Indianapolis, IN
Indy 500 qualifying format, schedule, entries, how to watch this weekend
After mechanical setbacks in prior races, Ericsson seeks clean run into Indy 500
Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson discusses avoiding mechanical issues heading into next week’s Indianapolis 500.
All eyes will be on Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for two days of qualifying that will determine the pole winner and set the full lineup for the 110th running of the Indy 500.
This year provides even more intrigue with changes to the qualifying format and because multiple drivers will take the first step toward potential history-making endeavors.
The events begin May 15 with Fast Friday practice sessions as drivers will run full speeds at the Brickyard to gear up for qualifying sessions the next two days. Then the pressure really kicks in Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 as drivers lock in their spots on the starting grid for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 24.
Among the drivers who will be behind the wheels of Indy cars this weekend are two who are seeking to make history.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves is back, trying to become the first driver to win the iconic race five times. The Brazilian driver, who celebrated his 51st birthday on May 10, won the Indy 500 back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, again in 2009 and then in 2021 to tie A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears for most wins all time.
Meanwhile, Katherine Legge has a different, but equally epic, historic opportunity. The 45-year-old British driver announced earlier this week that she will attempt “The Double” this year: racing in the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Only five drivers have ever attempted “The Double” – John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson – and Legge would be the first woman.
Here is everything you need to know about qualifying for the 2026 Indianapolis 500, the weekend schedule and the full entry list:
Indy 500 2026 event schedule by day
Practice, qualifying and the 2026 Indianapolis 500 can be streamed on the Fox Sports website (by signing in with your TV or satellite provider), Fox One (free seven day trial) and the Fox Sports app. Viewers can also stream events on Fubo.
All times Eastern
Friday, May 15
- Noon — Fast Friday, FS2
- 3 p.m. — Fast Friday, FS1
- 5 p.m. — Fast Friday, FS2
Saturday, May 16
Determines starting positions 16-33
- 8:30 a.m. — Practice 5, FS2
- 11 a.m. — Qualifying Day 1, FS2
- 2 p.m. — Qualifying Day 1, FS1
- 4 p.m. — Qualifying Day 1, Fox
Sunday, May 17
Determines starting positions 1-15
- 1 p.m. — Practice 6, FS2
- 4 p.m. — Qualifying Pole Day, Fox
Monday, May 18
- 1 p.m. — Practice 6, FS1
Friday, May 22
- 11 a.m. — Carb Day Final Practice, FS1
- 2 p.m. — Oscar Mayer Wienie 500, Fox
- 2:30 p.m. — Pit Stop Competition, Fox
Sunday, May 24
- 10 a.m. — Pre-race show, Fox
- 12:30 p.m. — 110th Indianapolis 500, Fox
Stream Indy 500 race, qualifying and practice on Fubo
Indy 500 2026 qualfying format
- Qualifying for the 110th Indy 500 begins Saturday when all drivers will take four consecutive laps around Indianapolis Motor Speedway. At the conclusion of the day, positions 16 through 33 will be set on the starting grid.
- The top nine fastest drivers on the first day will be locked into the Top 12 qualifying session on Day Two Sunday.
- Cars ranked 10-15 in Saturday’s qualifying session will advance to the Final 15 round Sunday and will have the opportunity to compete for the three spots remaining to fill the Top 12 round. Starting in reverse order of Saturday’s qualifying speeds, each of the six cars will have one attempt to post a four-lap qualifying time starting at 4 p.m. ET, with the fastest three advancing to the Top 12 round. The three that don’t advance will slot in positions 13-15 on the grid.
- At approximately 5 p.m. ET Sunday, the Top 12 qualifying round will begin in order of slowest to fastest cars from previous sessions, with the best six advancing to the Firestone Fast Six, which will determine the pole winner and the first two rows on the Indy 500 starting grid. The six that don’t advance will start on rows three and four.
Indy 500 2026 entry list
With car number, driver, team and engine
- No. 06 Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
- No. 2 Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, Chevrolet
- No. 3 Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Chevrolet
- No. 4 Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 5 Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
- No. 6 Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
- No. 7 Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
- No. 8 Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
- No. 9 Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
- No. 10 Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
- No. 11 Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 12 David Malukas, Team Penske, Chevrolet
- No. 14 Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
- No. 15 Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda
- No. 18 Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda
- No. 19 Dennis Hauger (R), Dale Coyne Racing, Honda
- No. 20 Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 21 Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 23 Conor Daly, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 24 Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 26 Will Power, Andretti Global, Honda
- No. 27 Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, Honda
- No. 28 Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, Honda
- No. 31 Ryan Hunter-Reay, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
- No. 33 Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 45 Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda
- No. 47 Mick Schumacher (R), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda
- No. 51 Jacob Abel (R), Abel Motorsports, Chevrolet
- No. 60 Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
- No. 66 Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
- No. 75 Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
- No. 76 Rinus VeeKay, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 77 Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — NTT IndyCar Series driver Christian Rasmussen is staying with ECR.
The team announced on Thursday morning that Rasmussen will remain the driver of the No. 21 car for the 2027 season and beyond as part of a multi-year agreement.
“I’m excited to extend my partnership with ECR for 2027 and beyond. I’ve enjoyed my time with the team so far and believe in the future of ECR,” Rasmussen said in a press release. “We have undergone a lot of changes over the last couple years, and it has been a privilege to witness them firsthand, and to play a part in them. I’m confident that together we will continue to take ECR to its fullest potential.”
