If Memorial Day Weekend had a soundtrack, it would be 33 turbocharged V‑6s screaming down the front stretch at Indy. On Sunday, May 25, more than 350,000 fans will pack the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.

It’s the first total sellout since 2016 and, for the first time ever, the race is airing on FOX — meaning the entire country can soak in the pageantry without hunting for a streaming workaround.

We’ve got a rookie on pole, a defending champ starting on the last row after a cheating scandal, a four‑time winner chasing history at age 50, and the debut of a hybrid system that gives drivers an extra jolt of horsepower at the push of a button.

Even the Snake Pit DJs couldn’t have spun a wilder set list.

More Than Just Another 500 Lap Race

Old-school fans will tell you the Indy 500 is a rite of passage. This place isn’t about who’s having a good season, it’s about who can master 500 miles of madness while keeping their car, crew, and nerves intact. Win here, and your name gets etched on the Borg-Warner Trophy, right next to guys like Foyt, Mears, and other motorsport royalty.

The last few years alone have added to that legacy in totally different ways. In 2021, Helio Castroneves pulled off his fourth win at age 46, becoming the ageless wonder. In 2022, Marcus Ericsson muscled his way to the front late, outdueling Pato O’Ward and flipping the race on its head.

Then there’s Josef Newgarden, who claimed the last two with back-to-back finishes straight out of Hollywood — his 2024 win came on the final lap after he snatched the lead from O’Ward in brutal, brilliant fashion. Now Newgarden’s aiming for an unheard-of three-peat. Foyt didn’t do that. Mears didn’t either. That’s the kind of shot at history we’re looking at.

But this year’s 500 has another twist: IndyCar’s brand-new hybrid power unit. It’s not just a gimmick — it gives drivers an extra 120 horsepower when timed right. It recharges during braking and lifting, and when a driver punches the button, it turns clean air into opportunity.

At the same time, it’s unpredictable. This is the first time anyone’s raced with it on an oval, and some teams are still figuring out how to balance the added weight. Strategy-wise, nobody really knows what the perfect approach is. But that unpredictability has always been where Indy shines.

The Headliners

Robert Shwartzman — The Surprise Pole‑Sitting Rookie

At the start of May, Robert Shwartzman wasn’t even on most fans’ radar. The Israeli-born Ferrari reserve was stepping into uncharted territory with Prema Racing, a powerhouse in Europe but a total newcomer to ovals. Nobody expected much — certainly not a pole position. But then he went out and laid down a blistering four-lap average of 233.9 mph.

Of course, history isn’t exactly kind to rookie polesitters. Fabi’s engine blew. Walt Faulkner and Lewis Strang couldn’t finish the job. It’s one thing to go fast on Saturday; it’s another to survive 500 miles of tire wear, fuel strategy, and restarts on Sunday.

But even if Shwartzman doesn’t drink the milk, he’s already made himself one of the most compelling stories of the weekend. He’s got the speed, he’s got the confidence, and he’s got Ryan Briscoe — a former pole winner himself — in his corner. No matter what happens, the front row just got a whole lot more interesting.

Josef Newgarden — The Three‑Peat Bid that Starts 32nd

Josef Newgarden was supposed to roll into Indy chasing glory, not headlines. The two-time defending champ had a shot at doing something no one’s ever done here — win three straight. But then came the tech inspection, and things got messy.

Officials found an illegal modification on his car’s attenuator — a safety measure that every team is supposed to leave untouched. Same deal with his teammate Will Power. That discovery didn’t just wipe out their qualifying runs — it kicked both drivers to the back of the field and sparked one of the biggest controversies the series has seen in years.

In the fallout, Team Penske didn’t wait around. Roger Penske, who owns the team, the entire IndyCar Series, and the Speedway itself, made sweeping changes. Longtime president Tim Cindric — arguably the brains behind the operation — was let go, along with two other key team figures. It would be like a team playing in the Super Bowl firing their head coach and GM the week of the big game.

So now Newgarden, instead of starting near the front with a real shot at pacing the field early, has to launch his three-peat attempt from 32nd. No one has ever won the Indy 500 from deeper than 28th. But if anyone can flip that script, it’s Josef. He’s been bulletproof here the last two years. The car should still be fast. The question is whether he can stay clean, avoid traffic with inexperienced drivers ahead of him, and make up ground without burning up tires or strategy too early. If he’s in the mix late, the field’s going to feel him coming.

Helio Castroneves — Chasing the High‑Five at Fifty

Helio Castroneves isn’t just showing up to wave at fans and soak in some nostalgia. He’s 50 years and 15 days old on race day, which makes him the oldest starter since Lyn St. James back in 2000. He’s chasing win No. 5. That would put him alone at the top of the all-time list.

To be clear, nobody else in the field has his resume: four wins, 24 starts, and a knack for knowing exactly when to strike late. He’s been doing this longer than some of the rookies have been alive.

