The Indianapolis 500 is the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, and the race is just days away from hitting your television screen. The IndyCar Series has started to gain popularity in recent years, and in this article, we will explain what you need to know in order to watch the sport’s biggest race of the year.
When and where is the Indianapolis 500?
The Indianapolis 500, often called the Indy 500, is the highest-level event in American open-wheel car racing. The 500-mile race takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The first race there happened in 1911, and the first IndyCar race was in 1996. The track is often called the “Brickyard”.
The 2024 edition of the race will be the 108th time the race takes place. Thirty-three drivers will compete for the chance to win the race and chug a bottle of milk; a tradition for the winner since the races early days. This year, the race is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, and the starting time is 12:45 p.m. ET.
How to watch the Indianapolis 500
NBC will broadcast the race itself, and you can also stream IndyCars biggest event on Peacock. Qualifying coverage has already started as well.
Top contenders
Memorial Day weekend is always a big time in the racing world. In addition to the Indy 500, NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina. Double duty – where a racer competes in both events – is one of the most impressive feats in racing, so all eyes will be on Kyle Larson.
Larson will attempt to become only the fifth racer ever to pull double duty. John Andretti was the first to do so in 1994, and Tony Stewart was the first to finish both races in 2001. Stewart has done double duty twice, Robby Gordon has done it five times, and Kurt Busch was the last double duty racer back in 2014. Davy Jones also attempted the feat in 1995, but he didn’t qualify for the NASCAR race. Stewart remains the only racer to complete all 1,100 miles on the same day.
Potential thunderstorms could be a concern for Larson, and the NASCAR points leader will prioritize the Coca-Cola 600 if it comes down to it. The race in North Carolina will accommodate to Larson attempting double duty, but they can only delay the race for so long.
Last year’s Indy 500 was one of the most memorable ever. That race was filled with crashes and included a crazy and controversial ending. There were three red flags and a restart with only one lap remaining. Josef Newgarden ended up passing 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson to become the champion.
Both racers are back in 2024, but neither is favored. That honor belongs to Scott McLaughlin who is +450 to win the race. Other stars including Will Power, Scott Dixon, Colton Herta, and Alex Palou will be competing as well, the latter of whom leads the IndyCar Series standings.
McLaughlin is in the first position, followed by Power and Newgarden. All three are a part of Team Penske. Larson will be in the second row in the fifth position.
May 26 is the biggest day in racing, so you won’t want to miss a second of the action, and you should make sure to catch the Coca-Cola 600 after the Indy 500 as well. It’s been 10 years since anyone did double duty, and after a hectic race last year, the 2024 Indy 500 is sure to be historic as well.
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