2025 Indianapolis 500 Bets, Race Timing, Starting Lineup, and Agenda
Robert Shwartzman stunned the racing world by claiming the pole position for the 109th Indianapolis 500, marking the first time a rookie driver has accomplished this feat since 1983 when Teo Fabi achieved it.
The Prema Racing driver clocked an impressive four-lap average of 232.790 mph to secure P1, but pundits and bookmakers still favor Pato O'Ward and Alex Palou for the race win come Sunday on FOX. In this comprehensive guide to the 2025 Indy 500, discover the current betting odds, race start time, schedule, and grid analysis.
Odds
- Pato O'Ward and Alex Palou lead the pack at +500, offering a 16.7% implied probability for each driver.
- Josef Newgarden trails slightly, with +600 odds (14.3% implied).
- Scott Dixon follows with a +700 price, translating to a 12.5% implied chance at victory.
- The books show respect for Shwartzman, granting him +1800 odds (5.3% implied), the same as two-time champ Will Power.
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Schedule
The action-packed weekend kicks off on Friday, May 23 with Carb Day (final practice) at 11 a.m. ET on FS1. FOX's coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 25, offering nearly three hours of pre-race buildup before the green flag. The race will start at 12:45 p.m. ET.
Starting Grid
Shwartzman is set to lead the pack on the day, with Mexico's Pato O'Ward and two-time winner Takuma Sato following closely behind on the front row. Six-time series champ Scott Dixon starts in fourth, while Felix Rosenqvist and points leader Alex Palou complete the second row. Team Penske's Josef Newgarden starts all the way back in 32nd following qualifying infractions, potentially making history even more challenging for the defending two-time winner.
While Shwartzman's pole position creates intrigue, O'Ward, Palou, Dixon, and Sato remain strong contenders for the prestigious trophy.
Don't ignore longshots like Kyle Larson, Conor Daly, and Colton Herta, who may yet deliver memorable performances during the race. With eight past winners combined in the field and the addition of hybrid energy recovery systems, Indy 500 2025 promises an exciting showdown from green to checkered.
Robert Shwartzman, despite securing the pole position for the 109th Indianapolis 500, faces tough competition as Pato O'Ward and Alex Palou are the race favorites, with odds of +500 each, offering a 16.7% implied probability for win. Meanwhile, just slightly behind are Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon, with odds of +600 and +700 respectively, implying a 14.3% and 12.5% chance at victory. Auto-racing enthusiasts should not overlook longshots like Kyle Larson, Conor Daly, and Colton Herta who, despite having lower odds compared to the favorites, may deliver impressive performances in the highly anticipated race on Sunday on FOX.
