Alex Palou Wins Indianapolis Race

“Alex Palou wins Indianapolis race”

Alex Palou lastly received the one piece lacking from his IndyCar resume: an Indianapolis 500 victory.

The three-time IndyCar Series champion handed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining and held off the 2022 Indy 500 winner and 2023 runner-up to win the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” underneath warning as Nolan Siegel crashed earlier than the leaders took the checkered flag.

Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, grew to become the primary Spaniard to win the legendary race that dates again to 1911.

“I cannot believe it. It’s amazing to be here. It’s amazing to win,” an overwhelmed Palou stated after climbing from his automotive. “First oval win. What better place.”

Palou had been the dominant driver within the NTT IndyCar Sequence in recent times, capturing season championships in 2021, 2023 and 2024. The 28-year-old gained 13 races throughout that interval, however surprisingly, none had come on an oval till Sunday.

“It was tough conditions out there, especially when you were like third or fourth in the pack,” Palou continued. “The team wanted me to lead, I wanted to lead obviously but I made it happen. I already lost my voice and I haven’t even started celebrating.”

Ericsson, driving the No. 28 Andretti World Honda, completed second. He was adopted by David Malukas in third, Pato O’Ward in fourth and Felix Rosenqvist in fifth.

4-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves completed thirteenth, whereas two-time defending race winner Josef Newgarden completed twenty fifth after struggling mechanical difficulties.

NASCAR star Kyle Larson, searching for to turn into the primary driver since Tony Stewart in 2001 to finish the motor sports activities double – racing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the identical day – crashed on Lap 92 and completed twenty seventh. He boarded a helicopter instantly after his crash to take a aircraft to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the marathon NASCAR Cup Sequence race.

USA TODAY Sports activities offered full protection of the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Scroll under for a recap and highlights of all of the motion:

Listed here are the top-10 finishers within the 2025 Indy 500 (with automotive quantity in parentheses, crew and automotive producer):

(10) Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
(28) Marcus Ericsson, Andretti World, Honda
(4) David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
(5) Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
(60) Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
(27) Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti World, Honda
(14) Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
(21) Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet
(7) Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet (76)
(76) Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet

2025 INDY 500 RESULTS: Full finishing order from Sunday’s race

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou stated he would attend Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday evening. He completed in loads of time to kiss the bricks, drink the milk, rejoice with followers and conduct numerous interviews earlier than heading downtown.

The Indiana Pacers maintain a 2-0 lead on the New York Knicks as they host the again finish of the “Racers and Pacers” doubleheader at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“That will be good,” Palou stated of catching the NBA playoff sport in particular person as the brand new Indy 500 champion. — Scott Horner, IndyStar

Alex Palou had two essential issues to do after profitable the 2025 Indy 500: rejoice in victory lane with a bottle of milk then head again to the yard of bricks on the start-finish line for one more Indianapolis Motor Speedway custom. Kissing the bricks really started when Dale Jarrett gained NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 in 1996, but it surely quickly grew to become a convention embraced by Indy 500 winners as properly.

Chip Ganassi likes winners. That is lengthy been the motto of the IndyCar crew proprietor, who added one other title to his legacy with Alex Palou’s victory within the 109th operating of the Indy 500.

Palou had turn into a family identify within the Indianapolis space after profitable three of the previous 4 IndyCar Sequence championships, and capturing the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will solely add to his reputation. However the Spanish racer nonetheless has a methods to go to succeed in the standing of Indiana’s favourite feminine, Caitlin Clark, at present one of the vital well-known girls in all of sports activities.

Watch under as Ganassi compares the 2025 Indy 500 champion to the Indiana Fever All-Star throughout his post-race press convention.

Marcus Ericsson has been among the best racers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in recent times, and the Swedish driver almost received to rejoice once more. After a virtually excellent ultimate pit cease, the 2022 Indy 500 champion was main with fewer than 20 laps remaining till Alex Palou handed him with 14 laps to go. Ericsson valiantly tried to chase Palou down within the closing laps however got here up quick, ending 0.6822 seconds behind within the the 109th operating of the legendary race.

