Grid Guy
    IndyCar
    StandingsTeamsResultsRaces
    Shop
    Back to Indy 500 hub

    Indianapolis 500 · How to Watch

    How to Watch the 2026 Indianapolis 500

    Race day: Sunday, May 24, 2026. Green flag at 12:45 PM ET on Fox. Pre-race coverage from 10:00 AM ET.

    What time does the 2026 Indy 500 start?

    Green flag for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 12:45 PM ET on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Pre-race coverage on Fox begins at 10:00 AM ET.

    The "drivers, start your engines" command traditionally comes about 30 minutes before the green flag, followed by the pace laps and the rolling start.

    Where to watch & listen

    US broadcast partner under the 2025–2027 IndyCar rights deal.

    TV (US)
    Fox

    Pre-race: 10:00 AM ET · Green flag: 12:45 PM ET

    Streaming (US)
    Fox Sports app · Fox One

    Cable login for the app; standalone subscription for Fox One.

    National radio
    IMS Radio Network

    Syndicated across hundreds of US affiliate stations.

    Satellite radio
    SiriusXM Channel 218 (IndyCar Nation)

    Same IMS Radio feed, nationally on SiriusXM.

    Green flag time by zone

    Scheduled green flag of 12:45 PM ET converted to common time zones. Daylight-saving-aware for late May.

    Indy 500 green flag start time across time zones
    ZoneAbbr.Green flag
    Eastern TimeIndianapolis local timeET12:45 PM
    Central TimeCT11:45 AM
    Mountain TimeMT10:45 AM
    Pacific TimePT9:45 AM
    Coordinated Universal TimeUTC4:45 PM
    British Summer TimeUK & IrelandBST5:45 PM
    Central European Summer TimeCEST6:45 PM
    Australian Eastern Standard TimeDay after race dayAEST2:45 AM Monday

    Race week schedule

    Qualifying weekend through race day. Coverage notes reflect the announced TV/streaming windows.

    • Qualifying Day 1

      Saturday, May 16

      All 34 entrants make a four-lap qualifying attempt. Positions 13–30 are locked in by speed; the top 12 and the slowest cars advance to Sunday.

      Coverage: Fox

    • Pole Day · Top 12, Last Chance, Fast Six

      Sunday, May 17

      Top 12 sets positions 7–12. Last Chance Qualifying fights for positions 31–33, with the slowest car bumped. The Fast Six pole shootout sets positions 1–6.

      Coverage: Fox

    • Post-qualifying practice

      Monday, May 18

      Open test for the 33-car field in full race trim. First chance to see qualifying cars run with race-day downforce and fuel loads.

      No live TV coverage scheduled.

    • Carb Day · Final practice + Pit Stop Challenge

      Friday, May 22

      Final hour of practice for the 33-car field, followed by the Pit Stop Challenge competition and the Freedom 100 / Indy NXT race.

      Coverage: Fox Sports app

    • Legends Day

      Saturday, May 23

      Driver autograph session at IMS, the Public Drivers Meeting, and the traditional rookie photo. Track is dark — no on-track activity.

      No live TV coverage scheduled.

    • Race Day · 110th Indianapolis 500

      Sunday, May 24

      Pre-race ceremony, the command to start engines, and the green flag for 200 laps around the Brickyard. The biggest single-day sporting event on the calendar.

      Coverage: Fox

    What channel is the Indy 500 on in 2026?

    The Indianapolis 500 airs on Fox in the United States. Fox holds the exclusive IndyCar broadcast rights from 2025 through 2027 — every race on the IndyCar calendar, including the 500, airs on Fox or Fox Sports during that window.

    Internationally, the race is distributed to broadcast partners in more than 100 countries. Check your local INDYCAR broadcaster for kick-off times.

    Can you stream the Indy 500?

    Yes — two streaming routes carry the race in the US:

    • Fox Sports app — included with most cable, satellite, and live-TV streaming subscriptions that already carry Fox. Authentication uses your provider login.
    • Fox One — Fox's standalone direct-to-consumer streaming service. No separate TV provider required.

