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Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
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Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Sanctioning body | IndyCar | ||||
Season | 2024 IndyCar season | ||||
Date | May 26, 2024 | ||||
Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
"Back Home Again in Indiana" | Jim Cornelison | ||||
Starting command | Roger Penske | ||||
Pace car | Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ[1] | ||||
Starter | Aaron Likens | ||||
TV in the United States | |||||
Network | NBC (blacked out locally) | ||||
Announcers | Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, James Hinchcliffe | ||||
Chronology | |||||
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The 2024 Indianapolis 500, branded as the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge for sponsorship reasons, is a 500-mile (804.5 km, 200 lap) race in the 2024 IndyCar Series, scheduled for Sunday, May 26, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, United States. The month of May activities will formally begin on Saturday, May 11 with the Sonsio Grand Prix on the combined road course. Practice on the oval is slated to begin on May 14. Time trials will take place on May 18–19, while Carb Day, the traditional final day of practice, along with the Pit Stop Challenge, will be May 24.
Josef Newgarden of Penske Racing enters the race as the defending winner.[2] Four-time winner Hélio Castroneves is attempting to become the first five-time race winner, and five-time polesitter Scott Dixon has the chance to tie Rick Mears for most career Indy poles (six). For the first time since 2014, a driver will attempt "Double Duty". Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will attempt to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
The Indianapolis 500, commonly called the Indy 500, is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.5-mile (4.02 km) paved oval superspeedway. The track, built in 1909, is a rounded rectangle, with four distinct turns of identical dimensions, connected by four straightaways (two long straightaways and two "short chutes"). The turns are banked at 9°12', considered modest for oval track standards in the U.S. Traditionally, the field consists of 33 starters, aligned in a starting grid of eleven rows of three cars apiece. Drivers race 200 laps, counter-clockwise around the circuit, for a distance of 500 miles (804.7 km). The first "500" was held in 1911, and the race has been held continuously except during World War I (1917–1918) and during World War II (1942–1945). The track is nicknamed the "Brickyard", as the racing surface was paved in brick during the fall of 1909. The track surface has long since been paved over in asphalt, with most of the original bricks remaining deep underneath.[4] A single yard of bricks remains exposed at the start/finish line.
The event is contested by "Indy cars", a formula of professional-level, single-seat, open cockpit, open-wheel, purpose-built race cars. The race is the most prestigious event of the IndyCar calendar, and one of the oldest and most important automobile races in the world.[5]
The race is sanctioned by INDYCAR, and pays points toward the NTT IndyCar Series championship. The drivers come from a broad range of racing experience, with many having climbed the ladder of the "Road to Indy". Some drivers arrive at Indy with previous experience in Sports car racing (IMSA, SCCA), NASCAR, and Formula One.
In the event of a rain delay, the race will be halted and postponed until precipitation ceases, and the track is dried. The race is considered official once more than 50% of the laps have been completed (i.e. 101 laps). In case of rain or darkness, officials can end the race early if more than 101 laps have been completed; if fewer than 101 laps have been recorded, the resumption will be scheduled for the next possible day. The track does not have permanent lighting, making it unsuitable for night racing. If there is a late-race caution period, the race does not employ a green-white-checker rule to extend the race beyond its advertised distance. However, at the officials' discretion, a late-race red flag may be used to help provide for a finish under green flag conditions.[6]
On May 25, 2022, it was announced that online financial services company Gainbridge reached a multiyear agreement to extend their presenting sponsorship of the Indianapolis 500.[7] The extension was for an undisclosed length. This will be the second year under the current deal.[8] Gainbridge originally signed a four-year deal which was in place from 2019 to 2022.[9]
Main article: 2024 IndyCar Series |
The 2024 Indianapolis 500 will be the fifth points-paying race (and sixth overall) of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season.[19] Josef Newgarden initially won the season opener at St. Petersburg, but on April 24 he was disqualified for violating push-to-pass parameters. Pato O'Ward was declared the winner.[20] Álex Palou won the non-points event at the Thermal Club, Scott Dixon won at Long Beach and Scott McLaughlin won at Alabama. The championship season will continue, and the month of May activities will begin, with the Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS road course.
After an internal investigation in the aftermath of the aforementioned push-to-pass violations, Team Penske suspended four team members for both the Sonsio Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. The four members are: team president Tim Cindric (race strategist for Josef Newgarden), managing director Ron Ruzewski, Luke Mason (race engineer for Josef Newgarden), and Senior Data Engineer Robbie Atkinson (data specialist for Will Power).[21]
The 2024 IndyCar Series schedule was announced on September 25, 2023, with the Indianapolis 500 scheduled for Sunday, May 26.[19] Practice, time trials, and other ancillary events are scheduled for the two weeks leading up to the race. The Speedway hosted an eclipse-viewing event on April 8 in conjunction with Purdue University,[22] followed by the annual Open Test held on April 10–11. The test days will include additional rookie orientation sessions and refresher tests as needed. The Sonsio Grand Prix, including the Indy NXT and other USF Pro (formerly the "Road to Indy") races, will serve as the opening weekend of track activity on May 10–11.