“Of course, finishing second is really tough. At the same time, congrats to Alex and Chip Ganassi Racing. Yeah, this one hurts, for sure,” Ericsson stated.

“It’s just very frustrating. I was out in the lead there. I had that race covered and missed it. That’s going to be a tough one to swallow.”

It was the second time in three years the 34-year-old felt the sting of a missed alternative after ending second to Josef Newgarden in 2023 by a miniscule 0.0974 seconds.

The custom began in 1936 when Louis Meyer drank buttermilk in victory lane. In accordance legend, Meyer drank the milk as a result of his mom stated it will refresh him on a scorching day.

A dairy business govt noticed a photograph of Meyer ingesting the milk and determined to supply it to winners thereafter. The Indiana Dairy Affiliation grew to become an official sponsor within the Nineteen Fifties, and today each driver is requested what sort of milk they like — complete, skim or 2% — simply in case they get the chance to rejoice with it.

Alex Palou was one among 29 drivers to pick out complete milk earlier than the race. — Rachel Bowers

Three-time IndyCar Sequence champion Alex Palou handed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining and held off the 2022 Indy 500 winner and 2023 runner-up to win the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, had 13 profession IndyCar wins coming into the day however had by no means gained on oval till taking the checkered flag within the greatest race in his sport.

Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 winner and 2023 runner-up, was excellent on his ultimate pit cease, mixing again into the sector with the lead. Ericsson, who began ninth within the No. 28 Andretti World Honda, was operating on an alternate technique than a number of the different leaders. He can run full throttle to the top in comparison with the drivers chasing him, who may want to save lots of gasoline. Alex Palou, the three-time IndyCar Sequence champion, runs second, David Malukas third, Pato O’Ward fourth and Felix Rosenqvist fifth.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner who’s driving a one-off race for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, leads the sector with 40 laps remaining. The following 5 drivers are all searching for their first win within the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Conor Daly runs second, David Malukas third, three-time IndyCar Sequence champion Alex Palou fourth, Santino Ferrucci fifth and Felix Rosenqvist sixth. Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 winner and 2023 runner-up, races in seventh.

Two-time defending Indianapolis 500 Josef Newgarden had raced his means by means of the sector after beginning thirty second following a qualifying penalty. Newgarden had moved all the best way as much as seventh when he got here down pit lane for fuel and tires. However after reentering the monitor, Newgarden was pressured to return again down pit lane with a gasoline pump points. His Workforce Penske crew furiously tried to make repairs earlier than saying on Lap 140 of 200 that Newgarden was finished for the day.

“It’s tough not to have a shot at the end. I just wish we had a chance to fight for it,” a disillusioned Newgarden stated.

Following plenty of warning laps after Kyle Larson’s massive crash, Devlin DeFrancesco led the sector to inexperienced, whereas Conor Daly made a giant transfer to seize second place as drivers raced four-wide. David Malukas ran third, three-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou fourth and Santino Ferruci fifth. Defending race winner Josef Newgarden, who was pressured to start out on the rear of the sector following a qualifying penalty, has raced his means as much as ninth. Newgarden is searching for to turn into the primary driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three years in a row.

The historic Memorial Day weekend double try by Kyle Larson has come to an abrupt halt.

Larson, who had hoped to finish the Indy 500 after which jet roughly 430 miles to Charlotte, North Carolina, in time for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, had his plans thwarted by a crash on Lap 92. Shortly after a green-flag restart, Larson misplaced management of his automotive as he was downshifting, inflicting him to spin out and slam into the surface wall. Kyffin Simpson and Sting Ray Robb had been additionally caught up within the crash.

Larson is predicted to proceed his odyssey by flying by non-public jet to Charlotte Motor Speedway for this night’s NASCAR race. The 2021 Cup Sequence champion was searching for to turn into the primary driver since Tony Stewart in 2021 to finish the motor sports activities double.

