2026 Indianapolis 500 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Alex Palou Favored in 110th Running of Indy 500
The Indianapolis 500 will run from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Let's take a look at the latest odds for this highly-anticipated race on May 24th.
Peter Alexis - May 24, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT
4 Minute Read2026 Indy 500 Odds: Alex Palou Clear Favorite Entering Sunday's Run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis 500 returns Sunday, May 24, with the green flag expected around 12:45 p.m. ET at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Alex Palou leads the odds board at +250 after winning last year’s Indy 500 and taking pole this year with a four-lap qualifying average of 232.248 mph.
This year’s race has a loaded front end, a sold-out crowd expected to top 350,000, and nine previous Indy 500 winners in the field. Palou is trying to become just the seventh driver to win the race in back-to-back years, while Pato O’Ward, David Malukas, Conor Daly, Josef Newgarden, and Alexander Rossi all have real cases in a race where strategy, traffic, and late cautions can flip the board quickly.
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2026 Indy 500 Odds
2026 Indy 500 Date, Time, Where to Watch
- When: Sunday, May 24th, 2026
- Time: 12:45 PM ET
- How to Watch: FOX
Click here for complete Indy 500 Odds
2026 Indy 500 Odds Breakdown
Alex Palou (+250) Check out these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Palou is the clear favorite and the driver everyone is chasing. He won the Indy 500 last year, starts on pole this year, and sits atop the IndyCar standings with 237 points through six starts, including three wins, two poles, five top-fives, and five top-10s. The price is short for a race this volatile, but Palou’s form is absurd. If he controls the opening stint and stays clean in traffic, he has the best path to another Borg-Warner Trophy.
Pato O’Ward (+600) Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
O’Ward has been knocking on the door at Indianapolis and remains one of the most dangerous non-Palou plays on the board. He starts from the second row after qualifying sixth, and his recent Indy 500 profile includes back-to-back top-three finishes, which keeps him firmly in the win conversation. O’Ward was also involved in the Rossi practice crash but came through without major issue, so the focus now shifts back to whether he can finally close a race he has been close to stealing.
David Malukas (+650) Check out these best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Malukas is priced aggressively because the speed is real. He starts third on the front row after qualifying at 231.877 mph, and he enters the race third in the IndyCar standings with 185 points, three top-fives, five top-10s, and 100 laps led through six races. That combination of starting position and season form makes him more than a trendy longshot. If he keeps track position early, Malukas has enough pace to be in the fight late.
Conor Daly (+750) Check out these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Daly is the most interesting crowd-backed contender near the top of the board. He does not have the same season-long résumé as Palou or Malukas, but he showed strong speed in final practice, landing fourth on the Carb Day chart. At Indianapolis, that matters. Daly has always had the local connection and the belief that he can make something happen here, and this price reflects a real chance that his race setup is stronger than his broader title profile.
Josef Newgarden (+750) Check out these best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Newgarden is dangerous because nobody in this range has a better recent Indy 500 closing résumé. He won this race in 2023 and 2024, becoming the first back-to-back winner in more than two decades, and his oval aggression remains a major weapon if this turns into a late restart fight. The number is longer because he is not starting at the front like Palou, Rossi, or Malukas, but if Newgarden is anywhere near the lead with 20 laps left, he immediately becomes one of the most feared drivers in the field.
Alexander Rossi (+1000) Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Rossi starts second on the front row and already owns an Indy 500 win from 2016, which makes +1000 a compelling price if the car is right. The concern is health and preparation after a major practice crash involving Rossi, O’Ward, and Romain Grosjean, with Rossi later undergoing outpatient surgery for minor left hand and right ankle injuries. If he is physically fine and the backup chassis holds speed, Rossi has the track position and experience to outrun this number.
Indianapolis 500 Betting Outlook
Palou deserves favorite status, but +250 is still a demanding price in a race where one caution can wreck the cleanest plan. O’Ward and Malukas have the best blend of speed, starting position, and upside behind him, while Newgarden is the most dangerous late-race closer at the price.
The early value lean is Pato O’Ward at +600. Palou is the safest pick, but O’Ward has been too close at Indianapolis to ignore, and he has the pace to turn another top-three run into a win if the final restart finally breaks his way.
Racing Odds
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