500 miles of glory: Inside the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway

This weekend sees the 109th running of the Indy 500, otherwise known as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. All eyes will be on the brickyard on Memorial Day weekend as the drivers try to reach the finish line first and chug some milk aftwerwards.

The Indy 500 is a mythical race discussed in movies and books and hailed as one of the sport’s hardest races to win. The speedway itself was constructed and inaugurated in 1909 and is the largest venue in the world, able to house 400,000 spectators at once.

There’s a certain tradition behind the Indy 500 that makes it one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

This year’s event takes place in an enclave suburb of Indianapolis over Memorial Day weekend, Sunday, May 25.

How many laps is the Indy 500?

The race is composed of 200 laps covering 500 miles (805 km), and lasts just under three hours from start to finish. Bobby Rahal was the first to complete the circuit in under three hours, crossing the finishing line on 2:55:43 in 1986.

In 2021, Hélio Castroneves crossed the finishing line with a record time of 2:37:19, recording an average speed 190.690 mph and becoming the first non-American driver to win the race four times. Eddie Cheever holds the race record for the fastest lap, set at 00:38.119 in 1996.

For experts, the Indianapolis race is one of the toughest there is due to the number of laps and the concentration required not to make any mistakes while in repetitive mode. In addition to dry May weather and seasonal high temperatures that can affect drivers throughout the race.

How to watch the Indy 500

Coverage starts well before the race. Driver introductions kick off at 11:47 a.m. ET, the national anthem is at 12:18 p.m., and the all-important “Start your engines” command is scheduled for 12:38 p.m. Then, it’s go-time.

How can I watch the Indy 500?

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You can watch the race live on Fox or stream it via Fubo. It’s an easy way to catch every pit stop, pass, and crash – from your couch or backyard BBQ.

In case you’re wondering, Josef Newgarden won the 2024 edition, narrowly holding off Pato O’Ward and etching his name as just the sixth back-to-back winner in race history. If he pulls it off again this year, he’ll be the first ever to win three straight.