“Just hate that I got a little loose there on the restart and yeah, caused that crash. I hate it for everybody that also got caught up in it. Just bummed out,” Larson stated after getting checked and cleared within the medical middle.

“I’ll try to get over this quickly and get on to Charlotte and yeah, just forget about it and try to win next time.” — Steve Gardner

Two-time winner Takuma Sato, who had been main the race, skidded into his field on pit lane on a cease underneath warning and was pressured to reverse again into his spot. Sato misplaced the lead and a number of positions on the cease.

In the meantime, pole winner Robert Shwartzman had an much more disastrous cease, crashing into his crew members as he tried to cease in his field. The rookie, who shocked the motor sports activities world by incomes the pole final Sunday, was racing in his first Indianapolis 500. His day got here to an finish with injury to his No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet.

Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, caught a horrible break on Lap 75. Rossi introduced his automotive down pit highway for a splash of fuel when his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet caught fireplace because the crew was fueling the automotive. Rossi was pressured to shortly climb out of his automotive as crews rushed to extinguish the flames, however the fueler was taken to the medical middle to examine for burns.

The 33-year-old Rossi was searching for his second Indy 500 win.

“It’s always a terrible situation and it’s so disappointing. That was such a phenomenal race car,” Rossi stated after his race ended. “That’s what’s so painful about this place is you have to have so many things go right, and it’s disappointing because it’s another opportunity gone. But it’s the way it goes.”

Fifty of 200 laps are full within the 109th operating of the Indy 500 with drivers hitting pit highway underneath inexperienced nand shuffling up the leaderboard. Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato has retaken the lead, adopted by Indiana native Conor Daly.

Following a brief warning for gentle rain and pit stops for many of the area, Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indy 500 winner, assumed the lead and led the sector to inexperienced on a restart on Lap 31. However Christian Rasmussen handed him almost instantly, with Rossi falling again to second and Ed Carpenter third. Rossi resumed the lead on Lap 34 with a move on his Ed Carpenter Racing teammate, Rasmussen.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Takuma Sato had taken the lead from pole sitter Robert Shwartzman and was main the 109th operating of the race on Lap 20 when the yellow flag got here out for gentle rain. The beginning of the race had additionally been delayed for gentle rain.

The Andretti curse at Indianapolis has added yet one more unlucky chapter.

Marco Andretti, who began the race twenty ninth within the Andretti World Honda, collided with the automotive pushed by Jack Harvey coming into the primary activate the race’s first inexperienced lap (formally Lap 4) and was turned sideways into the outer wall.

It is the second consecutive yr Andretti is not going to end within the Indy 500.

“Once I was committed up there, I couldn’t move … I was kinda at the wall,” Andretti instructed Fox Sports activities. “Whoever was next to me crowded me and I ran out of room.”

It additionally provides to his household’s misfortune on the Brickyard.

Not since household patriarch Mario Andretti did it 1969 has an Andretti member of the family gained the Indianapolis 500. That, regardless of plenty of shut calls:

Mario having his win in 1981 overturned a number of months in a while an enchantment.
Marco’s father Michael having his automotive break down whereas main with 11 laps to go in 1992.
Michael almost being declared the winner in 2001 after a protracted rain delay, however blowing a tire after the race restarted.
And now Marco getting his second consecutive DNF at Indianapolis in what is predicted to be his solely begin of the IndyCar season.

— Steve Gardner

The 33 drivers within the area for the 109th operating of the Indianapolis 500 have taken the inexperienced flag to start out the race after a brief rain delay. The Indy 500 is scheduled for 200 laps and 500 miles.

Workforce Penske driver Scott McLaughlin was eradicated from the 109th operating of the Indianapolis 500 when he crashed into inside wall throughout tempo laps. McLaughlin was making an attempt to heat up his tires by swerving on the monitor earlier than the inexperienced flag flew however misplaced management on the chilly monitor and slammed into the within wall.

A devastated McLaughlin climbed out of his automotive and was visibly upset when his No. 3 Chevrolet was towed away. He was scheduled to start out tenth on the within of Row 4.

