How can I watch the Indy 500 in 2026?

Starting in 2026, the Indy 500 broadcasts live on Fox Sports as part of the new IndyCar TV deal. Coverage also streams on the Fox Sports app, and the race is carried on the IMS Radio Network nationally.

Who won the first Indy 500?

Ray Harroun won the inaugural Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 1911, driving the Marmon Wasp. He averaged 74.6 mph over 500 miles and is credited with the first use of a rear-view mirror in racing.

How many fans attend the Indy 500?

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest sports venue in the world, with permanent seating for around 250,000 and total race-day attendance, including the infield and Snake Pit, regularly exceeding 300,000 people.

Carb Day, short for Carburetion Day, is the final practice session for the Indy 500. It is held the Friday before the race, includes the Pit Stop Challenge and a major concert, and is a tradition dating back to when cars used carburetors instead of fuel injection.

Why does the Indy 500 winner drink milk?

The milk tradition started in 1936 when three-time winner Louis Meyer drank buttermilk in Victory Lane after his third win. The American Dairy Association of Indiana noticed and has supplied milk to the winner almost every year since.

Race day, race week, history, and the people behind the 500

The Indy 500

Driver interviews, race week guides, history, and the people who make the 500 the heart of Hoosier sports.

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The short answerUpdated Jul 1, 2026

The Indianapolis 500 is the world's oldest major automobile race and the cornerstone of the NTT IndyCar Series. Held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1911, it draws more than 300,000 fans every Memorial Day weekend and is the unofficial start of summer for Hoosiers.

Race day: Sunday, May 24, 2026
Running: 110th
Distance: 500 miles, 200 laps
Watch on: Fox Sports
Coverage: 23 Indy 500 stories
Regions: Indianapolis Metro

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Indianapolis Metro

Indy 500 in Indianapolis Metro

One Week Later: The 110th Indy 500 Leaves Behind an Empty Track and a $566 Million Economic Wake

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway drives $1.058 billion in annual economic impact, with $566.4 million tied to the Month of May alone. Here's the breakdown.

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How to Watch the 2026 Indy 500 on Fox: TV, Stream, Radio

Plan ahead for race day with our complete guide on how to watch the 110th Indy 500, with Fox TV, Fox One streaming, and IndyCar Radio coverage.

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Speedway, Indiana: The Racing Capital of the World

What’s it like in Speedway, Indiana?

Known as the "Racing Capital of the World," Speedway has nearly 120 years of motorsports heritage and a revitalized Main Street that helps it maintain its small-town feel.

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McLaren Invasion: Pato O'Ward at the 110th Indy 500

Discover why Pato O'Ward and Arrow McLaren are the team to watch at the 110th Indianapolis 500, with three near-misses and a four-car invasion.

Jarred Porter

Browse Indy 500 Coverage

Filter race coverage by region or search for a driver, team, tradition, or race year.

May in Indy: Racing, Revelry & Can’t-Miss Moments

Shelby Zellmer

How Indy 500 traditions came to be

Nate Spangle

Only in Indiana: The Indy 500 – A Bucket List Spectacle Like No Other

Nate Spangle

Questions

Indy 500 questions people actually ask

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The answer

When is the 2026 Indianapolis 500?

The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Green flag is traditionally just after 12:45 PM ET on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.

Running Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway

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