IndyCar Preview: 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
- Dan Jones
- 3 hours ago
- 7 min read
It is the day they've all been waiting for. The day where Speedway, Indiana becomes a racing pilgrimage. The day where festivities will come to the fore. The day where the milk will be drunk and the bricks kissed. The day that has been circled for fans, teams and drivers alike the second that the page flipped to 2026. The day where somebody's life will be changed forever.
The most significant day of the racing year which centres around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. The most storied book in motorsports has chapter 110 to add this weekend, as well as another face to be added to the Borg-Warner Trophy, another bottle of milk to be drunk and a memory that will never be forgotten.
The most significant 500 miles of the racing calendar is upon us and after two weeks of tradition, build-up, practice and anticipation, all that awaits is the green flag and the pageantry that signifies a race quite like no other. That can only mean one thing, the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing' is just around the corner for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, Race 7 of 18 in the 2026 IndyCar season.
What happened in qualifying?
Maybe the most glorious sight of the motorsport calendar is seeing the 11 rows of three with the packed grandstands and helicopters flying by as they await the green flag to fly. Those 11 rows of three have already been set and it was a familiar face who once again found themselves at the top of the timing charts.
For the second time in his career, defending Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time series champion Álex Palou will lead the field to green, all of whom who are aiming to replicate the success that Palou had 12 months ago. Palou topped the times in Sunday's condensed qualifying with a four-lap average of 232.248 mph (373.767 kph), beating out Alexander Rossi and David Malukas who will join the championship leader on the front row.
Pole for the Indianapolis 500 is good enough news, but an extra 12 championship points earned from the pole has also seen Palou extend his lead in the points standings, although don't expect any drivers to be thinking about points come Sunday.
Rossi and Malukas earned their best Indianapolis 500 starting positions by lining up on the front row, whilst a disappointing Fast Six run saw long-time pace-setter Felix Rosenqvist drop to fourth, as he will line-up with Santino Ferrucci and Pato O'Ward on the second row.
With weather preventing any running on Saturday, Sunday saw a one-and-done qualifying format which meant that drivers only had one chance to lock themselves into the field. That saw some surprises, including Takuma Sato in 13th, Josef Newgarden down in 24th and Kyle Kirkwood in 26th.
However, post-qualifying inspection shook up the qualifying order even further, after both Caio Collet and Jack Harvey were found to modify the Energy Management System covers with unapproved hardware. Both were sent to the back of the field and forfeited their original ninth and 28th place qualifying positions.
Who to look out for?
Each driver in the field would have a special story should they drink the milk, but here are some of the 33 who would have a very significant story to share.
Palou still absolutely remains the driver to beat in more senses then one. He himself goes for consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories and to further extend his lead in the standings. Palou was not favoured for pole, but as usual he turned the wick up when it really mattered and now has the best seat in the house coming into Sunday. Palou's Indianapolis 500 win last year defined his legacy, but he will certainly place himself well amongst the conversation of the all-time greats if he can earn a second Indianapolis 500 victory.
Palou can put himself in the conversation, but Hélio Castroneves has the opportunity to stand by himself amongst those all-time greats if he is to earn a fifth Indianapolis 500 victory and overtake the greats of Al Unser, AJ Foyt and Rick Mears. Castroneves will start in 14th, his best starting position since he last climbed the fence in 2021 as he embarks on his 26th Indianapolis 500.
The crowd would go crazy for Castroneves, but the only person the fans may go crazier for is Conor Daly who aims to become the first Indiana-born driver to win the Indianapolis 500 since Wilbur Shaw in 1940. Daly has said numerous times that his No.23 Dreyer & Reinbold car is the best he's ever had in his 13 attempts at the Indianapolis 500, even after leading a race-high laps in 2021. Daly lines up in a very competitive eighth to start in his only scheduled race of 2026.
Rossi has been the key talking point of the week after a significant crash on Monday left him injured, a day after qualifying on the front row. Rossi has since been cleared to race, albeit will need a brace when driving, after undergoing surgery immediately after the accident. Rossi will participate in Carb Day - the first day in the car since his injury, and is expected to still take the green on Sunday. A second '500' victory would be some story, even by Indianapolis standards.
The other significant loser in Rossi's crash was Pato O'Ward, who like Rossi, will have to resort to a backup chassis for the race. That chassis has previously brought O'Ward good luck though after spurring him to victories in Iowa and Toronto last season. O'Ward has an imperious record at Indianapolis and has been in the victory fight each year since 2021. The speedway owes no driver anything, but O'Ward has definitely had the short end of the straw in the past - is this the year he can put all the close calls behind him?
