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Among auto races, the Indy 500 stands unmatched in tradition, a primary reason it can attract crowds of 300,000. It all started on a brick surface in the early 1900s, earning the race the nickname "Brickyard," remembered today in the one yard of bricks at the start/finish line.
There’s a lot to take in at the Indianapolis 500, with all that spectacle greeting one of the biggest crowds in American sports. To help cut through all the distractions, here are five things to consider when wagering on the premier event in U.S. open-wheel racing.
And not necessarily just the names atop the odds list. In modern times, the Indy 500 is a race dominated by three owners, and knowing their entries is paramount when laying action.
Roger Penske has won it a record 18 times, most recently in 2019 with Simon Pagenaud. His drivers are always top contenders. Michael Andretti never won the Indy 500 as a driver, but his cars have won it six times. Chip Ganassi entries have won three times between 2009 and 2020.
The Indy 500 is so different that nothing from earlier in the year provides an accurate barometer of how drivers will perform over May. Everything about the Indy 500 is unique, including the event itself.
Even apart from other ovals, drivers have seen nothing like those long, blistering Indianapolis Motor Speedway straights that test both nerves and horsepower thresholds. The track is fast, mean, and punishing. If you bet based on results at street layouts and road courses, do so at your peril.
The Indy 500 attracts big names from other racing disciplines who want to try the event. NASCAR drivers Danica Patrick, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Kurt Busch, and Tony Stewart have all crossed over, as have Formula 1 mainstays Graham Hill, Fernando Alonso, and Jim Clark.
These are typically top drivers with well-funded efforts that attract much media attention, so they’re not showing up just to run in circles.
It’s a long month with a lot of track time, and by the time the green flag drops, it’s pretty clear who the favorites are.
No question, the track is a bear, and it tests the setup as much as it does the driver. Engine failures (or worse) occur simply because of forces impossible to appreciate unless you’re sitting up close watching cars try to navigate this narrow 2.5-mile oval.
Odds will surely shift based on practice performances, but nothing better indicates who the top contenders will be.
The Indianapolis 500 is traditionally a top-heavy race, with just three owners who produce most of the winners, and a track capable of tearing lesser equipment apart.
Alexander Rossi and Takuma Sato may not have been household names when they won in 2016 and 2017, but they drove for an Andretti team that often dominates the race. Sato won it again in 2020, driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
There may be some tempting options in long-shot territory, but history indicates they won’t have the equipment to mount a serious charge.
After winning the 1936 Indianapolis 500, Louis Meyer was so parched he grabbed a bottle of buttermilk to quench his thirst in Victory Lane. A dairy executive noticed, and a tradition was born, one of many surrounding the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Balloons are released during the annual rendition of “Back Home Again in Indiana” just before engines start. The distinct 2.5-mile layout hasn’t changed since the facility opened in 1909, featuring four sharp, flat turns, two long straights, and a pair of tricky “short chutes.”
Winners are awarded the Borg-Warner Trophy, commissioned in 1935 by the auto company of the same name. This unique trophy features the faces of the winning drivers. Winners are also awarded a pace car, usually a Chevrolet.
Year | Winner | Odds |
---|---|---|
2025 | Alex Palou | +550 |
2024 | Josef Newgarden | +500 |
2023 | Josef Newgarden | +1400 |
2022 | Marcus Ericsson | +2000 |
2021 | Hélio Castroneves | +3000 |
2020 | Takuma Sato | +1600 |
2019 | Simon Pagenaud | +800 |
2018 | Will Power | +1000 |
2017 | Takuma Sato | +1500 |
2016 | Alexander Rossi | +2000 |
2015 | Juan Pablo Montoya | +5500 |
2014 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | +1200 |
2013 | Tony Kanaan | +1500 |
2012 | Dario Franchitti | +900 |
2011 | Dan Wheldon | +1000 |
2010 | Dario Franchitti | +450 |
2009 | Hélio Castroneves | +400 |
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The race takes place annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana (an enclave suburb of Indianapolis), typically on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (late May). The 109th running occurred on May 25, 2025.
There are four drivers with four Indy 500 wins each:
Foyt was the first driver to win the race four times. Unser Sr. became the oldest Indy 500 winner at age 47.
The race is 200 laps around a 2.5‑mile oval, totaling 500 miles, with a field of 33 starters arranged in 11 rows of three cars.
Some drivers attempt the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca‑Cola 600 on the same day, called “Double Duty.” Tony Stewart did it in 2001; Kyle Larson tried it again in 2025.
During the race, top speeds on straights can exceed 240 mph. Cornering speeds are lower, generally 215–225 mph.
The average pace is between 165 and 190 mph due to cautions.
Average speeds during qualifying are typically between 231 and 234 mph (often higher than in the actual race). In 2024, Alex Palou set the all-time fastest qualifying average at 234.217 mph.
Qualifying happens over two days. On Saturday, drivers set speeds for grid positions 13–30 (or 33). The top 12 advance to a Sunday shootout to determine the first four rows. There's also a Last Chance Qualifying to fill final lineup spots.
Permanent seating capacity is around 235,000, and with infield attendance, race day crowds can exceed 350,000 to 400,000 spectators. Kids age 15 and under get free entry in general admission if accompanied by a paying adult.