Rasmussen is currently in his third season driving for ECR. He raced only road and street courses, along with the Indy 500, during the the 2024 season. He then became a full-time driver for the team in 2025.
Rasmussen earned his first IndyCar victory for ECR last year when he won at Milwaukee Mile.
“We are very excited to finalize this extension with Christian,” ECR co-owner and CEO Ed Carpenter said in the press release. “Maintaining continuity with our driver lineup is something we feel that is an important element for ECR to reach its full potential. We have watched Christian develop over the past two seasons and firmly believe that the future is bright for Christian and ECR.”
Rasmussen drives the No. 21 for the team, alongside Alexander Rossi. Rossi drives the No. 20 for the team full-time.
It’s been a tough season for Rasmussen, who currently sits 24th in the IndyCar standings. His best finish is 14th, which occurred at Phoenix in March. He was actually a threat to win that race, but damage on his car late in the race led to a finish outside of the top ten.
“Christian has shown incredible talent, dedication, and adaptability since joining ECR,” ECR owner and chairman Ted Gelov said in the news release. “Nothing has changed our minds in that regard. Seeing Christian and the entire ECR organization battle adversity and emerge strong has strengthened our belief in him and this team. Extending our partnership with Christian ensures that we continue building momentum with a driver who understands our team’s vision and culture. The best is yet to come for Christian and ECR.”
Rasmussen is hoping to show once again how strong he is on short ovals this weekend when the series visits World Wide Technology Raceway. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 takes place Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT.
by:
Gregg Montgomery and Kelsie Gibbs
Posted: / Updated:
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indy Parks on Saturday will unveil the restoration of longstanding fountains, a project almost two years in the making.
The fountains were already shooting water among newly landscaped walking paths on Wednesday afternoon at the Garfield Park Sunken Garden.
City planner and landscape architect George Kessler designed the Sunken Garden and the adjacent Garfield Park Conservatory, which was built in 1916 at 2505 Conservatory Drive.
Funds for the $3 million restoration project were part of an $80 million Lilly Endowment grant issued to Indy Parks in late 2022 for projects at 42 Indianapolis parks.
The Friends of Garfield Park, a group devoted to the south-side park, oversaw the project to restore the concrete walls and plumbing, and add color-changing lights to enhance the look of the fountains.
The group hopes to raise an additional $1 million for the upkeep of the fountains.
A news release issued Wednesday said a recognition event and a ribbon-cutting, free and open to the public, were scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Due to storms in the forecast, the event could be delayed or canceled.
Indianapolis, IN
That trail you walk downtown? It’s generated $3 billion for Indianapolis, study finds
See the 10th Street Cultural Trail Expansion ribbon cutting ceremon
Highlights: Indiana Ave. and 10th Street Cultural Trail Expansion ribbon cutting on Indiana Ave. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Indianapolis.
Since its creation, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in the heart of Circle City has drawn millions of residents and visitors to its distinctive paved path. But according to a new report, the trail isn’t just beneficial for those looking to get out on an urban stroll or bike ride — it’s a driver for the city’s economy and quality of life.
The report, “Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick at 20: Connecting People, Places, and Possibility,” was based on analysis by James Lima Planning + Development, a group of real estate, planning and economic development advisors. Here’s what to know about the report.
How has the Cultural Trail affected the city’s growth, development?
According to the report from 2026, the 10-mile trail has generated $3 billion in assessed property value around its path — money that supports the city and its governmental services.
The population along the trail has grown five times the city average and retail space near the trail has increased 39%, the report shows. Nearby food and beverage sales are almost twice the average per square foot in Indianapolis.
Additionally, the report shows, undeveloped land along the trail has the potential to add $1.4 billion of value in the near future. Since an initial study in 2015, the trail’s economic impact has grown from $1 billion to $3 billion.
“For nearly 20 years, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail has helped transform Downtown Indianapolis into a more vibrant, connected and economically competitive city,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a June 3 news release. “It is more than a trail. It is a nationally recognized public asset that drives investment, supports local businesses, connects neighborhoods and improves quality of life for the people who live, work, play and stay in our city.”
According to the report, over 1 million people use the trail each year, and almost half of downtown Indianapolis residents live within a three-minute walk of the path.
What other features does the Cultural Trail offer?
Users of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail aren’t limited to walking — the Pacers Bikeshare program, operated by the trail, has 57 bike stations throughout the city that are accessible 24/7.
The trail also features nearly six acres of plants and greenspace, offering locals and visitors an urban getaway. City planners from across the world have visited the trail to study its design, according to the report.
What is the future of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail?
Focus on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail has shifted from construction and maintenance to long-term operations and expanded resources for the public.
Kären Haley, executive director of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. — the trail’s nonprofit — said it has grown into the “crown jewel” of the city with the growth and development it has created over two decades.
“The Cultural Trail is driving billions in investment and making surrounding neighborhoods thriving destinations,” she said in a June 3 news release. “As we enter the next phase for the Trail, we look forward to building upon our initial 20 years of impact.”
Mia Thurow is the breaking news and criminal justice reporting intern for the Indianapolis Star. She can be reached at mthurow@gannett.com.
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