Indy 500 preview: watch, start time, favorites, weather and more

Indy 500 preview: How to watch, start time, favorites, weather and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

It’s time for ‘The greatest racing spectacle’.

The second leg of Sunday’s motorsports tripleheader (F1 in Monaco, NASCAR in Charlotte) will be the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500.

From the milk to the brick courtyard, the Indy 500 is a historic event steeped in tradition. And there’s a lot of hype going into the 2024 race, with Team Penske looking fast and NASCAR champion Kyle Larson attempting double duty (racing the Indy 500 in the afternoon and NASCAR at Charlotte in the evening).

Here’s all the information you need to know for the 2024 Indy 500:

Where is the Indy 500 held?

Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the site of the Indy 500 since its inaugural event in 1911.

The 2.5-mile rectangular oval is located in Speedway, Indiana, just six miles west of downtown Indianapolis. It is the third oldest permanent motor racing circuit in the world and its permanent capacity of 257,325 seats makes it the highest capacity sports venue in the world.

The circuit is nicknamed “The Brickyard” because it was originally paved with bricks in 1909. Today, only the start-finish line is made of brick, while the rest of the circuit is paved with asphalt.

When is the 2024 Indy 500?

The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 26.

What time does the Indy 500 start?

The green flag for the Indy 500 will be at 12:45 PM ET.

The driver introductions will take place at 11:47 a.m. ET, followed by Philip Phillips singing “God Bless America” ​​at 12:21 p.m. ET and Jordin Sparks singing the national anthem at 12:24 p.m. ET. Roger Penske will give the command to start the engines at 12:38 ET.

For a full timeline of events at the track, click here.

How to watch the Indy 500 this year

All Indy coverage will air on NBC and Peacock. Here is the TV and streaming schedule for Sunday:

• Indy 500 Pre-Race: 11am ET, NBC and Peacock

• 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500: 12:30 PM ET, NBC and Peacock

Drivers to watch during the Indy 500

Kyle Larson, No. 17, Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports

This weekend, all eyes will be on the 2021 NASCAR Cup champion as he is set to make his IndyCar debut in the series’ biggest event before flying to Charlotte and driving 600 miles in NASCAR’s longest race. The first few weeks in Indy have gone well for Larson; he qualified fifth and showed good pace in practice. However he finishes, Larson will be the story on Sunday as he looks to become just the second driver to complete all 1,100 miles in both races.

Josef Newgarden, No. 2, Team Penske

The defending Indy 500 champion is well positioned to become the first repeat winner since Hélio Castroneves in 2002. Team Penske was on the front row in qualifying, with Newgarden set to start third behind his two teammates. Last year he started 17th, so moving up from third shouldn’t be a problem. Newgarden, a two-time IndyCar champion, is looking to become just the 21st driver with multiple Indy 500 wins.

Scott McLaughlin, No. 3, Team Penske

Speaking of Team Penske, McLaughlin has been carrying the torch since they joined Indy. The New Zealander starts on pole after a blistering average of 374.220 km/h over four laps in qualifying. McLaughlin, 30, is making his fourth Indy 500 start after finishing a career-high 14th last May. Of his five career wins, none have come on an oval – perhaps this will be McLaughlin’s breakthrough.

Alex Palou, No. 10, Chip Ganassi Racing

There was strange silence about the two-time champion and current IndyCar points leader in the lead-up to Sunday. He won on May 11 at the Indianapolis Grand Prix circuit, but his speed on the oval is not yet at the level of Team Penske or Arrow McLaren this year. The Spaniard qualified fourteenth after never starting worse than seventh in his first four Indy 500 starts. Palou has led at least 35 laps in each of the last three Indy 500s, so he knows how to navigate the track. It will be interesting to watch his inevitable charge through the field on Sunday.

Santino Ferrucci, No. 14, AJ Foyt Racing

If you’re looking for an underdog with the potential to win, look no further than Ferrucci. The 25-year-old Connecticut native has made five Indy 500 starts, with seventh, fourth, sixth, 10th and third-place finishes last year (his first and only career podium). Although he does not drive for one of the strong teams, Ferrucci managed to work his way to sixth place on the starting grid. His team owner is 89-year-old racing legend AJ Foyt, a four-time Indy 500 winner who would love to get back into victory lane.

Weather forecast for Indianapolis 500

It doesn’t look great on Sunday morning.

NBC Chicago is predicting a 68% chance of rain with a chance of severe thunderstorms in Speedway, Indiana, starting around noon. Here you can stay informed of the latest weather forecasts.

What happens if it rains during the Indy 500?

The Indy 500 cannot be run in the rain.

IndyCar will have a fleet of trucks and jet dryers on site to dry the track once the rain stops. It can take anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours to dry the entire track, depending on the wind and sunshine.

Has the Indy 500 ever been rained out?

Yes, the Indy 500 has been affected by rain twelve times in the first 107 races.

The race is official after 101 laps. Once the race reaches the halfway point, it can be called and the finishing order is determined based on where everyone is running at the time.

This is what happened in those twelve cases:

• 1915: Rained out on May 29, completed on May 31.

• 1926: 160 laps (400 miles) completed.

• 1940: Completed 150 laps (375 miles), last 50 laps completed under caution due to rain.

• 1950: 138 laps (354 miles) completed.

• 1967: Completed 18 laps (45 miles), final 182 laps completed the next day.

• 1973: 133 laps (332.25 miles) completed over three days due to rain.

• 1975: 174 laps (435 miles) completed.

• 1976: 102 laps (255 miles) completed.

• 1986: Rained out on May 25 and 26, completed on May 31.

• 1997: Rained out on May 25, 15 laps (37.5 miles) completed on May 26, final 185 laps completed on May 27.

• 2004: 180 laps (450 miles) completed.

• 2007: 166 laps (415 miles) completed.