🏎️ Indy 500 Odds & Betting Favorites 2026: Favorite Palou Captures Pole
We're less than a week away from the crown jewel of the IndyCar series with the running of the 110th running of the Indy 500, and we're breaking down the Indy 500 odds and betting favorites. Alex Palou captured the pole for the race yesterday as he looks to become the seventh driver to win back-to-back.
The race is set for Sunday, May 24, with the green flag set to wave at 12:45 p.m. ET. You can catch all the action on FOX.
📊 Indy 500 odds & betting favorites 2026
Latest Indy 500 odds to win Sunday's race via bet365
| Driver | Odds | Probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Palou | +280 | 26.32% | $28 |
| Pato O'Ward | +600 | 14.29% | $60 |
| David Malukas | +800 | 11.11% | $80 |
| Josef Newgarden | +900 | 10% | $90 |
| Conor Daly | +900 | 10% | $90 |
| Alexander Rossi | +900 | 10% | $90 |
| Scott McLaughlin | +1100 | 8.33% | $110 |
| Santino Ferrucci | +1200 | 7.69% | $120 |
| Felix Rosenqvist | +1400 | 6.67% | $140 |
| Scott Dixon | +1700 | 5.56% | $170 |
| Kyle Kirkwood | +2500 | 3.85% | $250 |
| Kyffin Simpson | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
| Christian Rasmussen | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
| Takuma Sato | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
| Helio Castroneves | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
| Rinus Veekay | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
| Marcus Ericsson | +4000 | 2.44% | $400 |
| Will Power | +4000 | 2.44% | $400 |
| Christian Lundgaard | +4000 | 2.44% | $400 |
| Ed Carpenter | +5000 | 1.96% | $500 |
| Ryan Hunter-Reay | +5000 | 1.96% | $500 |
| Caio Collet | +6000 | 1.64% | $600 |
| Marcus Armstrong | +6000 | 1.64% | $600 |
| Graham Rahal | +7500 | 1.32% | $750 |
| Romain Grosjean | +8000 | 1.23% | $800 |
| Louis Foster | +10000 | 0.99% | $1000 |
| Nolan Siegel | +10000 | 0.99% | $1000 |
| Mick Schumacher | +15000 | 0.66% | $1500 |
| Dennis Hauger | +15000 | 0.66% | $1500 |
| Jack Harvey | +20000 | 0.50% | $2000 |
| Jacob Abel | +40000 | 0.25% | $4000 |
| Sting Ray Robb | +40000 | 0.25% | $4000 |
| Katherine Legge | +50000 | 0.20% | $5000 |
🏁 Early pick to win Indy 500
Alex Palou (+280)
Alex Palou has already claimed the pole for the Indy 500, and now he's looking to become the seventh driver to win in back-to-back years. Why will he do it? Well, for starters, he's peak Palou right now. He's won three of the season's first six races and is the most dominant driver the sport has seen in decades.
His pole-winning qualifying runs featured a four-lap average speed of 232.248 mph in the final Fast Six session, making him the first driver since Helio Castroneves to win the pole while trying to defend a championship. Taking the most aero-sensitive car of all time to the front of the pack is a huge tactical advantage and should be enough to hold off the Chevrolet-powered cars that have shown incredible straight-line speed during practice runs.
2️⃣ The Double
It could be a historical day on Sunday as Katherine Legge aims to become the first woman to complete "The Double" and race in both the Indy 500 and then in NASCAR's Coca Cola 600.
Since 1994, five drivers have done both races. Only one - Tony Stewart in 2021 - has completed all 1,100 miles across both races.
Kyle Larson has attempted The Double in each of the last two years. Last year he crashed in both, failing to compete either. The year prior he missed the start of the NASCAR event after the Indy 500 ran late.
📈 Indy 500 trends & history
- The pole-sitter curse -> Only 21 previous pole sitters have actually won the race
- Penske dominance -> Josef Newgarden is starting fifth, but he's the most recent back-to-back winner
- Sink or swim rookies -> 10 rookies have won the race in the past, most recently Alexander Rossi in 2016
- Temperature warning -> Sunday's forecast looks warm following a rainy practice week; a warmer track tends to favorite Chevrolet-powered cars (Penske, McLaren)
🏁 Rookie Watch
Mick Schumacher is the highest-profile rookie in this year's 33-car field. The son of racing-superstar Michael Schumacher is a long shot at +15000, but he's not the only rookie in the field.
Caio Collet (+6000) has the shortest odds of any rookie, while (Dennis Haugher (+15000) leads the way in the Rookie of the Yard Award with 100 points (Collet has 74, Schumacher has 54).
🏆 Past Indy 500 winners
| Year | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 2023 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 2022 | Marcus Ericsson | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2021 | Helio Castroneves | Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2020 | Takuma Sato | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 2019 | Simon Pagenaud | Team Penske |
| 2018 | Will Power | Team Penske |
| 2017 | Takuma Sato | Andretti Autosport |
| 2016 | Alexander Rossi | Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian |
🗓️ 2026 Indy 500 race week schedule
- Monday, May 18 : post-qualifying practice (1 p.m. ET - 3 p.m. ET, FS1/FOX One)
- Friday, May 22: Miller Lite Carb Day (11 a.m. ET - 1 p.m. ET, FS1/ FOX One)
- Friday, May 22: Pit Stop Competition (2:30 p.m. ET - 4 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX One)
- Sunday, May 24: Indy 500 (12:45 p.m. ET Green Flag, FOX/Fox One)
📺 How to watch the Indy 500 2026
- Date: Sunday, May 24
- Time: 11 a.m. ET (show), 12:45 p.m. ET (green flag)
- Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.)
- How to watch: FOX
📃 Affiliate disclosure
Sportsbook Review may receive a commission if you sign up through our links. Not intended for use in MA. Bonuses not applicable in Ontario. 21+ only. (Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
