IndyCar 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 2026 | Schedule & Sessions | MotorSportRadar

IndyCar - 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

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110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

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23 - 24 May

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Some session times for IndyCar 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 2026 have not yet been finalised, they represent possible times in which each race session could occur. Please check back later for more accurate times.

Practice 1*
01:00 - Sat, 23 May
Practice 2*
21:00 - Sat, 23 May
Qualifying*
01:00 - Sun, 24 May
Warm Up*
20:50 - Sun, 24 May
Race (Broadcast Start)
21:00 - Sun, 24 May

Where To Watch IndyCar in United States

Where To Watch IndyCar in United States
FOX English; primary U.S. TV home for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2026, with live races and race-weekend coverage.
FOX One English; U.S. streaming access for live INDYCAR coverage alongside FOX broadcasts where supported.
INDYCAR LIVE Official INDYCAR streaming service outside selected local broadcast markets; includes live races, practice, qualifying, highlights and INDY NXT access, with some territories subject to delays by session type.
NordVPN
Stream IndyCar securely from anywhere with NordVPN Traveling abroad or using public Wi-Fi? Protect your connection and access your usual coverage more securely.

Upcoming in IndyCar

Upcoming in IndyCar
Sonsio Grand Prix (IMS Road Course)
8 - 10 May
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
30 May - 1 Jun
Bommarito Automotive Group 500 (WWTR)
6 - 8 Jun
View More

Upcoming at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Upcoming at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis
Nascar Cup
25 - 27 Jul
Battle On The Bricks
International Motor Sports Association
18 - 21 Sep

Track Info

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Speedway, Indiana, USA

Historic superspeedway - rectangular 2.5 mile oval - four 90-degree turns with light banking

First Race
1909
The first motor race at IMS ran on August 19, 1909. The first Indianapolis 500 was held on May 30, 1911.
Circuit Length
4.023 km
2.5 miles - 200 laps for the Indy 500 to complete 500 miles.
Turns
4
Approx. 9°12' banking in each corner; no banking on the straights. Front and back straights are 5/8 mile, short chutes 1/8 mile.
Lap Record (Race)
0:38.119 - Eddie Cheever Jr. (IndyCar), 1996
Fastest official lap during the Indianapolis 500 on the oval configuration.
Qualifying Benchmarks
237.498 mph - Arie Luyendyk, 1996 (1-lap)
All-time IMS 1-lap and 4-lap qualifying track records set in 1996. Recent pole-speed era best: 234.220 mph (2024).

When was the track built?

Construction began in 1909 to serve as a proving ground for the American auto industry. Early events revealed surface issues that led to the famous brick paving later that year, from which the track’s “Brickyard” nickname comes. Over time, asphalt covered most of the bricks, leaving a ceremonial Yard of Bricks at start-finish. The 2.5 mile rectangular oval geometry has remained essentially unchanged for more than a century.

When was its first race?

The venue’s first race took place on August 19, 1909, with Louis Schwitzer winning a five-mile event. The inaugural Indianapolis 500 followed on May 30, 1911, won by Ray Harroun in the Marmon Wasp.

What's the circuit like?

  • Precision superspeedway: Four near-90-degree corners linked by long straights demand microscopic line accuracy and clean air. Small balance shifts become huge over a 500-mile run.
  • Drafting and timing: With light banking and long runs, the tow is powerful. Races often hinge on fuel windows, traffic management and perfectly timed slingshots.
  • Pit discipline: Narrow timing margins on green-flag stops and strict pit-speed limits reward teams that execute flawlessly.
  • Benchmark pace: Race lap record 0:38.119. One-lap qualifying track record 37.895 seconds (237.498 mph) stands as a reference for outright speed.

Lap records and benchmarks (by series)

  • IndyCar - fastest race lap (oval): 0:38.119 - Eddie Cheever Jr., 1996 Indianapolis 500.
  • IndyCar - qualifying track records: 1 lap 37.895 (237.498 mph) and 4 laps 2:31.908 (236.986 mph) - Arie Luyendyk, 1996.
  • NASCAR Cup - fastest race lap (oval): 0:48.638 - Kevin Harvick, 2018 Brickyard 400.
  • Indy NXT (Freedom 100): Notable junior-oval benchmarks include 0:45.4307 by Santiago Urrutia in 2017.

Why go?

The world’s largest single-day sporting event unfolds here each May. Monumental grandstands, the Pagoda, and the Yard of Bricks frame a race built on precision, strategy and flat-out bravery. Beyond the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400 and a full calendar make IMS a year-round pilgrimage.

Where's the best place to watch?

  • Turn 1 grandstands: Starts, restarts and the heaviest braking/turn-in loads after the long front straight.
  • Turn 4 and front stretch: See late-race slingshots and the sprint to the Yard of Bricks.
  • South short chute (between T1-T2): Close-up view of aero balance and traffic management as packs compress.
  • Pagoda/Tower Terrace: Pit strategy, stops and the rhythm of the race play out directly below.

Not just the 500: other oval headliners

Brickyard 400 (NASCAR Cup): A crown-jewel stock-car race returned to the oval, adding a second major to IMS’s modern slate.

Indy NXT Freedom 100 (historic): The junior-oval classic delivered photo finishes and remains a fan favorite chapter.

Hotels & Accommodation

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