, 28-Marcus Ericsson, 45-Louis Foster, 47-Mick Schumacher, 60-Marcus Armstrong, 66-Felix Rosenqvist, 76-Rinus VeeKay and 77-Sting Ray Robb.
The eight drivers doing solely the Indy 500: 06-Helio Castroneves, 11-Katherine Legge, 23-Conor Daly, 24-Jack Harvey, 31-Ryan Hunter-Reay, 33-Ed Carpenter, 51-Jacob Abel, and 75-Takuma Sato.
[INDYCAR POWER RANKINGS: Alex Palou Remains In Familiar Spot]
Is there something new with the monitor?
The speedway eliminated and resurfaced an space between Turns 1 and a pair of the place a bump had began to impression the way in which the vehicles deal with. Drivers reported no points with the realm throughout assessments final fall nor throughout the open check on April 28-29.
What was realized on the open check?
It was realized that the majority drivers and groups appear comparatively calm. There wasn’t a lot angst as they went by way of their testing plans. No vehicles hit the wall. With solely 5 units of tires, they might take their time and make changes when obligatory. Daly and Harvey, driving for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, confirmed pace for a group that solely does the Indy 500. A.J. Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collet was the quickest general. As two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden stated in a group information launch after the check: “That is simply step one in the direction of coming again right here subsequent month and making an attempt to win one other Indianapolis 500.
The place’s NASCAR champion Kyle Larson?
He’s not right here. There are not any drivers competing in each the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 this 12 months as Larson tried the previous two years.
Who’s taking part in the concert events?
Oh sure, the concert events. On Carb Day, Counting Crows and Switchfoot will take the stage. On race day, the Snake Pit live performance will characteristic artist Zedd, joined by Crankdat, Wooli, it’s murph and Wax Motif.
[INSIDE THE GARAGE: Attention Shifts to Upcoming Indy 500]
What’s the vibe?
The vibe is nice. The monitor anticipates asserting a sellout inside per week. The one factor completely different from final 12 months is that the five hundred isn’t sharing the stage with an Indiana Pacers group making a playoff run. These hopes had been dashed in all probability earlier than the INDYCAR season started in March.
Talking of the season, is Alex Palou nonetheless the person to beat?
Sure, Palou continues to be the person to beat. Palou, who has 4 INDYCAR titles together with the final three, has received three of the 5 INDYCAR races this 12 months, leads the purpose standings and is the defending Indy 500 winner.
Defending Indy 500 champion Alex Palou may simply be the person to beat once more in 2026.
So is Palou going to win?
That is the Indy 500. It’s unpredictable. It’s ruthless. And it’s exhausting. The buildup has begun because the month-to-month calendar flips. It’s the Month of Might.
