The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 takes the green flag at 12:45 PM Eastern on Sunday, May 24, 2026, and defending champion Alex Palou enters from pole as the consensus +250 favorite. The Spaniard is one of only six pole sitters to also enter as betting favorite in the last 25 years and has positioned himself to become only the third driver in series history to win back-to-back Indy 500s.
Quick answer: The 2026 Indianapolis 500 runs Sunday, May 24 at 12:45 PM ET at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Alex Palou is the +250 favorite from pole position with a four-lap qualifying average of 232.248 mph. Pato O'Ward (+600) and Conor Daly (+750) round out the top three favorites, with Josef Newgarden at +1000 and Helio Castroneves a +3000 long shot seeking a record fifth victory.
2026 Indy 500 Betting Favorites
- Alex Palou: +250
- Pato O'Ward: +600
- Conor Daly: +750
- Josef Newgarden: +1000
- Scott Dixon: +1200
- Alexander Rossi: +1500
- Marcus Ericsson: +2000
- Takuma Sato: +2500
- Helio Castroneves: +3000
Palou's price is short by Indianapolis 500 standards. Historical priors suggest that even the dominant qualifier rarely closes at better than +400 because the race is decided across 200 laps of pit strategy, dirty air, traffic management, and clean restarts. The +250 implies a 28.6% win probability, which is roughly double what the historical pole-sitter conversion rate would suggest.
Why Palou Is the Favorite
The 2026 IndyCar season has belonged to Palou. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has won three of the first six races on the schedule, leads the championship standings by 27 points, and arrives at Indianapolis with the highest single-lap qualifying speed of his career. His four-lap qualifying average of 232.248 mph was the fastest pole run of the modern era.
That said, every Indy 500 betting model has a hard cap on the favorite's win probability for a reason. The race rewards survival over speed. Of the last 15 Indy 500s, only three have been won by the pole sitter, and only six by the pre-race favorite. Pit lane miscommunication, an unlucky yellow flag, or a single moment of dirty air can cost the leader a race.
O'Ward's Back-Up Car Setback
Pato O'Ward sits second on the betting board at +600, but his preparation has been disrupted by a qualifying-day spin that forced him to back-up car. Alexander Rossi suffered similar fate when his primary car snapped loose and hit the wall during the Top 12 shootout. Both drivers have the talent to win from a back-up setup, but the lost track time and untested race trim are tangible disadvantages going into Sunday.
O'Ward's qualifying performance still placed him at the front of the second row, and the Arrow McLaren team has historically excelled at long-run setup tweaks during the week between qualifying and race day. Bettors who like O'Ward should monitor practice times between Friday Carb Day and Sunday warm-up.
Long Shots With a Realistic Shot
The Indy 500 is the most history-friendly race for long-shot bettors of any major American sporting event. Of the last 10 winners, six entered at +1500 or longer. The 2026 long shots most worth a look:
- Scott Dixon (+1200): Six-time IndyCar champion with one Indy 500 win and a consistent ability to be in contention at lap 180
- Marcus Ericsson (+2000): Former champion (2022) who excels in fuel-mileage scenarios
- Helio Castroneves (+3000): Four-time winner chasing the all-time record, with veteran instincts in late-race traffic
- Takuma Sato (+2500): Two-time winner (2017, 2020) who has consistently challenged in May
Sato in particular feels mispriced. The Japanese veteran has cashed at +5000 and +4000 in his prior wins, and his ability to take risks in late-race restarts is well-documented in race analytics.
Indianapolis 500 Prop Bet Markets
The depth of prop markets at major U.S. sportsbooks has expanded significantly for IndyCar over the last two seasons. Look for these markets at DraftKings review and FanDuel review:
- Driver-vs-driver matchup props (higher finishing position)
- Total cars finishing (over/under)
- Will the race be decided under green or yellow flag (boosted lines available)
- First crash / first caution markets
- Manufacturer matchup props (Chevrolet vs. Honda)
The most exploitable prop markets historically are the driver-vs-driver matchup lines, where books often misprice teammate hierarchies in races with high attrition rates.
Memorial Day Weekend Betting Tools
The Indy 500 typically marks the highest-handle motorsports race of the U.S. calendar, and books have been running aggressive promo schedules to attract first-time IndyCar bettors. Bonus bet offers and odds boosts on top contenders are concentrated at the books listed in our best sportsbook promos hub. Bettors new to motorsports should anchor their approach in the betting fundamentals guide before chasing parlays.
Strategy: How to Bet the 500
The most-quoted Indy 500 betting strategy is to spread risk across multiple drivers rather than concentrating on a single name. A common approach is the "3-3-1" structure:
- 3% of bankroll on the favorite (Palou) for top-3 finish (boosted prop)
- 3% of bankroll spread across three +600 to +1500 contenders (Newgarden, Dixon, Rossi)
- 1% of bankroll on a long shot (+2500 to +5000) like Sato or Castroneves
The math works because the Indy 500 has produced eight different winners in the last decade. Spreading exposure converts the long-shot variance into manageable expected value rather than feast-or-famine swings.
Where to Watch the Race
The 2026 Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live on Fox in the United States, with green flag at 12:45 PM Eastern. Streaming is available through Fox Sports digital channels and Sling subscriptions. Coverage starts at 11 AM ET with the Borg-Warner trophy presentation pre-race ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the 2026 Indy 500 start?
The green flag drops at 12:45 PM Eastern on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Pre-race coverage begins at 11 AM ET on Fox.
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Indy 500?
Defending champion Alex Palou is the +250 betting favorite from pole position, followed by Pato O'Ward at +600 and Conor Daly at +750.
Has the pole sitter ever won back-to-back Indy 500s?
Only two drivers have won back-to-back Indy 500s: Wilbur Shaw (1939, 1940) and Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002). Palou could become the third with a victory Sunday.
How do I bet on the Indy 500?
All major U.S. legal sportsbooks offer Indy 500 outright winner markets, driver matchups, head-to-head props, and group betting. Markets typically open the Sunday before the race and close at the green flag.
Race Day Wrap
The 110th Indianapolis 500 has the dominant favorite, the back-up-car backstories, and the long-shot value that make for compelling race-day betting. Palou's qualifying performance was historic and his championship-leading form is real, but the race itself does not always reward speed. Spread exposure, monitor practice times through Saturday, and remember that the most reliable rule in 500 betting history is that the unexpected is expected. For a deeper look at U.S. sports betting markets and motorsports strategy, visit our US sports betting guide.
Join the Conversation
Be respectful. No spam. Strategy discussion welcome.