2026 Indy 500 Odds, Predictions and Start Time

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The Greatest Spectacle in Racing is back, and the 2026 Indy 500 odds board is loaded with heavyweight contenders, past winners, and one massive defending-champion storyline. Alex Palou finally conquered the Indianapolis 500 last year, Josef Newgarden is trying to get back on top after his back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024, and Pato O’Ward is still chasing the bottle of milk after several painful near-misses.

This year’s race is the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, and it comes with a full 33-car field, no bumping, two days of qualifying, and a betting board that feels tighter than usual near the top. Palou is the favorite, Newgarden has the history, O’Ward has the hunger, and drivers like David Malukas, Scott McLaughlin, Kyle Kirkwood, Scott Dixon, and Marcus Ericsson all have a real case if the race breaks their way.

Before we dive into the odds, make sure you check out our Expert Betting Guide for more sharp insights into motorsports and beyond. With that said, let’s take a look at the latest Indianapolis 500 odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites, and make our Indianapolis 500 predictions.

This race is always a different betting animal. A driver can have the fastest car for 450 miles and still lose it on pit strategy, fuel mileage, traffic, a late restart, or one poorly timed caution. That is what makes the Indy 500 both beautiful and brutal for bettors.

Indy 500 Race Profile

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway first opened in 1909, and the Indianapolis 500 has been part of the track’s identity since 1911. More than a century later, IMS remains one of the most famous racing venues in the world and the Indy 500 remains the crown jewel of American open-wheel racing.

The race takes place on the 2.5-mile rectangular oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track has four turns with 9.2 degrees of banking, long straightaways, and a start-finish line that still includes the famous Yard of Bricks. It looks simple on paper, but 200 laps around IMS create one of the toughest mental and strategic tests in motorsports.

Sunday’s Indy 500 breaks down as follows:

• Total Miles: 500 miles
• Total Laps: 200 laps
• Track Length: 2.5 miles
• Race Field: 33 cars
• Green Flag: 12:45 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX

For bettors, IMS is all about patience and timing. Raw speed matters, but it is not enough. The winner needs clean pit stops, smart fuel windows, comfort in traffic, restart discipline, and the courage to make a move when the race finally turns into a sprint. That is why the best Indy 500 betting cards usually include a mix of favorites, value plays, and top-10 or podium-style wagers instead of one all-in outright.

When Is The Indianapolis 500?

The 2026 Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday, May 24, with the green flag scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage begins earlier in the day, with driver introductions, the national anthem, “Back Home Again in Indiana,” the command to start engines, and all the usual Memorial Day weekend traditions at the Speedway.

The race will air live on FOX. Reserved seating for the event has been sold out, and that should only add to the atmosphere around the Brickyard. If you are betting the race, make sure to track odds movement after qualifying and again after Carb Day, because the market can shift quickly once starting positions, final practice speed, and pit-stall selection are known.

Indianapolis 500 Schedule

The following is a look at the updated 2026 Indianapolis 500 schedule:

Qualifying is especially important at Indy because track position, pit-stall selection, and early-race rhythm all matter. The first day locks in the back portion of the field and sends the fastest cars forward into Sunday’s final qualifying sessions. The final qualifying round then decides the pole and the front rows, which can have a major impact on futures prices.

This year’s field has 33 entries, so every entered car is expected to make the race. That removes bump-day drama, but it does not remove qualifying pressure. Starting near the front can protect a contender from early traffic, while starting deep in the field forces a driver to spend more of the day managing dirty air and pit-cycle risk.

Who Won The Indianapolis 500 Last Year?

Alex Palou won the 2025 Indianapolis 500, giving Chip Ganassi Racing another Brickyard victory and giving Palou the one achievement that had been missing from his IndyCar résumé. It was also his first oval win, which made the moment even bigger.

Palou’s win changed the way bettors should view him at IMS. Before 2025, the question was whether his road-and-street-course dominance could fully translate to the 500. Now that question has been answered. He still needs the right strategy and race flow, but he enters the 2026 Indy 500 as a proven winner, not just a world-class points racer looking for his first bottle of milk.

Josef Newgarden won the race in 2023 and 2024, which means the last three Indy 500s have been won by Palou and Newgarden. That recent history is a big reason both drivers sit near the top of the current odds board.

