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.
Qualifying for the 110th Indianapolis 500 will take place on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17.
The qualifying format has been altered for this year’s event to set the 33-car starting grid.
Katherine Legge aims to be the first woman to attempt “The Double,” racing in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
The Indianapolis Colts features some of the best players in the NFL, and those key names will be leaned on to achieve success and finally take a step over the hump of mediocrity.
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In a recent article from Zachary Pereles at CBS Sports, he highlights the 100 most important players in the NFL ahead of the 2026 campaign.
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For the Colts, three players land firmly on the list, and with good reason: this trio will be critical for Indianapolis to make the playoffs to keep jobs intact and the current setup in line.
Let’s begin.
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No. 27: Daniel Jones | Quarterback
Dec 7, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) looks to throw downfield against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images | Travis Register-Imagn Images
“Jones was outplaying even the highest expectations early in the year before fracturing his leg and then tearing his Achilles tendon a few weeks later. Can he get back to his 2025 form?”
Daniel Jones had a completely unforeseen career resurgence with the Colts in 2025. After beating out Anthony Richardson Sr. for the starting gig, he never looked back.
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Jones was tearing defenses apart for the first 10 weeks of the season, leading Indy to an 8-2 record that put the Colts at the top of the NFL and a frontrunner for a Super Bowl push.
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However, his production started to dip before a fractured fibula and subsequent season-ending Achilles tear. Regardless, this was the best Jones had ever looked in seven years as an NFL QB.
Now, the pressure is on, and many critics are stacked against him. Indy’s entire season rests on his health and efficiency under center.
If Jones can get back to square one, then this offense could resume its dominant ways. However, if he gets injured or defenses catch up to him in Shane Steichen’s offense, it could spell doom for this franchise.
No. 28: Sauce Gardner | Cornerback
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Nov 9, 2025; Berlin, Germany; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) reacts against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL Berlin Game at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“The Colts, looking like real contenders, sent two first-round picks to the Jets for Gardner. Then Daniel Jones and Gardner were both injured in the same game. Gardner’s injury was only a calf strain, luckily, but the quickest path for the Colts to get back to contention has him at the top of his game as Jones recovers.”
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As Pereles puts in Sauce Gardner’s entry, the Colts went all-in on pushing for a Super Bowl by sending their 2026 and 2027 first-rounders to the New York Jets to obtain the top-level cornerback.
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Pairing him with Charvarius Ward, this cornerback duo looked like a lethal combination. However, not only did Ward get sidelined with continued concussions, but Gardner succumbed to a calf strain that kept him to just four games with the Colts last year.
We didn’t get to see much of Gardner in Lou Anarumo’s scheme last year, but until proven otherwise, he’s still one of the hardest cornerbacks for any pass-catcher to shake.
As long as Ward and Gardner remain healthy and play well in Anarumo’s scheme, it will help Indy’s pass-rush and give quarterbacks and receivers a difficult time operating.
Even in his four games with Indianapolis, he still locked down receivers and took away areas of the field, limiting the options for opposing quarterbacks.
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Given how much the Colts had to invest to get Gardner, he needs have a big 2026 season for that massive trade with the Jets to pay off. Even if it’s just been one season, it already looks like the Jets won the trade.
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It will be up to Gardner to smash that narrative, and outside of DeForest Buckner, he’s arguably the most important defensive player on Indy’s roster.
No. 69: Jonathan Taylor | Running Back
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Dec 28, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
“Taylor led the NFL in rushes (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) and was fueling one of the NFL’s very best offenses before Daniel Jones tore his Achilles. He’ll be the focal point again, and perhaps even more so early on as Jones finishes off his recovery.”
A player who needs no introduction, Jonathan Taylor is the gas, engine, wheels, and vehicle of Steichen’s offense.
Taylor put on another insane performance, rivaling his incredible 2021 season, where he led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,811. To reference last year, Taylor stacked up 1,585 rushing yards, 20 all-purpose TDs, and 99 total first downs.
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While Gardner might be the most important defensive player on the roster, Taylor is the most important player on the entire team, regardless of whatever side of the ball is in question.
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Running backs have a short shelf life in the NFL, but so far, Taylor looks like a player who is an exception to the rule.
This is no knock on the rest of Indy’s offensive talent, but without Taylor in the backfield, it makes things far easier to predict for opposing defenses.
As long as he doesn’t hit any dropoff in production, he’ll continue to be fed the pigskin to propel this offense and set up Jones and the receiving corps for efficiency in 2026.
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Karl E. Muszar, Jr., 94, Indianapolis, was called to his heavenly home June 22, 2026. He was born July 13, 1931, in Indianapolis to Karl E. Muszar, Sr. and Golda Lucille (Martin) Jones.
Karl was a 1949 graduate of Howe High School. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served until 1955. Following his military service, he attended Purdue University and in 1958 earned a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. Karl worked for Allison Aircraft until 1975 at which time he started his own consulting business, Metallurgical Engineering of Indiana, Inc. Karl enjoyed photography and hiking in the mountains of Colorado. He served as a board member of Heritage Christian School from1971 to 2001.
In addition to his parents, Karl was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara J. (Foulk) Muszar; sister, Boni Kennelly, and stepbrother, Wesley Jones.
Survivors include his daughter, Michelle (Mark) Anderson; son, Jeffrey Muszar; granddaughter, Brittany (Alex) Winfield; great-grandchildren, Krystiyan Hall, Czarina Green, Mikhail, and Odessa Winfield; and many nieces and nephews.
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Family and friends will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Colonial Hills Baptist Church, of which he was an active member, and where the funeral service will begin at noon.
Burial will follow in Union Chapel Cemetery. In memory of Karl, contributions may be directed to Colonial Hills Baptist Church-Missions, 8140 Union Chapel Road, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Envelopes will be available at the church.
Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to assist the family in arrangements. Condolences: bussellfamilyfunerals.com.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Rain & storm chances are returning later in the week and it’ll really heat up next week.
TUESDAY EVENING/NIGHT:
Mostly sunny during the evening with fair skies and comfortable conditions overnight. Lows will be in the 50s for the 2nd night in a row.
WEDNESDAY:
Partly cloudy skies overall with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s for most of Central Indiana. While most of the day should remain dry, there is a chance of a few showers & storms during the evening.
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of a few showers & storms. Lows in the low to mid 60s.
THURSDAY:
Variably cloudy. Chance of a few showers & storms. Highs in the lower 80s.
THURSDAY NIGHT – FRIDAY:
Scattered rain & storms are looking more likely. Some heavy rain is possible and early projections suggest another 1-3” could fall across parts of Central and Southern Indiana. We’ll continue to monitor for some severe weather potential, but as of Tuesday afternoon no part of Indiana is in an official outlook from the Storm Prediction Center. Temperatures may only be in the upper 70s on Friday if we end up with more clouds and rain/storms.
WEEKEND:
Warm temperatures in the 80s are on track along with a chance for a few showers & storms both days. Humidity levels will be rising and the heat index by Sunday afternoon could be well into the 90s.
NEXT WEEK:
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A hot and humid weather pattern is likely going to establish itself again over the Great Lakes region. While there could be a few stray storms from time to time and perhaps even a storm complex or two rolling in from the west, the main storyline will involve hot & muggy air. Highs are expected to push into the lower 90s with heat indices in the 100 to 105 range.
Maryland1 minute ago
Michigan8 minutes ago
Massachusetts11 minutes ago
Minnesota16 minutes ago
Mississippi23 minutes ago
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Nebraska38 minutes ago
