INDIANAPOLIS — A vibrant crowd of fans surged through the gates at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in anticipation of the highly anticipated Indianapolis 500. Among them, some fans donned shirtless outfits while others flaunted American flag overalls and checkered flag mini-skirts. As they made their way through the main tunnel nearly five hours before the race, a spirited group ignited the atmosphere with a thunderous chant of “Let’s Go Pacers!” This chant was in support of the Indiana Pacers, who were set to host Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks later that day, just hours after the 109th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
For the first time since 2016, the grandstands at IMS are sold out, with IndyCar officials estimating that approximately 350,000 fans will be present on the track's property for this monumental event. To accommodate the sheer volume of attendees, one of the tunnels at the speedway was closed to motorized vehicles four hours prior to the race, ensuring a safe and smooth flow of pedestrian traffic.
As the excitement builds, attention turns to the leading contenders for victory. Pato O’Ward, a two-time Indy 500 runner-up, along with Alex Palou, the two-time reigning IndyCar champion, are recognized as co-favorites, with odds set at +500 by BetMGM. O’Ward will be starting in third position, with the potential to become the first Mexican winner of the Indianapolis 500, while Palou, who has claimed victory in four of the first five races this season, aims to be the first Spanish winner should he secure his inaugural victory on an oval track.
In a notable twist, Robert Shwartzman, a dual national of Israel and Russia, will make history as the first rookie to lead the field to green since 1983. This marks a significant milestone in the Indianapolis 500 debut for Prema Racing, a team renowned in Europe but new to the IndyCar circuit this season. Shwartzman, who has never raced on an oval, will be driving under the Israeli flag, making him the first Israeli to compete in this prestigious race.
All eyes will also be on Team Penske drivers Josef Newgarden and Will Power, who will start in 32nd and 33rd positions respectively due to inspection failures that forced them to the back of the grid. Newgarden, the two-time defending race winner, is on a quest to become the first driver in history to achieve three consecutive victories at the Indy 500. Historically, no driver has won the race starting from the last row, adding to the suspense and challenge ahead for both Penske drivers.
Rivals have already acknowledged that the Penske cars are among the fastest in the field, promising an exciting display as they navigate through traffic during the race.
Adding to the excitement is Kyle Larson, who will draw attention from the NASCAR community. He is attempting to complete 1,100 miles of racing in a single day for the second consecutive year. Last year's attempt to achieve “the double” was thwarted due to a rain delay in Indianapolis, which caused him to miss the Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina. This year, Larson and Hendrick Motorsports have assured NASCAR that he will be present at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the start of the Cup Series race, where he will begin in second position, while his starting position in the Indy 500 is 19th.
As the Indianapolis 500 unfolds, all eyes will be glued to the track, eager to see which driver will take the coveted victory in this legendary race.
