IndyCar drivers share their ‘GOAT’ driver ahead of the 2024 Indy 500
IndyCar drivers share who their favorite driver of all time is ahead of the 2024 Indy 500.
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The IndyCar world turns its attention to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday with the Indianapolis 500, where 33 drivers will compete to win the 108th edition of the race. Eight former winners and six rookies are among the 11-row field that will take the green flag, including Helio Castroneves, who could become the first driver to win the Indy 500 five times.
USA TODAY Sports and the Indianapolis Star will bring you the latest updates, news, highlights and more throughout the day. Follow along.
With a line of thunderstorms bearing down on Indianapolis Motor Speedway, officials have delayed the start of this year’s race. All prerace activities have also been paused as fans have been asked seek shelter away from the grandstands.
The green flag was set to wave at 12:45 p.m., but that will not be the case now.
IMS president Doug Boles said that weather experts the track has been consulting with believe this round of storms — an initial wave of high winds and lightning, followed by a couple hours of rain — should pass in the 2:30-3 p.m. window, after which the track will be able to start the drying process. Equipped with a fleet of NASCAR’s ‘air titans’, IMS was able to dry the track once during practice week as quickly as 77 minutes.
Should the weather cease around 3 p.m., Boles said he hoped the race would be able to start in the 4:30-5 p.m. window. — Nathan Brown, Indianapolis Star
When is the Indy 500 in 2024?
The 108th Indianapolis 500 is Sunday, May 26. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 12:45 p.m. ET.
Indy 500 TV schedule 2024
NBC will air the race, with its pre-race show coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET. The pre-race show and race can also be streamed on Peacock.
Kyle Larson says Indy 500 is ‘the priority’ in historic double
There’s so much up in the air, literally, as former NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson attempts to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C., this evening.
The potential for a weather delay is the biggest obstacle Larson and Team Hendrick face.
“Our plan is, this (race) is the priority,” Larson said on ABC’s prerace show. “There’s just been so much time and investment to make this Indy 500 happen. It’s been a buildup for over a year so we need to run it. And I want to. I feel I have a really good shot to have a good run and potentially win.”
If the Indy 500 proceeds on schedule, Larson is set to leave the Brickyard by 4:15 p.m., get to the Indianapolis airport and fly out at 4:30 p.m., land in Concord, North Carolina at 5:25 and helicopter to Charlotte Motor Speedway at 5:33. Green flag for the Coke 600 is scheduled for 6:22.
“Worst case scenario is happening, which is just a bummer more than anything. We’ll get to go on track at least in something today, so that’s exciting,” Larson said.
“I don’t care if it’s on the same day, I just want to be able to race both races the full distance.”
— Steve Gardner
Latest Indy 500 weather forecast
In a morning event operations briefing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway media center, track president Doug Boles told reporters race officials are tracking a potentially severe storm that may include lightning and is likely to impact the start of Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.
Boles anticipates rain arriving at IMS between noon-12:30 p.m.
He says the biggest concern is lightning, and would ask fans to leave grandstands by 11:15 a.m. if it appears lightning is approaching the Speedway, and all on-track festivities would stop.
“It’s really a challenging day for us,” he said. “No matter what the decision is, it will be a difficult one.” — Nathan Brown, Indianapolis Star
Indy 500 starting grid
Here is the grid for Sunday’s race. Start position (car number in parentheses), car make and team (R-rookie; W-Indy 500 winner):
ROW 1
1. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Team Penske
2. (12) Will Power (W), Chevrolet, Team Penske
3. (2) Josef Newgarden (W), Chevrolet, Team Penske
ROW 2
4. (7) Alexander Rossi (W), Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren
5. (17) Kyle Larson (R), Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren
6. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, AJ Foyt Racing
ROW 3
7. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing
8. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren
9. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing
ROW 4
10. (75) Takuma Sato (W), Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
11. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, Andretti Global
12. (23) Ryan Hunter-Reay (W), Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports
ROW 5
13. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, Andretti Global
14. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing
15. (6) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren
ROW 6
16. (11) Marcus Armstrong (R), Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing
17. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing
18. (4) Kyffin Simpson (R), Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing
ROW 7
19. (98) Marco Andretti, Honda, Andretti Global
20. (06) Helio Castroneves (W), Honda, Meyer Shank Racing
21. (9) Scott Dixon (W), Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing
ROW 8
22. (78) Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger Racing
23. (41) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, AJ Foyt Racing
24. (33) Christian Rasmussen (R), Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing
ROW 9
25. (66) Tom Blomqvist (R), Honda, Meyer Shank Racing
26. (77) Romain Grosjean, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger Racing
27. (8) Linus Lundqvist (R), Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing
ROW 10
28. (45) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
29. (24) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports
30. (30) Pietro Fittipaldi, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
ROW 11
31. (51) Katherine Legge, Honda, Dale Coyne Racing
32. (28) Marcus Ericsson (W), Honda, Andretti Global
33. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Weather forecast for Indy 500 race
Showers and thunderstorms are expected Sunday and some could produce heavy rainfall with a 90% chance of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service. The first wave of storms is expected to arrive before 3 p.m. East southeast winds become south by afternoon between 6 to 15 mph. Wind gusts could reach a high of 23 mph.
Temperatures should max out around 76 degrees. Rain accumulation is expected to be near 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely to return in the evening, mainly before 1 a.m., and could be severe. With a 70% chance of precipitation, damaging winds are the likely concern with some locations possibly seeing hail or tornados.
There will be a south wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph possible. The low temperature will be near 64. Another 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of rain is expected. — Chris Sims, Nathan Brown and Karl Schneider, Indianapolis Star
Kyle Larson Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600
Among the contenders: Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, who is aiming to become the fifth driver to contest arguably the hardest thing in motor sports: racing in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, weather permitting. As soon as Larson’s day in Indianapolis is done, he will fly to Charlotte, North Carolina to race Sunday night in NASCAR’s longest race. — Ellen J. Horrow
Who is the honorary starter for the 2024 Indy 500?
Actors Austin Butler and Jodie Comer, who star in the upcoming film “The Bikeriders,” will serve as honorary starters for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 and will wave the green flag at Sunday’s race. – Ellen J. Horrow
Who is singing the national anthem at the 2024 Indy 500?
Singer-songwriter and actress Jordin Sparks will perform the national anthem prior to Sunday’s race. Sparks, who gained fame as the winner of season six of “American Idol” in 2007, also performed the national anthem before the 2015 Indianapolis 500. Additionally, musician Phillip Phillips, who won the 11th season of “American Idol” in 2012, will perform “God Bless America” during pre-race ceremonies. – Ellen J. Horrow
Indy 500 drinking milk tradition
The tradition started in 1936 when Louis Meyer drank buttermilk in Victory Lane. According to a 2022 IndyStar story, Meyer drank the milk because his mother said it would refresh him on a hot day.
A dairy industry executive saw a photo of Meyer drinking the milk and decided to offer it to winners thereafter. The Indiana Dairy Association became an official sponsor in the 1950s, and these days every driver is asked what kind of milk they prefer — whole or skim — just in case they get the opportunity to celebrate with it. — Evan Frank, Indianapolis Star
Who has the pole position for Indy 500?
Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin won the pole for the 108th running and will start on the front row alongside teammates Will Power and Josef Newgarden.
Printable 2024 Indy 500 starting grid
We have one right here for you!
How many laps is the Indy 500?
The Indy 500 consists of 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, totaling 500 miles.
What is the race distance of the Indianapolis 500?
After 200 laps around a 2.5-mile track, the drivers will have totaled 500 miles each.