The Greatest Spectacle in Racing returns for its 109th running as the 2025 Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday, May 25, at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The world’s largest single-day sporting event will once again draw a massive crowd and millions of viewers worldwide to witness 33 of the best drivers battle it out over 200 laps on the iconic 2.5-mile oval.
The green flag is scheduled to drop at 12:45 p.m. ET, setting the field in motion in what promises to be another thrilling edition of the Memorial Day weekend tradition.
For the first time, the Indy 500 will be broadcast on Fox, featuring a new broadcast team. Will Buxton serves as the play-by-play voice, joined by analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell, providing in-depth coverage and analysis throughout the race.
Rookies to Watch as three drivers are making their Indianapolis 500 debuts in 2025:
Robert Shwartzman – The Israeli-Russian driver has already made headlines by capturing pole position with a blistering 4-lap average of 232.790 mph, becoming one of the rare rookies to lead the field at Indy.
Louis Foster – Driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Foster starts 20th and brings with him a strong resume from Indy NXT.
Nolan Siegel – The youngest of the rookies, Siegel starts 24th for Arrow McLaren, representing a new wave of talent in American open-wheel racing.
Starting Lineup Highlights
The 2025 grid features a mix of youth, experience, and former champions. The traditional 11 rows of 3 were set over two days of qualifying, with rows 1-4 determined through Fast Six and Fast 12 formats.
Front Row (Row 1):
- Robert Shwartzman (R) – Prema, Chevrolet – 232.790 mph
- Takuma Sato (W) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda – 232.478 mph
- Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet – 232.098 mph
Row 2:
Includes 2008 winner Scott Dixon and 2021 champ Alex Palou.
Row 3:
Headlined by 2022 champion Marcus Ericsson and rising stars David Malukas and Christian Lundgaard.
Row 4:
A mix of veterans including Alexander Rossi (W) and Conor Daly.
Notable Storylines
In a major post-qualifying development, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden (two-time winner) and Will Power (2018 winner) were moved to the back of the grid after IndyCar found illegal modifications on their cars. Both drivers will start 32nd and 33rd, respectively.
Kyle Larson returns after a strong showing in his 2024 Indy 500 debut, aiming to go full distance in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600.
Helio Castroneves, four-time winner, starts 22nd in what could be his final Indy 500 as a full-time driver. Graham Rahal, still chasing his first win at Indy, rolls off from the 28th spot. Marco Andretti, another Indy legacy, will need a miracle from 29th.
Who will drink the milk. With multiple former winners, a lightning-fast rookie on pole, and high drama before the race even begins, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 is shaping up to be a classic. Will a veteran reclaim glory, or will a newcomer like Robert Shwartzman etch his name into motorsports history?
Tune in on Sunday, May 25, at 12:45 p.m. ET on Fox for all the action from the Brickyard.
Full Grid Snapshot (R-rookie; W-Indy 500 winner)
| Row | Drivers |
| Row 1 | Shwartzman (R), Sato (W), O’Ward |
| Row 2 | Dixon (W), Rosenqvist, Palou |
| Row 3 | Malukas, Lundgaard, Ericsson (W) |
| Row 4 | McLaughlin, Daly, Rossi (W) |
| Row 5 | Simpson, Carpenter, Ferrucci |
| Row 6 | DeFrancesco, Robb, Rasmussen |
| Row 7 | Larson, Foster (R), Ilott |
| Row 8 | Castroneves (W), Kirkwood, Siegel (R) |
| Row 9 | Hunter-Reay (W), Harvey, Herta |
| Row 10 | Rahal, Andretti, Armstrong |
| Row 11 | Veekay, Newgarden (W), Power (W) |