“I can’t believe we’re out of the race. I had so much hope today,” McLaughlin instructed Fox Sports activities.

“By far, the worst moment of my life. I know it’s probably dramatic but … I put so much into this race. Everyone does. And I didn’t even get to see the green flag.” — Steve Gardner

What time does the 2025 Indy 500 begin?

The inexperienced flag for the 109th operating of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. Automobiles will start arriving in pit lane between 9-9:20 a.m. ET, with the command to start out engines at 12:38 p.m. ET.

What TV channel is 2025 Indy 500 on?

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will air on Fox, with the race set to start at 12:45 p.m. ET. Pre-race protection on Fox will begin at 10 a.m. ET.

2025 Indy 500: Dwell streaming choices

Followers can stream the Indy 500 with the Fox Sports activities app and at FoxSports.com, in addition to with Fubo, which is providing a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch the 2025 Indy 500 on Fub

A number of rain drips have began coming down at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, delaying the beginning of the 109th operating of the Indianapolis 500. The rain is gentle, so the hope is that the race will not be dayed too lengthy. The forecast for at the moment, in accordance with AccuWeather, was for principally cloudy skies with a excessive of 65 levels Fahrenheit.

Listed here are the drivers beginning within the first 4 rows on Sunday:

(Automotive quantity in parentheses, adopted by driver, crew, producer; R=rookie; W=former winner)

(83) Robert Shwartzman (R), Prema Racing, Chevrolet
(75) Takuma Sato (W), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda
(5) Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
(9) Scott Dixon (W), Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
(60) Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
(10) Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
(4) David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
(7) Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
(28) Marcus Ericsson (W), Andretti World, Honda
(3) Scott McLaughlin, Workforce Penske, Chevrolet
(76) Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet
(20) Alexander Rossi (W), Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet

STARTING GRID: Click on right here for full 33-car beginning lineup

Josef Newgarden is the two-time defending Indy 500 champion and is seeking to turn into the primary driver to win the legendary occasion three years in a row. However within the leadup to Sunday’s race, Newgarden is drawing consideration for one more cause: the controversy and fallout at his race crew.

The IndyCar Sequence decided Workforce Penske made unlawful modifications to a few of their vehicles, together with Newgarden’s, throughout Indy 500 qualifying, and penalized the drivers by fining them and forcing them to start out on the rear of the sector. Roger Penske, who owns the race crew – and in addition owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Sequence – fired your complete management of his IndyCar crew within the wake of the scandal, making Newgarden’s try at a three-peat much more troublesome.

— Jon Hoefling

Racing followers can have no scarcity of pleasure over the vacation weekend. One driver actually will not, both: Kyle Larson.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Sequence champion is making an attempt “The Double” on Sunday by racing in each the Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren and the Coca-Cola 600 for Hendrick Motorsports. He is ranked tenth to win the Indy 500 and the favourite to win the Coca-Cola 600, per BetMGM’s newest odds.

“I enjoy challenges and I enjoy trying to learn on the fly,” Larson instructed USA TODAY Sports activities forward of his second try to drive in each occasions.

A rain delay on the Indy 500 final yr stored Larson from making it to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. With no rain within the climate forecast for Indianapolis, he is prepared for one more try this yr.

“I wouldn’t be doing it, obviously, if I didn’t feel like I had a shot to win both,” stated Larson, who begins nineteenth on the Brickyard on the within of Row 7.

— Ayrton Ostly

Prema Racing driver Robert Shwartzman is in pole place for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, the primary rookie to qualify first since 1983. The Russian-Israeli driver posted a four-lap common velocity of 232.790 miles-per-hour, nosing forward of two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato. — Jason Anderson

Consistent with custom, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 is 200 laps across the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a complete of 500 miles.

The honorary starter on the 2025 Indianapolis 500 can be Casey Irsay Foyt.

Irsay Foyt “will wave the flag to honor the irreplaceable and impactful legacy of her father, Jim Irsay, whose stewardship of the Indianapolis Colts and generous philanthropic efforts had a transformative impact across Central Indiana and the Hoosier State,” per a press release from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jim Irsay, who owns the Colts, handed away Wednesday on the age of 65.

