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INDY 500

How much money does the Indy 500 winner get?

Following the global pandemic, the race, like most other sporting events took a hit. That said the rebound has been incredible and the purse is now huge.

Jeffrey May
Update:
Following the global pandemic, the race, like most other sporting events took a hit. That said the rebound has been incredible and the purse is now huge.
Marc LebrykUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Indy 500 has arrived and with it so too has the anticipation, the nerves, the fanfare and of course the massive purse on offer. Indeed, many feared for the survival of the sport during and following the pandemic - this was the case with many other sports as well - but given that the purse has reached record levels this year, it would be safe to say that motorsports in America has successfully bounced back from the effects of the global pandemic. Yet, just how much is the purse and what percentage of it does the winner get?

While the Indianapolis 500 might be one of the giants of the racing world in terms of prestige, as a single event, it still remains a few places behind the astronomical levels set by Formula One. That being said, the total purse to be divided by the field is expected to be in the region of $16 million for 2023, a new record. To be clear, the purse is allocated using a complicated set of formulas, including the final placement, the number of laps completed, the number of laps led, and sponsorship income, so there is no guarantee that the top finishers will take the lion’s share of the pot, but rest assured somebody is going home with a fat paycheck. How much you ask? Pre-pandemic, the winner’s share stood at approximately $2.4 million, which means things have definitely improved since. In this year’s race, not only have ticket sales been spiked, but the estimated winner’s take is now about $3 million, which is in keeping with last year’s event, when Marcus Ericsson pocketed more or less $3.1 million and quite frankly, isn’t too shabby for a day’s work.