IndyCar
109th Indianapolis 500 Preview
SPEEDWAY, IN (May 25, 2025) – There are always storylines heading into the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and this year is no exception along with a little added intrigue. Here’s what I think are the storylines to keep an eye on in ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’:
Alex Palou show in 2025: Chip Ganassi Racing’s Palou is off to the best start in INDYCAR in 60-years, winning four of the first five races and finishing second in the other. A.J. Foyt won the first five races in 1964. Palou and the No. 10 DHL Honda team hold a 97-point lead in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship standings. Palou however has never won on an oval. His best finish at Indianapolis is 2nd in 2021, when he followed Helio Castroneves across the yard of bricks.
Helio Castroneves chasing history: Castroneves won his fourth Indy 500 in 2021 with Meyer Shank Racing. Castroneves’ other wins, 2001, 2002 and 2009 were with Team Penske. Castroneves was 7th quickest in Carb Day on Friday posting a fast lap of 224.235, which was right behind teammate Felix Rosenqvist’s 224.416. Castroneves starts 22nd and if he can pull off the victory, he would be the oldest Indy 500 winner in history at 50-years-old. Al Unser Sr. became the oldest winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1987 at age 47 years, 360 days old.
Josef Newgarden going for 3-in-a-row: Newgarden could make history today if he were able to pull off his third victory in-a-row. Newgarden beat Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward last year in an epic battle over the final few laps. Newgarden won his first Baby Borg in 2023, a controversial win because it was the first time the series had a 2-lap shootout for the win. Newgarden will have his work cutout for him starting from the 32nd position after Team Penske was penalized after failing technical inspection prior to pole qualifying. O’Ward told me on Friday that Newgarden’s car is ‘a missile’.
Pato O’Ward seeking first 500 win: O’Ward, the series most popular driver, is looking for his first 500 victory after finishing 2nd in 2024, 2nd in 2022, 4th in 2021 and 6th in 2020. O’Ward has finished second twice this season (Thermal Club & Sonsio Grand Prix) and will roll off from the outside of the front run after qualifying third. O’Ward sits fourth in the Championship standings, 100-points behind Palou.
Takuma Sato looking for 3rd 500 win: Sato is starting from the 2nd position in the middle of the front row, with O’Ward on the outside and rookie Robert Shwartzman on the inside. Sato started in the Top 4 for his previous two wins, 2017 & 2020. This will be the only start of the season for Sato, who is not running for the Championship. Sato was 2nd in the final practice on Friday at 225.415, but suffered a mechanical failure late in the session.
Scott Dixon vying for 2nd 500 win: Dixon is this generations most successful driver winning six Championships and amassing 58-wins, both of which are second all-time to A.J. Foyt. Dixon won the 500 in 2008 but a second victory has been elusive considering he’s led 677 career laps, the all-time event record. Dixon is also second to Rick Mears in ‘500’ pole wins (6-to-5). Dixon and the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda finished third in Carb Day’s final practice, posting a fast lap of 225.200 mph.
Kyle Larson’s 2nd attempt at ‘The Double’: Larson, for the second straight year, is attempting to become the fifth driver to complete the Memorial Day “double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day, joining John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch. The last driver to complete the feat was Busch in 2014. Larson earned “500” Rookie of the Year honors last year after qualifying fifth and finishing 18th.
Rookie Robert Shwartzman on pole: Shartzman of PREMA Racing shocked the racing world by winning the pole last weekend. He is the is the first rookie to win the pole since Teo Fabi in 1983. Shwartzman, born in Tel-Aviv Israel is also the first Israel native to compete in the race. Just 10-rookie drivers have won in over a century with Alexander Rossi being the last in 2016.
NOTES & TIDBITS
- There are eight former Indianapolis 500 winners in the starting field: Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021), Scott Dixon (2008), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016), Takuma Sato (2017, 2020), Will Power (2018), Marcus Ericsson (2022), Josef Newgarden (2023, 2024). Between them, they have 13 victories. The record for most former winners in the field is 10, in 1992. The fewest, other than the inaugural race in 1911, is zero in 1912, 1913, 1915 and 1916.
- The field average speed of 231.207 mph is the third fastest in history. The fastest is 232.184 in 2023, followed by 231.943 in 2024.
- The deepest starting position for a race winner is 28th, by Ray Harroun in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936.
- Casey Irsay Foyt, who represents the next generation of Indianapolis Colts’ ownership along with her sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Kalen Jackson, will serve as honorary starter. Irsay’s father Jim passed away Wednesday May 21 at the age of 65.
- The field includes five past INDYCAR SERIES champions: Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Newgarden, two-time reigning champion Palou and Will Power.
Live Race Day coverage begins on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network at 10 a.m. (ET), with the green flag set for 12:45 p.m.