    The Carb Day practice session and other on-track activity during race week typically stream on the Fox Sports app and may not air on linear TV.

    Is the Indy 500 on the radio?

    The IMS Radio Network carries the national radio broadcast, syndicated to hundreds of affiliate stations across the US. The full broadcast is also available on SiriusXM Channel 218 (IndyCar Nation).

    The IMS Radio Network is one of the oldest sports radio productions in the country — continuous national radio coverage of the 500 dates back to the 1950s.

    How to watch — FAQ

    What time does the 2026 Indy 500 start?+
    Green flag for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 12:45 PM ET on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Pre-race coverage on Fox begins at 10:00 AM ET with the command to start engines coming approximately 30 minutes before green flag.
    What channel is the Indy 500 on in 2026?+
    The 2026 Indianapolis 500 is broadcast on Fox in the United States. Fox holds the IndyCar broadcast rights under a three-year deal that began in 2025 — every IndyCar race, including the Indy 500, airs on Fox or Fox Sports through 2027.
    Can you stream the Indy 500?+
    Yes. The race streams on the Fox Sports app (for cable subscribers) and on Fox One (direct-to-consumer). The Fox Sports app requires a cable, satellite, or vMVPD subscription to authenticate; Fox One is Fox's standalone streaming service and does not require a separate TV subscription.
    Is the Indy 500 on the radio?+
    The IMS Radio Network carries the national radio broadcast, syndicated to hundreds of affiliate stations across the United States. The full broadcast is also available on SiriusXM Channel 218 (IndyCar Nation) on satellite radio.
    What time does pre-race coverage start?+
    Pre-race coverage on Fox begins at 10:00 AM ET — roughly two and three-quarter hours before the green flag. The pre-race window covers the driver introductions, the singing of "Back Home Again in Indiana," the invocation, the national anthem, and the command "Drivers, start your engines."
    What is Carb Day and is it on TV?+
    Carb Day is the Friday before the Indy 500 — the final hour of practice for the 33-car field, followed by the Pit Stop Challenge competition and the Freedom 100 Indy NXT race. The Carb Day session typically streams on the Fox Sports app; check your local Fox Sports listings for the race-day broadcast window.
    How long is the Indy 500 broadcast?+
    Including pre-race coverage, the full broadcast typically runs around six hours: about two and three-quarter hours of pre-race build-up and ceremony, three hours of racing under green and yellow conditions, and a post-race winner's ceremony with the milk drink, Borg-Warner Trophy presentation, and victory lane interviews.

    Keep exploring the 500

    • 2026 Indy 500 hubStarting grid, qualifying, race-day status
    • Indy 500 Winners — all-timeEvery past champion and the 4× winners club
    • Indy 500 Pole HistoryPole sitters and Luyendyk's 236.986 mph record
    • Indy 500 Race RecordsFastest race avg, closest finish, laps-led leaders
    • Indy 500 TraditionsYard of bricks, milk bottle, Borg-Warner, Carb Day
    • Indy 500 Prize MoneyWinner's share, total purse, payouts by year
    • 2026 INDYCAR CalendarEvery round, date, and track

    Track the INDYCAR championship live.

    See how every points swing reshapes the title fight, round by round.

    Open the INDYCAR Live Standings
    DriversTeamsCalendarResultsShop

    Formula 1

    • 2026 F1 Standings
    • 2026 F1 Calendar
    • 2026 F1 Results
    • F1 Teams
    • Historical Seasons
    • F1 Points System
    • Monaco Grand Prix

    INDYCAR

    • INDYCAR Standings
    • INDYCAR Calendar
    • INDYCAR Results
    • INDYCAR Teams
    • Indy 500
    • Indy 500 Winners
    • Indy 500 How to Watch

    Site

    • Shop
    • Sitemap

    Data sourced from the Jolpica F1 API and OpenF1 API. Updated after each race weekend.

    Jolpica F1 APIOpenF1 APItwelve.toolsjack-mcgovern.com

    Consider supporting these open APIs with a donation to help cover their hosting costs.

    ·