On high of her connections to town of Indianapolis, Irsay Foyt can also be very near the world of motor racing. Her husband, A.J. Foyt IV, drove in IndyCar and NASCAR, and is the grandson of four-time Indy 500 champions A.J. Foyt. — Jason Anderson

Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Michael Strahan will drive the tempo automotive on the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Strahan, now a number on “Good Morning America” and a member of Fox’s NFL studio crew, will drive a white 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to tempo the vehicles earlier than the rolling begin at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. — Jason Anderson

Drivers with the most effective odds to win 2025 Indianapolis 500 through BetMGM as of Sunday morning

1. Pato O’Ward (+450)
2. Alex Palou (+475)
3. Josef Newgarden (+725)
4. Scott Dixon (+750)
5. Takuma Sato (+1000)
6. Scott McLaughlin (+1100)
7. Felix Rosenqvist (+1700)
8. Will Energy (+2000)
9. Robert Shwartzman (+2200)
T10. David Malukas (+2500)
T10. Christian Lundgaard (+2500)
T10. Kyle Larson (+2500)
T10. Alexander Rossi (+2500)

Former TV speak present host David Letterman first jumped into the IndyCar possession ranks in 2004 – at virtually the precise midpoint of his 22-year run on CBS’s “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

From the beginning, he is partnered with former Indianapolis 500 champion Bobby Rahal in what’s now referred to as Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL).

David Letterman’s crew has 4 drivers within the 109th operating of the Indianapolis 500:

Takuma Sato, a two-time Indy 500 (2017 and 2020), posted the second-fastest time in qualifying. He’ll begin in the course of the entrance row within the No. 75 RLL Honda.
Devlin DeFrancesco, a 25-year-old Canadian driver, is in his first season with RLL. He certified sixteenth within the No. 30 Honda
Louis Foster: The British driver is a rookie within the IndyCar Sequence and can make his Indy 500 debut on Sunday. He begins twentieth within the No. 45 RLL Honda.
Graham Rahal, the son of crew proprietor Bobby Rahal and a six-time IndyCar collection winner, is in his 18th season on the IndyCar circuit. He’ll begin twenty eighth within the No. 15 RLL Honda. (Enjoyable truth: Graham Rahal as soon as offered a High 10 record on Letterman’s “Late Show” in 2013.)

— Steve Gardner

The file for many Indianapolis 500 wins is 4, held by 4 folks: A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Al Unser (1979, 1971, 1978, 1987), Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991), and Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021).

5 drivers have gained the Borg-Warner Trophy thrice:

Louis Meyer (1928, 1933, 1936)
Wilbur Shaw (1937, 1939, 1940)
Bobby Unser (1968, 1975, 1981)
Johnny Rutherford (1974, 1976, 1980)
Dario Franchitti (2007, 2010, 2012)

INDIANAPOLIS CHAMPIONS: See the total record of Indy 500 winners by yr

Nathan Brown, IndyStar motor sports activities reporter: Alex Palou to win

Brown writes, “Is it predictable? Yes, but Palou has proven over the course of the last three months that picking against him is largely silly. He’s yet to win on an oval in his career, but the championship leader checks that box with the help of a pit crew that’s been nearly flawless all year and a car that’s been near the top of the charts virtually every session this month.”

Aaron Ferguson, IndyStar motor sports activities editor: Scott Dixon to win

Ferguson writes: It will be a press release weekend for (Chip) Ganassi to win after being outspoken about (Workforce) Penske. Dixon gained in 2008 and has completed second thrice and has 5 poles, so I’m trusting the veteran.”

Dana Hunsinger Benbow, IndyStar enterprise reporter: Takuma Sato to win

Benbow writes: “This two-time Indy 500 champ has the ability, the expertise and the IMS knowledge to turn into the oldest winner in historical past at 48.”

STAFF PICKS: Click here for more expert predictions from IndyStar

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