What to know before the 106th Indianapolis 500

The Borg-Warner Trophy is at stake this Sunday as IndyCar drivers race within the 106th Indianapolis 500. With a lot info through the month of Might, it may be tough to know what to concentrate to — right here’s a listing of notable storylines and data for each informal and die-hard Indy 500 followers.

Pole place

Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon — who’s ceaselessly referred to by commentators and followers as “The Iceman,” resulting from his calm and funky demeanor — earned his fifth Indianapolis 500 pole with the quickest pole time in historical past. 

His four-lap common got here in at 234.046 mph, topping Scott Brayton’s earlier pole document of 233.718 mph from 1996. Dixon’s different Indianapolis 500 poles got here in 2021, 2017, 2015 and 2008 — which is the yr he received the Indy 500.

Favorites to win

Whether or not you wish to guess on the Indianapolis 500, compete with household and mates or just need to know who has a shot this weekend, there are two favorites to concentrate on, based on Caesars Sportsbook: Dixon, and Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou, who will begin second behind the pole winner.

Choosing any of the drivers from Chip Ganassi Racing to win, although, remains to be a protected guess. All 5 of the crew’s drivers — Dixon, Palou, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Kanaan and Marcus Ericsson — made the Quick 12. All however Johnson then superior to the Quick Six, which is the group of drivers who superior by way of all prior rounds of qualifying. Solely drivers within the Quick Six can compete for the pole.

Rookies to look at

Johnson and Andretti Autosport driver Romain Grosjean  took the best qualifying spots out of this yr’s pool of rookies. Grosjean will begin ninth and Johnson will begin twelfth. 

Different Indianapolis 500 rookies embody Juncos Holliger Racing driver Callum Ilott, A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Kyle Kirkwood, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Christian Lundgaard, Dale Coyne Racing with HMO Motorsports driver David Malukas and Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport driver Devlin DeFrancesco.

Pre-race festivities and begin time

Protection of the 106th working of the Indianapolis 500 will start at 11 a.m. ET on NBC. The pre-race protection will lead into the race itself, which is slated to start at 12:45 p.m ET. 

Earlier than the race begins, actor and recording artist Jordan Fisher will sing the nationwide anthem. Lady Named Tom, who received season 21 of “The Voice,” will carry out “America The Stunning,” and Jim Corenlison will return for his sixth yr because the “Again Dwelling Once more in Indiana” singer.

Nation singer Blake Shelton will function grand marshal of the occasion and can give the command to drivers. Actor Miles Teller will wave the inexperienced flag because the honorary starter, and former IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher will lead the sphere to inexperienced because the tempo automotive driver.