If you’re mad about motorsports, the last Sunday in May is always an epic day to savour. Over in Europe, the F1 bandwagon rolls into Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix. Back on home soil, the NASCAR Cup Series continues with the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, and the cherry on top of the lot during Memorial Day Weekend is the Indy 500.
As well as being the annual standout event of the NTT IndyCar Series, it’s regarded and known as 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' to a vast swathe of devoted revheads, and along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix, it is part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport. The 109th running of the Indy 500 takes place on May 26, following a month of events at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
There’s a buzz of anticipation in the Indiana air with the countdown to this year’s Indy 500 well and truly on. It won’t be long until we are all merrily singing along to “Back Home Again” once more. The great race, that dates back to 1911, of course doesn’t need much hyping up, but this year to add further glitz to the occasion, Josef Newgarden, who has bossed it around the ‘Brickyard’ of late, returns aiming to create history by claiming an unprecedented third straight Indy 500 victory.
The Team Penske star, who became the first American driver to taste Indy 500 success for seven years when winning the 2023 renewal, showed that it was no fluke when retaining his crown twelve months ago. Numerous drivers have recorded 3+ Indy 500 victories over the years, but none, even the most successful four, A. J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Helio Castroneves (all with 4 wins apiece), clinched three on the spin.
Getty Images Kyle Larson is another driver attempting to make history on Memorial Day Sunday by pulling off the sacred ‘Double Duty’ feat of competing in both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 (in Charlotte) on the same day. ‘Double Duty’ is a physically demanding and mentally draining challenge, with a driver having to compete in two very different cars for most of the day, racing for more than 1,000 miles with little or no rest.
Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Series champion, memorably tried the feat for the first time last year, but poor weather in Indianapolis and Charlotte thwarted his dream plans. Of the five previous drivers who have tried to accomplish ‘Double Duty’, Tony Stewart, in 2001, is the only one so far to complete all 1,100 miles of both races in the same day.
It’s shaping up to be another memorable race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Let GOAL bring you all the vital information you need to know ahead of the 109th edition of the Indy 500, including the race day schedule, timings, and how you can watch and stream all the action live. Don’t miss out as the drivers battle it out for glory and a chance to cement their place in Indycar folklore.
How to watch or stream the Indy 500
Getty ImagesFOX, which is showing all the 2025 IndyCar Series races, is televising the Indy 500 for the first time and will start broadcasting from 10 am (ET) on race day (May 25). FOX will also provide coverage of the Indy 500 qualifications on both Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18. IndyCar is the only premier motorsport in the United States with exclusive major broadcast network coverage for all its races.
Fans can also stream the 2025 Indy 500 with a subscription to Fubo or by using the Fox Sports app. Fubo packages start from $79.99 a month and offer all-inclusive free 7-day trials before you pay. Fubo’s massive streaming plans carry up to 200+ channels, and you can get even more depending on your location. Fubo is the ultimate choice for avid sports fans as it provides access to many popular sports, including NBA, MLB, NHL & MLS. International soccer fans can enjoy the world’s best leagues, such as the Premier League and La Liga. Most Fubo plans allow you to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously.
When is the 2025 Indy 500?
Getty Images The 2025 Indy 500 is scheduled to be held on Sunday, May 25. The race runs for 200 laps, with each lap 2.5 miles long. The total length of the race is 500 miles in total, hence its name.
The build-up to the big race begins on Tuesday, May 13, with the opening day of practice runs, and then qualifying for Indy 500 grid positions takes place over the weekend of May 17 & 18. The day before the Indy 500, May 24, is a fun one for spectators. As well as being allowed access to the current IndyCar stars with a full-field autograph session, they'll also get the chance to mix with some legends of the Indy 500 past.
Where does the Indy 500 take place?
Getty Images The Indy 500 takes place at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is located in Speedway, Indiana. It is six miles west of Downtown Indianapolis. As well as being the home of the Indianapolis 500, since 1911, it also hosts the NASCAR Cup Series event Brickyard 400 annually. The Speedway was also formerly the home of the F1 United States Grand Prix and MotoGP's Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Constructed in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the third-oldest permanent automobile race track in the world, behind Brooklands (in England) and the Milwaukee Mile. With a permanent seating capacity of over 250,000, it is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world.
Indy 500 race day schedule
The race will be the flagship event on Sunday, May 25, following an hour-plus of build-up.
Time (ET) | Phase | Watch | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
9 am | Cars to pit lane | TBC | |
10:30 am | Cars to grid on frontstretch | FOX | |
11:47 am | Driver introductions | FOX | |
12:20 pm | National anthem | FOX | |
12:38 pm | Command to start engines | FOX | |
12:45 pm | Green flag waves | FOX |