Indianapolis 500 2026 Quick Facts:
- Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
- Start Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel/Streaming: FOX, FOX One
- Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Total Distance: 500 miles
- Total Laps: 200
Start your engines… The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 returns to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indy 500 is one of the biggest events in motorsports, bringing together the world’s best drivers for 500 miles of racing at speeds topping 200 mph.
Even if you can’t make it to Indianapolis in person, you can still experience every lap live from home this Memorial Day Weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Indy 500, including the race date, start time, TV channel, streaming options and full weekend schedule.
Stay up to speed on everything from the NTT IndyCar Series and Formula 1 to the NASCAR Cup Series and more with DIRECTV.
When is the Indianapolis 500?
The 2026 Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The race typically lasts around three hours, though cautions, crashes and weather delays can impact the total runtime.
How to Watch the Indy 500 Live on TV
Fans can watch the 2026 Indy 500 live on FOX, which continues its coverage of the NTT IndyCar Series.
- TV Channel: FOX (Find your local FOX affiliate channel)
- Live Streaming: FOX One and FOX Sports apps
After decades, the longtime local Indianapolis blackout has officially ended, meaning fans in the Indianapolis area can now watch the race live on TV alongside the rest of the country.
Looking for even more race coverage? FOX Sports will also air Indy 500 practice sessions, qualifying rounds and Carb Day coverage leading up to race day.
2026 Indianapolis 500 Schedule
Considered one of the crown jewels of global motorsports and a centerpiece of Memorial Day Weekend racing, the Indy 500 is more than just a one-day race: it’s a two-week motorsports spectacle filled with practice sessions, qualifying runs and final tune-ups before drivers battle for the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Practice for the 2026 Indy 500 began on May 12, while qualifying and Time Trials were scheduled to take place May 16–17. One of the biggest pre-race traditions, Carb Day, takes place on Friday, May 22, featuring final practice laps and the annual Pit Stop Challenge.
Here’s a look at the key events leading into the Indianapolis 500 and where to watch live coverage:
Friday, May 22: Carb Day
| Time | Event | Channel |
| 11 a.m. ET | NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Carb Day Final Practice | FS1, FOX One |
| 2 p.m. ET | Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 | FOX, FOX One |
| 2:30 p.m. ET | NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Pit Stop Competition | FOX, FOX One |
Sunday, May 24: Race Day
| Time | Event | Channel |
| 10 a.m. ET | NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Pre-Race | FOX, FOX One |
| 12:30 p.m. ET | NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Race | FOX, FOX One |
How Many Laps Is the Indianapolis 500?
The Indianapolis 500 consists of 200 laps around the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Each lap measures 2.5 miles, bringing the total race distance to exactly 500 miles — the origin of the race’s famous name.
Drivers Attempting “Double Duty” in 2026
One of the biggest storylines entering Memorial Day Weekend is “Double Duty” — when a driver attempts to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
For the third consecutive year, a driver will attempt the feat, as British racing driver Katherine Legge is expected to compete in both races on Sunday, May 24. Legge will be the first woman, the first non-American and the oldest driver (45) to ever make the attempt. She plans to drive for HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing in the Indy 500 and Live Fast Motorsports in the Coke 600.
The challenge is one of the toughest in motorsports. Drivers race 500 miles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before immediately traveling to Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 later that evening.
Kyle Larson attempted the feat in 2024 and 2025 but was unable to do so either year, arriving late to the Coke 600 in 2024 and crashing out of both races in 2025. The last driver to complete both races without missing a lap was Tony Stewart in 2001.
Indianapolis 500 Prize Money and Winner’s Purse
The total purse for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 is expected to exceed $22 million, making it one of the richest races in motorsports.
Of course, prize money isn’t the only thing they will win. The winning driver also receives the traditional bottle of milk in Victory Lane, one of the most iconic celebrations in all of sports.
Indy 500 2026 Drivers, Favorites and Starting Field
The final starting field for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 is still being finalized through qualifying, but several top IndyCar stars enter race weekend among the favorites to win.
Top IndyCar Drivers Entering Indy 500 Weekend
| Rank | Driver | Team | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Álex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing | 237 | 3 |
| 2 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global | 210 | 1 |
| 3 | David Malukas | Team Penske | 185 | 0 |
| 4 | Christian Lundgaard | Arrow McLaren | 182 | 1 |
| 5 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske | 162 | 1 |
| 6 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Racing | 148 | 0 |
| 7 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren | 148 | 0 |
| 8 | Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | 141 | 0 |
| 9 | Scott McLaughlin | Team Penske | 141 | 0 |
| 10 | Marcus Armstrong | Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian | 123 | 0 |
Álex Palou enters the race weekend as one of the top championship contenders after another dominant start to the IndyCar season, while former winners Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon remain major threats on oval tracks.
Why Is the Indy 500 Called “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”?
The Indianapolis 500 earned the nickname “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” thanks to its combination of history, speed, tradition and worldwide popularity.
From the massive crowd at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to iconic traditions like the winner drinking milk in Victory Lane, the Indy 500 has become one of the most celebrated events in all of sports.
The race is widely considered one of the crown jewels of motorsports alongside Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Indianapolis 500 History and Traditions
The Indianapolis 500 — commonly called the Indy 500 — is one of the most prestigious races in motorsports. Held annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, the race is entering its 110th running in 2026 and remains one of the crown jewels of global racing.
The Indy 500 takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.5-mile oval speedway with corners banked at 9.2 degrees. It earned the nickname “the Brickyard” when it was paved with brick back in 1909. While the track has gotten a bit of a makeover, a strip of bricks remains at the start line as tribute.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the third-oldest permanent racetrack in the world and one of the largest sports venues globally, capable of hosting more than 250,000 fans.
The Indy 500 is also part of motorsport’s unofficial Triple Crown alongside Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Graham Hill remains the only driver to win all three events.
Indy 500: Previous Winners
Team Penske has dominated the Indianapolis 500 in recent years, but Chip Ganassi Racing is emerging as a serious challenger for control.
Here are the previous winners of the Indianapolis 500 from the last 10 years.
| Year | Driver | Team |
| 2025 | Álex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 2023 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 2022 | Marcus Ericsson | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2021 | Hélio Castroneves | Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2020 | Takuma Sato | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 2019 | Simon Pagenaud | Team Penske |
| 2018 | Will Power | Team Penske |
| 2017 | Takuma Sato | Andretti Autosport |
| 2016 | Alexander Rossi | Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian |
Watch the 2026 Indy 500 on DIRECTV
From IndyCar and NASCAR to Formula 1 and beyond, DIRECTV gives racing fans access to the biggest events on the motorsports calendar. Don’t miss the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 live this Memorial Day Weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Coca Cola 600?
The Coca-Cola 600 will take place on Sunday, May 24 at 6 p.m. ET at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.
The NASCAR race follows the Indianapolis 500, are referred to as “The Double” when a driver attempts to race in both events back-to-back.
Is anyone attempting “The Double” this year?
Yes. Katherine Legge is expected to attempt “Double Duty” during Memorial Day Weekend by competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, 2026.
The feat requires drivers to race 500 miles in Indianapolis before flying to Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s longest race later that evening.
Who won last year’s Indy 500?
Álex Palou of Spain won the 2025 Indianapolis 500, adding the historic victory to a dominant season that included eight race wins and the IndyCar championship.
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