Indy 500: Live Coverage, Highlights, and Key Moments from the 109th Running at Indianapolis (USA)
The prestigious Borg-Warner Trophy is up for grabs today as the 109th Indianapolis 500 gets underway. Thirty-three drivers have taken the green flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, all chasing glory in what’s known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Several big names are chasing history, including Helio Castroneves, who is vying for a record-breaking fifth Indy 500 victory. He currently shares the all-time record with legends A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears. Meanwhile, Josef Newgarden is aiming to become the first driver to win three straight Indy 500s, despite entering the race under the shadow of a penalty and controversy surrounding Team Penske.
Kyle Larson is attempting an ambitious motorsports double—racing both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. If successful, he’ll become the first to complete the feat since Tony Stewart did it in 2001.
Early Pit Road Drama Hits Top Drivers
Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato lost the lead after sliding into his pit box during a caution period. He had to reverse back into position, which cost him several spots. Pole-sitter and rookie Robert Shwartzman had an even tougher break, crashing into his crew during a pit stop. His No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet sustained damage, ending his day prematurely in his debut Indy 500.
Rossi’s Car Catches Fire During Pit Stop
On Lap 75, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi encountered a scary moment when his car caught fire during a pit stop. While refueling, flames erupted from his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet. Rossi exited the car quickly, and safety crews responded immediately. A crew member was taken to the medical center for burn evaluation. Rossi had been hoping to secure his second Indy 500 win.
Leaderboard Update at Lap 50
Fifty laps into the 200-lap race, the field has already seen several lead changes and pit stop shuffles. Takuma Sato reclaimed the lead, followed by Indiana native Conor Daly.
Lead Swaps and Rain Delays Early in the Race
After an early caution due to light rain, Alexander Rossi led the field back to green on Lap 31, only to be passed quickly by Christian Rasmussen. Rossi regained the lead on Lap 34 with a pass on Rasmussen, his Ed Carpenter Racing teammate.
Earlier, Sato took the lead from pole-sitter Shwartzman by Lap 20, just before another yellow flag flew due to light rain. The race had already faced a brief delay at the start for similar weather.
Opening-Lap Crash Ends Marco Andretti’s Day
Marco Andretti’s hopes were dashed almost immediately. Starting 29th, he collided with Jack Harvey entering Turn 1 and slammed into the outside wall. It marks the second year in a row that Andretti has failed to finish the race.
Green Flag Waves After Delay
Despite a short rain delay, the 109th running of the Indy 500 is underway, with all 33 drivers set for 200 laps around the 2.5-mile oval.
Scott McLaughlin Crashes Before Race Start
Even before the green flag dropped, Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin saw his day end early. During pace laps, the No. 3 Chevrolet lost traction while he was warming up his tires and crashed into the inside wall. A visibly dejected McLaughlin exited the car as it was towed away. He had been slated to start 10th on the grid.
What time does the 2025 Indy 500 start?
The green flag for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 is due to drop at 12:45 p.m. ET (Eastern Time). Cars are expected to begin arriving on the pit lane between 9:00 and 9:20 a.m. ET, with the command to start engines scheduled for 12:38 p.m. ET.
Which TV channel is showing the 2025 Indy 500?
The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live on Fox, with the race set to begin at 12:45 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage will commence from 10:00 a.m. ET on the same channel.
2025 Indy 500 Starting Grid – Front Four Rows
Below is the starting line-up for the first four rows of the grid on Sunday:
Row 1:
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[83] Robert Shwartzman (R), Prema Racing, Chevrolet
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[75] Takuma Sato (W), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda
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[5] Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
Row 2:
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[9] Scott Dixon (W), Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
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[60] Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda
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[10] Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
Row 3:
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[4] David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
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[7] Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
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[28] Marcus Ericsson (W), Andretti Global, Honda
Row 4:
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[3] Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Chevrolet
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[76] Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet
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[20] Alexander Rossi (W), Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet