The Pit Window by Mike Silver

From IMS. One way to spend Christmas Eve.

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 22, 2026) – Information about the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Legends Day track activity Saturday, May 23 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

SCHEDULE (All times local):

8 a.m.-3 p.m.: Public gates open

9-10 a.m.: 2026 Indianapolis 500 Drivers’ Autograph Session, Pagoda Plaza1

0:30-11:15 a.m.: Public Drivers’ Meeting, Tower Terrace

Noon-1 p.m.: Former Indianapolis 500 Drivers’ Autograph Session, North Chalet

1:30-2:30 p.m.: Former Indianapolis 500 Drivers’ Autograph Session, North Chalet

TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $20 and provide first-come, first-served access to select grandstands to watch the annual Public Drivers’ Meeting, as well as garage access. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10, Gate 10 A.

PARKING: Free parking is available at 5th & Hulman Lot and N Lot. Free ADA accessible parking is available in West Museum Lot, Flag Lot and Tower Terrace Lot. Free motorcycle parking is available in South Carousel Lot. Paid daily parking and ADA parking are available at Lot 2 for $10. Pre-Paid parking is available in Lot 1B, Lot 2, Lot 3P, and Main Gate. Pre-paid ADA accessible parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P.

CASHLESS OPERATIONS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.

Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money to a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted.

MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and older) are $23 and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission.

Editor’s note: First, my condolences to the family of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, who died yesterday at the age of 41. I don’t follow NASCAR, but I knew him and knew what a great driver he was. Rest in Peace.

When the green flag drops Sunday for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, we will see one of two things- a complete Alex Palou beatdown, or a competitive, hard fought race where one of the first eight starters emerges as an Indianapolis 500 champion, perhaps for the second time in a couple of cases. I’m thinking the latter scenario is what we will see.

There are many storylines in this race:

Katherine Legge’s attempt at the double, heading to Charlotte for the Coca Cola 600 after she finishes at Indy. 110 miles of racing in one day is feat only Tony Stewart has accomplished. It will be fun seeing how many miles Legge completes.

Can Alexander Rossi win driving injured in a backup car? Buddy Lazier won in 1996 driving with a broken back. Rossi’s injury is minor by comparison.

How will Pato O’Ward’s backup car perform? O’Ward is driving the car he won in at Iowa and Toronto last season. It is obviously a versatile machine.

Will David Malukas’s first win be the Indianapolis 500? Rossi did this in 2016. It’s not impossible.

Can anyone beat Palou? Maybe.

I will be attending my 59th race, something I am struggling to wrap my head around. It seems like only five years ago I watched Rodger Ward win the first race I went to. Where did the time go?

This 500 will be determined by strategy altered by yellow flags and the possibility of a rain interruption. When the yellows fall, especially after lap 150, could determine the outcome. I hope there is no rain interruption, but if there is, may it be brief. Races in years ending in 6 have had some rain issues.

The 1926 race was called after 400 miles because of rain with Frank Lockhart leading, in 1976 the 500 ended right at the halfway mark, 101 laps. While the 1956 running ran to completion without issue, heavy rains in the days before the race caused concern about the track’s ability to be ready for race day.

Rough Day for Rookies

The four rookies will have difficulty making themselves known in this talented field. Mick Schumacher starts 27th, the highest starting spot among the first timers. Caio Collet is the fastest rookie, having made the Fast 12, but a post qualifying penalty has placed him 32nd on the grid. If Collet can move forward, he should get rookie of the year.

The Contenders

I said earlier that the winner will come from the first eight. Among the elite octet, some have a better chance than others. Palou, Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward, David Malukas, Conor Daly, Felix Rosenqvist have the best chances. My pick is in this group, and I will reveal who it is ate the end of this post.

The Winner

I am picking Alexander Rossi to get his second Borg-Warner trophy in what will be a great storyline. A driver injured on Monday, uncertain of whether he will be allowed to drive until Thursday, drivng a backup car after destroying a very good race car.

Like the 500 itself, it’s the stuff dreams are made of.

From IMS:

– Information about the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Miller Lite Carb Day track activity Friday, May 22 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SCHEDULE (All times local): 8 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public Gates Open1 1 a.m.-1 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Final Practice 2 p.m.: Concert Gates Open 2:15-2:25 p.m.: Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 2:30-4 p.m.: Oscar Mayer Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge 4-7 p.m.: Miller Lite Carb Day Concert Featuring Counting Crows with Special Guest Switchfoot TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $55. Children under 15 are admitted free with a paying adult. General admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to selected grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. PUBLIC GATES OPEN: Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 6N, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 9, Gate 10, Gate 10A, Gate 11A, Gate 12 PARKING: Free Parking Limited free parking for Miller Lite Carb Day is located in Lot 7 (North 40) and Lot 7 (North 40) for ADA. Enter through Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free parking spaces fill quickly on Miller Lite Carb Day. Paid Parking – First-Come, First-Served Basis Paid parking will be available at Lot 1B, Lot 2, Lot 3P, Lot 3G and Main Gate for $30. Parking in Lot 6A is $85. Gate 1 Lot parking, located next to Gate 1 off Crawfordsville Road, is available for $100 and $125 for tailgating. Paid ADA parking is $30 in Lot 3P and Lot 2 and $100 in Gate 1 Lot. Paid motorcycle parking in the South Carousel Lot is pre-paid only, available at the IMS Ticket Office for $30. CASHLESS OPERATIONS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money to a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted. MUSEUM: The IMS Museum from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and older) are $23 and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission.