After two weeks of relentless preparation, the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is officially upon us. 33 of the world’s best drivers will go to battle for 500 miles on Sunday with racing immortality on the line. With thousands upon thousands of laps turned in practice, what exactly have we learned? What are the storylines heading into the greatest race in the world? Here’s everything you need to know for the 110th running of the Indy 500.
Double DQ Sees The Starting Grid Shuffled
Following a truncated day of qualifying runs last Sunday, the No. 4 of A.J. Foyt Enterprises and No. 24 of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entries were each stripped of their qualifying results following post-qualifying inspection.
In a statement released Sunday evening, series officials said that: “During post-qualifying inspection of car Nos. 4 and 24, IndyCar Officiating discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved hardware. According to the IndyCar rulebook, EMS covers must be used as supplied.”
Driver of the No. 4, Caio Collet, drove his way into the Fast 12 before being disqualified. The Brazilian rookie will roll off from the middle of row 11 with the No. 24 of England’s Jack Harvey sitting to his outside in 33rd.
Newgarden Set For Fight To The Front
Josef Newgarden is no stranger to carving his way through the field in the 500. In 2023, Newgarden won the race from 17th position. Last year, the two-time series champ carved his way from the middle of the last row to sixth place before a fueling issue forced him to retire. Now, after a poor run in qualifying, Newgarden will once again be starting from deep in the field when he rolls off from 23rd on Sunday.
While a high grid position is plenty helpful in the race, the 500 has seen a fair share of drivers come from behind to win. In race simulations on Monday and Friday, the No. 2 was rapid, going fastest on Monday and posting the best lap of Carb Day at 228.342 miles per hour, nearly a full mile per hour faster than the second-quickest driver, Christian Rasmussen.
“It feels OK, feels all right,” Newgarden said of his car following Carb Day. “But today is Friday. We’ve got to be good on Sunday.”
While a Newgarden win may not be the most popular amongst the fans, it would certainly be the most impressive of his IndyCar career. Not only would he become just the 11th driver to win his third 500, but he would also do it from the worst starting spot a victor has emerged from in over 50 years.
Back-To-Back, Back-To-Back?
We didn’t really think it would be different this time, did we?
The Álex Palou show continues to merrily roll along with the Spaniard starting where he left off last May: leading the field. After just barely making the Fast 12, Palou picked up the pace in the last two rounds. The four-time champ averaged 232.248 miles per hour over four laps on Sunday evening to nab his second career Indianapolis 500 pole.
After winning the 500 last year, Palou has the chance to make history in more ways than one. Not only would he become the 22nd multi-time 500 champion, but he would be just the seventh to do it in consecutive years. A Palou win would also be the first time the speedway has ever seen consecutive back-to-back champions.
Rossi Cleared For Race Day
After being involved in one of the most spectacular crashes the Speedway has seen in years, Alexander Rossi, driver of the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing entry, was cleared to compete in the 110th Indianapolis 500 by doctors following injuries to his left hand and right ankle.
“I will have to be on crutches because it’s a non-weight-bearing injury,” Rossi said. “Fortunately, to drive a race car, you don’t have to bear weight. Range of motion is good. Pain is minimal. I’m good to go.”
Rossi spun into the Turn 2 SAFER barrier before taking another major impact from a spinning Pato O’Ward. Both the No. 20 and No. 5 entries will run backup cars for the race but will not take penalties for such a move, a rule specific to the 500. The winner of the 100th edition of the Indy 500 retains his second-place starting spot, while O’Ward will fire off from the sixth position.
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
While Carb Day practice and the 2nd Annual Oscar Mayer Weenie 500 were both unaffected by rain, the pit stop competition was called off midway through the first round due to inclement weather. Now, with all eyes turning to Sunday’s race, the forecast for race day is, unfortunately, less than promising, with rain predicted to hit right around the green flag.
This is especially concerning for Kathrine Legge as she looks to become the first woman to complete “Double Duty,” when she competes in the Indianapolis 500 before flying to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 later that day.
Legge says that she reached out to Kyle Larson, who attempted the Memorial Day double in 2024 and 2025. “He just told me to enjoy it. Don’t let the stress of the logistics take over and ruin the enjoyment of it.”
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