500 miles, 33 drivers and a bottle of milk. From now on, the rest of May is all about one thing only: the Indy 500.
The Greatest Spectacle in Racing will be everybody’s centre of attention at Indianapolis Motor Speedway over the next couple of weeks, as Felix Rosenqvist prepares for his debut in one of the most prominent sporting events on the globe.
To keep you up to date with the extensive running schedule and all other things Indy, here is your guide to IndyCar’s undisputed headline event.
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The Greatest Spectacle in Racing | Stats | Event overview | Sessions/times | Map
"The Greatest Spectacle in Racing"
The Indianapolis 500, or simply the “Indy 500”, is one of the world’s biggest motor races and the ultimate highlight on the IndyCar calendar. It draws the largest on-site crowd of any sporting event on the globe with more than 300 000 fans attending race day.
Run for the first time in 1911, the Indy 500 celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011 and was held for the 100th time in 2016. It is the oldest of motor racing’s Triple Crown events – the other two being the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The race takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, deriving its name from the distance over which it is run: 500 miles (805 km). With a lap of the IMS measuring 2.5 miles (4 km), it makes for a 200-lap race that usually lasts approximately three hours. Typically, between 5-10 pit stops are required to complete the race.
The Indy 500 is heavily steeped in tradition. It is always held over Memorial Day weekend in May, the field is capped at a distinctive 33-car limit, and the winner traditionally gets to celebrate in victory lane by drinking a bottle of milk.
Due to its grandeur, the Indy 500 awards double championship points.
The 2019 edition is staged on May 26 and marks the 103rd running of the Indy 500. Felix Rosenqvist will be making his first start at the event, going up against his regular rivals plus the addition of double Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso.
Most wins 4
A. J. Foyt
Al Unser
Rick Mears
Ganassi wins 4
2000 (Montoya)
2008 (Dixon)
2010 (Franchitti)
2012 (Franchitti)
Fastest ever lap 382.2 km/h
Arie Luyendyk
Reynard-Ford
1996
Fastest ever race 2:40:03
Tony Kanaan
Dallara-Chevrolet
2013
Event overview
Sessions
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