He’s starting 22nd, which is definitely a grind, but Helio’s never been afraid of the long way around. He wasn’t supposed to win in 2021 either, but he found the right line, picked off leaders, and lit the place up like it was his first time.

Pato O’Ward — Always in the Fight, Still Waiting for the Payoff

Pato O’Ward finished second in 2022 and again in 2024, the latter in absolutely gut-wrenching fashion when Josef Newgarden zipped past him on the final lap.

And yet, year after year, Pato keeps showing up and forcing his way into the picture. He’s led at least 11 laps every Indy 500 since 2021, and once again, he’s giving off major “this could be the year” vibes. He’s starting on the outside of the front row — a position that’s produced 13 winners — and he’s currently the betting favorite.

He’s aggressive, confident, and sometimes a little too hungry — which is exactly what makes him so much fun to watch. You never quite know whether he’s about to make a race-winning pass or overcook it into Turn 1. Either way, if there’s a big moment late, odds are Pato’s going to be right in the middle of it.

Alex Palou — Mr. Everywhere but the Oval Win Column

Alex Palou is doing just about everything right this season. He’s won four of the first five races, holds a solid points lead, and that Ganassi Honda under him looks like it’s been built on rails. From a pure form standpoint, there’s nobody hotter in the field. But if there’s one thing missing from his resume, it’s a win on an oval — and more specifically, a win here at Indy.

It’s not that he’s been bad here. In fact, he’s been consistently excellent, just snakebit by weird timing and bad luck. There was the time he got caught by a caution while entering pit lane. Another year, he had contact on pit road. And of course, the heartbreak in 2021, when he went wheel-to-wheel with Helio Castroneves in the final laps and came up just short. It’s like the place keeps finding new ways to keep him from climbing all the way up.

This time, though, Palou looks more prepared than ever. He’s starting sixth — well within striking distance — and his long-run pace in practice was arguably the strongest in the field. There’s a calm confidence to how he’s approaching things this month. He’s been here before, and he knows the window to win the Indy 500 doesn’t stay open forever.

Scott Dixon — The Silent Assassin

There’s a reason drivers get a little tense when Scott Dixon starts creeping up on them late in a race. He’s not flashy. He’s not loud. But he’s always there — quietly knocking out lap after lap with that smooth, clinical precision that’s made him one of the best to ever do it. Dixon has six IndyCar championships, and when it comes to the Indy 500, he’s led more laps — 677 — than anyone in history.

Dixon doesn’t need to prove anything at this point, but you better believe another win here would mean something. It’s been 16 years since he last drank the milk. He’s still sharp, still dangerous, and still exactly the kind of driver who can ruin someone’s day in the final 10 laps. If he’s close at the end, don’t be surprised when he turns calm consistency into a cold-blooded finish.

Kyle Larson — Double Duty, Take Two

Last year was supposed to be Kyle Larson’s big crossover moment — the kind of day racing fans circle on the calendar. He was set to pull off racing 500 miles at Indy in the afternoon, get on a helicopter, plane, and another helicopter to race in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 that same night. But then the skies opened up, and both races got soaked. Larson’s Indy debut never even got going, and his shot at joining the short list of drivers to complete both races in the same day was put on hold.

Now he’s back, and this time, he looks more ready than ever. Larson is the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champ and one of the most versatile racers of this generation. Sprint cars, late models, stock cars — you name it, he’s probably won in it. People throw around the phrase “natural talent” too easily, but in Larson’s case, it actually fits.

What to Know Before You Watch

For the first time ever, the Indy 500 is being broadcast on FOX, and they’re going all-in. Coverage starts early with a pre-race show kicking off at 10 a.m. ET. The green flag is set to drop at 12:45 p.m. ET, and for folks in Indiana — this one’s on TV locally too, since it’s a complete sellout. No blackout this year.

On the call, you’ll hear Will Buxton handling play-by-play with Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe breaking things down from the booth. They’ll be joined by Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick, who are roaming pit lane and bringing some serious experience to the broadcast. It’s a loaded crew with plenty of racing knowledge and a good feel for the moment.

And, because it’s the Indy 500, there’s always a little extra star power. Tom Brady will ride along in the “Fastest Seat in Sports” to open the festivities, Michael Strahan will drive the pace car, and Rob Gronkowski is serving as the Snake Pit grand marshal — which basically means he’s in charge of the party. A perfect fit.

Before the Engines Fire

There’s a reason people call this the biggest day in racing. It’s not just the speed or the history, though there’s plenty of both. It’s the feeling that, for one afternoon, anything can happen. And this year, it feels wide open.

We’ve got a rookie on pole who wasn’t supposed to be here, a back-to-back defending winner trying to claw his way up from the back, legends chasing history, and a new hybrid system that might turn strategy on its head. Whether you’ve been tracking every storyline or you’re just showing up for the spectacle, this year’s 500 has something for you.