Whilst we are on the topic of popular winners, Malukas is one who will certainly factor in on Sunday. Leading the charge for Team Penske, Malukas heads into the Indianapolis 500 in his best ever starting position and has looked comfortable in his opening six races in the series' most iconic organisation. Penske cars have always factored for strong results in May and Malukas will be one to watch.
Katherine Legge will be attempting the illusive 'double' on Sunday as she'll head to Charlotte Motor Speedway to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 once her day in Indianapolis is done. Legge will become the first non-American driver to compete in the double as well as the first female driver. Legge's attempts in themselves are groundbreaking - only one driver has completed all 1100 miles before - but in unfancied machinery and less preparation than most of the field, this would be a monumental achievement.
Who else is of note?
Other than the aforementioned Palou, Castroneves and Rossi, the field features another six Indianapolis 500 winners. It has been a frustrating bid for Scott Dixon for a second Indianapolis 500 crown since his victory in 2008. Dixon has led the most laps ever at Indianapolis, but as he re-iterates: "not the right ones". He starts off in 10th on Sunday.
2017 and 2020 winner Sato is the top qualifying Rahal Letterman Lanigan car in 12th and would become the oldest Indianapolis 500 winner should be find Victory Lane on Sunday, as would be the case for Castroneves. 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson starts from 17th as the lead Andretti Global entry. The team had a very poor qualifying weekend but have been very strong in race trim.
Ericsson's teammates Will Power starts in 19th whilst row eight features two Indianapolis 500 winners with 2014 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay on the inside for Arrow McLaren and 2023 and 2024 winner Newgarden in the middle.
Ferrucci holds one of the best records at Indianapolis, having finished inside the top 10 in each of his seven starts. He was a significant factor for victory in 2023 when he finished third but has had a quiet few years since and will look to continue his record.
In the Rookie of the Year battle, Mick Schumacher has the best starting spot of 27th, with Dennis Hauger in 29th and Jacob Abel in 30th. Caio Collet will likely be the favourite though, having qualified in ninth before his relegation to the back of the field.
This is the second consecutive Indianapolis 500 with a sellout crowd, which has seen the local blackout lifted in Indiana once again. It means that 1 in every 1000 Americans will be located within Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday and that the Speedway will be one of the biggest 50 cities in America.
In the pre-race formalities, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been named as the Grand Marshal, Four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski has been confirmed as the Snake Pit Grand Marshal, award-winning actor Brendan Fraser has been named the honorary starter whilst Indiana University football coach Curt Cignetti is the honorary pace car driver. Jordin Sparks will perform the National Anthem, Ephraim Owens will sing 'America the Beautiful' whilst Jim Cornelison will return to sing 'Back Home in Indiana'.
2026 Indianapolis 500 Starting Line-Up
Row 1: Palou, Rossi, Malukas
Row 2: Rosenqvist, Ferrucci, O'Ward
Row 3: Simpson, Daly, McLaughlin
Row 4: Dixon, VeeKay, Sato
Row 5: Carpenter, Castroneves, Rasmussen
Row 6: Armstrong, Ericsson, Lundgaard
Row 7: Power, Siegel, Foster
Row 8: Hunter-Reay, Newgarden, Grosjean
Row 9: Kirkwood, Legge, Schumacher
Row 10: Rahal, Hauger, Abel
Row 11: Robb, Collet, Harvey
Milk Choices
Maybe the most important decision for all drivers this May is what milk will be drunk in Victory Lane. All drivers had the choice of whole, 2% or skim.
Whole: Abel, Armstrong, Carpenter, Collet, Daly, Dixon, Ericsson, Ferrucci, Foster, Hauger, Harvey, Kirkwood, Legge, Malukas, McLaughlin, Newgarden, Palou, Power, Rasmussen, Robb, Rosenqvist, Rossi, Schumacher, Simpson, VeeKay
2%: Castroneves, Hunter-Reay, Lundgaard, O'Ward, Rahal, Sato, Siegel
Skim: Grosjean
Timings
Pre-Race: 10:00 ET (15:00 BST)
Driver Introductions: 11:47 ET (16:47 BST)
National Anthem: 12:24 ET (17:24 BST)
Back Home Again in Indiana: 12:36 ET (17:36 BST)
Command: 12:38 ET (17:38 BST)
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500: 12:45 ET (17:45 BST)
After 28-and-a-half hours of meticulous practice, a year building up to this very moment and a desire for victory like no other, it is a race that simply means more. Traditions fulfilled, milk choices set, a qualifying order locked in and an anticipation like no other event on earth.
What we still await though is the bricks to be kissed, the milk to be drunk and somebody's life to change forever.
This is, and will always be, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. This is the Indianapolis 500.