Indy 500 Odds

Here’s a quick look at the latest 2026 Indy 500 betting odds:

Palou is the favorite, but this is not a runaway market. Newgarden is close enough to make the top tier feel like a true debate, while O’Ward has a better price than usual for a driver who has been painfully close at Indianapolis. Malukas and McLaughlin are also priced aggressively enough to show real respect from oddsmakers.

Need help sorting through the options? Our Best Handicappers can help you break down the numbers like a pro. Indy outrights can move quickly after qualifying, so bettors should compare prices before locking in a final card.

Indy 500 Favorites

The following drivers are considered the top favorites to win the 2026 Indianapolis 500:

Alex Palou +450

Alex Palou enters the 2026 Indy 500 as the defending winner and the current betting favorite. That is a very different setup than last year, when he still had to answer the biggest oval question of his career. Now, he has the trophy, the confidence, and the proof that his calm, calculated style can win the biggest oval race in the world.

Palou’s biggest strength is that he rarely beats himself. At Indianapolis, that matters as much as pure aggression. He understands fuel windows, avoids unnecessary chaos, and usually keeps himself in position to take advantage when the race comes to him. In a 500-mile race where dozens of things can go wrong, that discipline is a serious weapon.

The betting concern is obvious: price. At +450, there is not a lot of hidden value. You are paying for the best all-around IndyCar driver in the field, the defending race winner, and a Chip Ganassi Racing operation that knows how to manage the 500. That can still be worth it, but this is a favorite’s price, not a bargain.

Josef Newgarden +550

Josef Newgarden is impossible to ignore at Indianapolis. He won the race in 2023 and 2024, and even after missing the three-peat last year, he remains one of the most dangerous oval drivers in the series. Team Penske knows how to build cars for this race, and Newgarden knows how to finish the job when the pressure gets ridiculous.

The case for Newgarden is built on trust. He has already proven he can handle the closing laps at Indy, make decisive moves, and win when the race becomes a restart-heavy chess match. Some drivers hope they will know what to do with the race on the line. Newgarden already knows.

At +550, the price is fair. Palou may be the cleaner season-long form play, but Newgarden has the stronger recent Indy 500 winning résumé. If you believe Penske finds speed when it matters most, Newgarden deserves a serious place on your betting card.

Pato O’Ward +800

Pato O’Ward may be the most emotionally painful Indy 500 bet on the board because he has been so close so many times. He has the speed, the aggression, and the late-race instincts to win this race, but the final breakthrough has not arrived yet.

That is also what makes him attractive at +800. O’Ward is not some narrative-only pick. He has repeatedly shown that he can run at the front at Indianapolis and put himself in position to win. Arrow McLaren continues to bring serious speed to the Speedway, and O’Ward is the kind of driver who will not hesitate if he sees a gap late.

The risk is that his aggression cuts both ways. At Indy, timing matters. Move too early and you become a sitting duck. Move too late and the chance is gone. O’Ward has lived both sides of that equation, but if this is finally the year he gets the timing right, +800 could look like one of the best numbers on the board.

David Malukas +1000

David Malukas has become one of the most interesting names near the top of the 2026 Indy 500 odds board. He finished third last year and showed he can handle the Speedway’s pressure, traffic, and late-race intensity. That kind of performance changes how the market views a driver.

Malukas is not priced like a sleeper anymore, but he still offers more payout upside than Palou, Newgarden, or O’Ward. His oval comfort is real, and if he qualifies well, he could become one of the biggest movers before race day.

The challenge is closing. Running well at Indy and winning Indy are not the same thing. Malukas has already proven he can be there late. Now he has to prove he can beat the champions when the final 20 laps get ugly. At +1000, that is a reasonable bet to consider.

Scott McLaughlin +1200

Scott McLaughlin has the Team Penske backing, the oval speed, and the confidence to win the Indianapolis 500. He is not quite as obvious as Palou or Newgarden, but that is exactly why the +1200 number is interesting.

McLaughlin has already shown he can be brutally fast at Indianapolis. The question is whether he can turn that speed into the right race flow. The 500 does not always reward the quickest car. It rewards the team that stays clean, catches the right cautions, nails pit stops, and has enough push when it matters.

At +1200, McLaughlin fits the value-favorite mold. He is not a longshot, but he is also not priced like the obvious pick. If Penske shows front-row speed again during qualifying, this number may not last.

