Indy 500 Race Day
It’s time for the Indianapolis 500, marking its 110th event this year. Motorsport fans have a thrilling day lined up, beginning with the Indy 500, followed by the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, and then the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 later tonight. For one woman specifically, it’s quite the significant day.
Katherine Legge is set to make history as the first woman to conquer both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in a single day—an impressive challenge at that!
Last year’s Indy 500 champion, Alex Palou, qualified first and is starting at pole position. He’s heading into the race as the favorite again, looking forward to once again partaking in the legendary milk celebration.
Key Details for the 2026 Indy 500
- Date and Time: May 24th, 12:45 PM ET
- Venue: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana
- Channel: FOX
- Streaming: DIRECTV (with a free trial offered)
Pato O’Ward and David Marcus are other notable contenders eyeing a win this year.
This year, the Indy 500 will air on FOX for the second year running. For those who aren’t connected by cable, tuning in can be straightforward.
Start Time for the 2026 Indy 500
The race is set to kick off today, May 24th, at 12:45 PM ET, with coverage starting on FOX from 10 AM ET.
How to Watch the 2026 Indy 500 for Free
If you’re without cable, various live streaming services can get you access to the Indy 500 at no cost. I’ve found DIRECTV to be great for watching live events, especially since they offer a five-day free trial, which includes FOX. After that, subscriptions start from about $44.99 per month for over 90 channels.
Sling TV is also a budget-friendly option for streaming the races, with plans beginning at around $19.99 per month.
Indy 500 Starting Grid
| Line | Inside | Middle | Outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | 10 Alex Palou | 20 Alexander Rossi | 12 David Marcus |
| Row 2 | 60 Felix Rosenqvist | 14 Santino Ferrucci | 5 Pato O’Ward |
| Row 3 | 8 Kiffin Simpson | 23 Conor Daly | 3 Scott McLaughlin |
| Row 4 | 9 Scott Dixon | 76 Linus Lundqvist | 75 Takuma Sato |
| Row 5 | 33 Ed Carpenter | 06 Helio Castroneves | 21 Christian Rasmussen |
| Row 6 | 66 Marcus Armstrong | 28 Marcus Ericsson | 7 Christian Lundgaard |
| Row 7 | 26 Will Power | 6 Nolan Siegel | 45 Lewis Foster |
| Row 8 | 31 Ryan Hunter-Reay | 2 Joseph Newgarden | 18 Romain Grosjean |
| Row 9 | 27 Kyle Kirkwood | 11 Katherine Legge | 47 Mick Schumacher |
| Row 10 | 15 Graham Rahal | 19 Dennis Hauger | 51 Jacob Abel |
| Row 11 | 77 Sting Ray Robb | 4 Caio Collet | 24 Jack Harvey |
2026 Indy 500 Race Day Schedule
- 11:47 AM ET: Driver introductions
- 12:24 PM ET: National anthem, performed by Jordin Sparks
- 12:29 PM ET: “Drivers, to your cars” command
- 12:36 PM ET: “Back Home Again in Indiana,” performed by Jim Cornelison
- 12:38 PM ET: Command to start engines
- 12:45 PM ET: Green flag waves