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Further information: 2024 IndyCar Series § Confirmed entries |
All entries will utilize a spec Dallara IR18 chassis with universal aero kit and 2020-adopted aeroscreen. Honda (HRC) and Chevrolet (Ilmor) are the current engine providers.[23][24] Firestone is the exclusive tire supplier. There are currently 34 confirmed entries for the race, including eight former winners and seven race rookies. A tentative 35th entry by Abel Motorsports (R. C. Enerson) was withdrawn on May 3.[25]
Four-time race winner Hélio Castroneves will attempt to make his 24th "500" (all consecutive), leading all active drivers. Former winner Tony Kanaan retired after the 2023 race, and 2019 winner Simon Pagenaud will not participate, as he is still recovering from injures suffered in a crash at Mid-Ohio in July 2023.[26] 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will attempt to make the race and become the fifth driver to complete "Double Duty", racing the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.
Callum Ilott substituted for the injured David Malukas in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren entry during the April Open test.[27] Malukas was later released by the team before the 500; his replacement has not yet been named.[28]
Rookie rules for the Indianapolis 500 include the mandate that a driver pass a supervised high-speed oval test before he/she is allowed to participate in the official Rookie Orientation Program (ROP) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.[59] Approved venues for the initial high-speed oval track test include Texas Motor Speedway, Homestead–Miami Speedway, and a few other select venues.[60]
The Rookie Orientation Program at Indianapolis consists of three phases. For phase 1, each driver was required to complete ten laps between 205–210 mph (330–338 km/h), while demonstrating satisfactory car control, proper racing line, and safe interaction with other cars on the circuit. The laps do not have to be consecutive. Phase 2 was fifteen laps between 210–215 mph (338–346 km/h), and phase 3 was fifteen laps over 215 mph (346 km/h). Veteran drivers that have not competed in an IndyCar oval race since the previous year's Indy 500 are required to take a refresher test. The refresher test consists of phase 2 and phase 3 of the aforementioned rookie test.[61]
The Rookie Orientation Program was held October 11–12, 2023. Four drivers were scheduled to participate: Marcus Armstrong, Linus Lundqvist, Tom Blomqvist and 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. Armstrong, Lundqvist, and Blomqvist had each participated the previous month in high-speed oval rookie test at Texas, which gave them eligibility to participate. Rookie Kyffin Simpson was ineligible to participate, having yet to complete the Texas test.[62] The officials ruled that Larson exempt from the Texas test due to his extensive experience on high-speed ovals in NASCAR competition.
Armstrong, Lundqvist, and Blomqvist each passed all three phases of the rookie test on Wednesday.[63] The three drivers completed a total of 285 laps without major incident. Lundqvist reportedly suffered some mechanical problems, but was able to return to the track and finish his test. Larson, who is preparing to do "Double Duty", arrived and completed his test on Thursday. Larson took his first ever laps in an Indy car, logging a total of 72 laps without incident.[64]
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Speed (mph) | Speed (km/h) |
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1 | 60 | ![]() |
Meyer Shank Racing | Honda | 220.176 | 354.339 |
2 | 20 | ![]() |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 219.504 | 353.257 |
3 | 11 | ![]() |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 219.252 | 352.852 |
4 | 6 | ![]() |
Arrow McLaren | Chevrolet | 217.898 | 350.673 |
Official Report |
A private offseason test was held October 12–13, 2023 for hybrid energy recovery system testing. Two Honda teams, Andretti Global (Colton Herta & Marcus Ericsson) and Chip Ganassi Racing (Álex Palou) and two Chevrolet teams, Arrow McLaren (Alexander Rossi & David Malukas) and Team Penske (Will Power) participated.[65] The six drivers completed a total of 1,325 laps with no incidents reported.[66]
Race rookie Kyle Larson conducted an oval evaluation test with Arrow McLaren at Phoenix Raceway on February 5. It was Larson's first time driving an Indy car since he participated in rookie orientation the previous October. Larson completed 172 laps without major incident. During his final stint, Larson reported that he nearly spun out in turn one, but was able to regain control of the car.[67][68]
The series hosted a high-speed oval rookie evaluation test at Texas Motor Speedway on March 27. Three drivers participated: Kyffin Simpson,[69] Christian Rasmussen, and Nolan Siegel. Veteran drivers Ed Carpenter and Álex Palou were also there in compliance with Series rules to shake down their team cars and establish a base setup. Rasmussen completed 134 laps, Kyiffin completed 202 laps, and Siegel completed 146 laps. All three drivers completed their evaluations and were approved to take the Rookie Orientation Program at the April Open Test at Indianapolis.[70]
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Speed (mph) | Speed (km/h) |
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1 | 2 | ![]() |
Team Penske | Chevrolet | 228.811 | 368.236 |
2 | 17 | ![]() |
Arrow McLaren w/ Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 226.384 | 364.330 |
3 | 9 | ![]() |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 226.346 | 364.269 |
Official Report |
The second scheduled day of the Open Test was cancelled due to rainfall throughout the day.[73]
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Speed (mph) | Speed (km/h) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
2 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
3 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
Official Report |
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Speed (mph) | Speed (km/h) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
2 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
3 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
Official Report |
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Speed (mph) | Speed (km/h) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
2 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
3 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
Official Report |
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Speed (mph) | Speed (km/h) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
2 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
3 | 0.000 | 0 | ||||
Official Report |
The race will be carried live on television in the United States on NBC Sports, except in Indianapolis due to long standing blackout policies, where it will be shown tape delayed on WTHR. Peacock will also be blacking out streams of the race itself.[74][75]