The Best Indy 500 Betting Value

The best Indy 500 betting value is Pato O’Ward +800. Palou is the rightful favorite, and Newgarden has the strongest recent winning history, but O’Ward offers the best blend of price, speed, team strength, and Indy 500 hunger.

O’Ward has already proven he can contend at the Brickyard. He is not being priced as a dreamer. He is being priced as a driver who keeps knocking on the door and may only need one cleaner final stint to finally get through it. That is exactly the type of profile bettors should want at +800.

The key is patience. O’Ward does not need to win the race on Lap 1, Lap 50, or even Lap 150. He needs to stay in the lead group, avoid unnecessary risk, and time his final move better than he has in past heartbreakers. If he does that, this is a very realistic winning ticket.

Betting Value: Pato O’Ward +800

The Top Indy 500 Longshot

The top Indy 500 longshot is Takuma Sato +2500. He is not a deep bomb, but he is the kind of longer-priced driver who actually knows how to win this race. That matters at Indianapolis more than almost anywhere else.

Sato has two Indy 500 wins, and his “no attack, no chance” approach is built for this event. He is fearless in traffic, comfortable in the draft, and willing to make the move that other drivers hesitate to try. That style carries risk, but it also creates real winning upside.

At +2500, Sato gives bettors experience, race-winning nerve, and a payout that still feels worth the gamble. He is not the safest top-10 play, and he may not be the most consistent driver on the board, but if he is in the lead pack with 15 laps left, nobody will want him in their mirrors.

Top Longshot: Takuma Sato +2500

Indianapolis 500 Prop Bets

The Indy 500 prop market is one of the best ways to bet the race without needing to pick the outright winner. Because the race is so long and chaotic, top-three, top-five, top-10, manufacturer, pole position, lap leader, and head-to-head markets can offer cleaner paths than a single winner ticket.

Here are some prop markets worth watching for the 2026 Indianapolis 500:

O’Ward’s top-three price is attractive because it gives you exposure to his upside without requiring the perfect final move. Dixon as a top-five play makes sense because his race management is still elite. Sato’s top-10 number is not cheap, but it fits his Indy profile if he stays out of trouble.

The pole market is more volatile because qualifying conditions, draw order, weather, and boost levels can change the entire board. McLaughlin is still the cleanest pole-position target because Penske speed at IMS is always dangerous. For weekly motorsports angles, keep an eye on the latest IndyCar news and betting analysis.

Indianapolis 500 Predictions

After weighing the current odds, recent Indy 500 history, team strength, and race-day profile, Pato O’Ward stands out as the best bet to win the 2026 Indianapolis 500. Palou is the safest overall driver, and Newgarden has the best recent winning résumé, but O’Ward’s +800 price gives him the stronger betting case.

The logic is simple. O’Ward has already shown he can fight for this race. He has the speed to run with the favorites, the confidence to make big moves, and the team support to stay in the mix over 500 miles. He does not need chaos to win. He needs execution.

Palou is absolutely capable of repeating. Newgarden could win again and surprise no one. Malukas and McLaughlin are live if their cars qualify near the front. But O’Ward is the driver whose price best matches his real winning chance.

If you want a cleaner betting card, pair O’Ward outright with Dixon top five and Sato top 10. That gives you a strong mix of upside, veteran stability, and a longer odds profile without relying on one race script. You can also compare expert cards through the handicapper leaderboard before race day.

Bet: Pato O’Ward +800

Indianapolis 500 Winners

A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Helio Castroneves share the all-time Indianapolis 500 record with four wins each. Castroneves became the most recent driver to reach that mark when he won the race in 2021.

The following is a list of the most recent Indy 500 winners:

Recent Indy 500 history shows why bettors should respect both elite teams and proven Speedway performers. Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske continue to dominate the top of the conversation, but drivers like Ericsson, Castroneves, Sato, and Rossi also prove that the race can reward bold strategy, clean execution, and late-race courage.

That is why the 2026 Indy 500 board is so compelling. Palou is trying to repeat, Newgarden is chasing another Brickyard win, O’Ward is still trying to finish the story, and several mid-tier contenders have enough speed to make things uncomfortable. Our final call is O’Ward to finally get it done and drink the milk at Indianapolis.