MADISON, IL (June 6, 2026) – Alex Palou and the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing team are continuing to lay down fast laps when it counts with Palou earning the pole position for Sunday’s NTT IndyCar Series Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The pole position is Palou’s fourth straight NTT P1 Pole award.
“It was incredible and so much fun, especially that first lap,” said Palou, who turned a two-lap average speed of 174.353 mph in the No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. “The #10 Honda Honda had so much speed. The team I have around me is incredible. My car was on rails today; it was incredible.”
David Malukas starts second in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet after a two-lap average of 173.244 mph. Malukas could only look on in disbelief as Palou knocked him off the pole.
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood starts third in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda following a two-lap average of 173.206 mph.
“ It was a good run for us,” said Kirkwood, the 2025 WWWT Raceway winner. “P3 is a really good starting spot and we can definitely do some great things from there. Last year we won from 10th, so it’s nice to be able to be at the front.”
2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Felix Rosenqvist starts fourth in the No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda.
Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin will start 5th in the No. 3 Dex Imaging Chevrolet.
Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon starts 7th in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda and CGR’s Kyffin Simpson will start 14th in the No. 8 Sunoco Honda.
Television coverage of Sunday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 begins at 8 PM CT / 9 PM ET on Fox. Complete, flag-to-flag race coverage also will be available on the INDYCAR Radio Network, and SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation (Channel 160).
DETROIT, MI (May 31, 2026) – Alex Palou is back in victory lane after winning Sunday’s NTT IndyCar Series Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, his fourth win of 2026 and 12th win in his past 25-races.
“It was a tough one,” said Palou. “The team did an incredible job one again with the strategy. Pit stops were incredible. The number 10 Honda Honda looked really good and I think every time it has been on track it’s had a win.”
Palou and the No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda fought off Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood on two late-race restarts as Palou was on the harder Firestone Primary tire and Kirkwood was on the softer Firestone alternate tire.
“It was very tough with the temperature on the tires,” explained Palou. “On the restarts I couldn’t really be at the level of Kirkwood, Power and some of the guys who were able to get a little more tire temp than I Wass able to.”
“The Sam’s Club Honda was really fast,” said Kirkwood, who is second to Palou in the Championship. “We took a little bit of a gamble on tires there being the only guy on reds (alternate) at the end. It nearly paid off. It was so, so, close. They’re a great team and he’s a great driver.”
Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Graham Rahal finished third in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda, tying Rahal’s best finish of the year.
“We had a lot of pace when we needed it,” explained Rahal. “We go lucky a little bit with the yellow.”
IndyCar
Alex Palou wins Detroit IndyCar Pole; Scott Dixon earns 4th starting spot; Honda sweeps front row
DETROIT, MI (May 30, 2026) – Alex Palou is starting on the pole position for the third consecutive NTT IndyCar Series Race, winning the number 1 starting spot for Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.
Palou’s fast lap of 1-minute, 1.9017-seconds (95.668 mph) in the No. 10 Honda Racing Corporation Chip Ganassi Racing Honda was 0.005542-seconds ahead Will Power, who will start second in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda of Andretti Global. This is Power’s best starting position since switching to Andretti in the offseason.
“I’m super happy that we got the pole position,” said Palou. “The Fast Six was very exciting, especially with only getting one lap. The tires were not up to temperature, but this #10 Honda Honda car was on rails.”
“It was really nice to get into the Fast Six,” said Power, IndyCar’s all-time pole winner. “It’s my second time in the one lap shootout this year. It’s very difficult to beat Alex, so heading into the race I think we just have to put our heads down and see what we can do. The Honda is very good and I’ve been really enjoying running with Honda power all year.”
The front row Honda sweep on Chevrolet’s doorstep may bode well for the manufacturer as Honda has won every race at Detroit since the series switched to the downtown street circuit beginning in 2023.
Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin spoiled the Honda party, locking down the third starting spot with a lap of 1:02.4559 in the No. 3 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet.
Six-time series Champion Scott Dixon qualified a season-best fourth at 1:02.6085 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda to give Chip Ganassi Racing two of the top 4 starting spots.
“I was just a little too aggressive going for it,” said Dixon. “The No. 9 PNC Bank Honda has speed and it’s good to be starting up front.”
Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard will line up fifth after a fast lap of 1:02.7870 in the No. 7 Chevrolet, despite losing an engine in the morning practice.
Kyle Kirkwood continued the Firestone Fast Six Honda party qualifying sixth in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda despite locking his tires up at one point and two power slides during his quick lap.
David Malukas will start last in the field after bringing out a red flag during his qualifying run. Malukas smacked the wall in turn 7 causing heavy damage to the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet.
Sunday starts with a 30-minute morning warmup at 9:30 a.m. followed by the 100-lap race at 12:30 p.m. on Fox and the IndyCar Radio Network.
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