
Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images
The Month of May is here. Here's how to follow the Indy 500
The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 follows two weeks of on-track activity and a range of events that fill the second half of May. Here’s a list of daily action to plan your days around:
TUESDAY, MAY 14 (all times Eastern)
9-11am, Practice, all cars, broadcast on Peacock
1-6pm, Practice, all cars, broadcast on Peacock
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
12-6pm, Practice, broadcast on Peacock
THURSDAY, MAY 16
12-6pm, Practice, broadcast on Peacock
FRIDAY, MAY 17 (“Fast Friday,” engines set to high turbo boost for teams to work on qualifying setups)
12-6pm, Practice, broadcast on Peacock
6:15pm: Qualifying order draw, base of the pagoda.
SATURDAY, MAY 18 (First day of qualifying, positions 13-30 set, top 12 carry over to Sunday to run for the pole, slowest four carry over to Sunday to fight for the last three starting positions)
8:30-9am, Group 1 Practice, broadcast on Peacock until 9:30am
9-9:30am, Group 2 Practice
11am-5pm, Qualifying, broadcast on Peacock
SUNDAY, MAY 19 (Pole Day, Bump Day)
12-1pm, Fast 12 Practice, broadcast on Peacock until 2pm
1-2pm, Last Chance Qualifying Practice
3:05-4:05pm, Fast 12 Qualifying, positions 7-12 set, broadcast on NBC until 6pm
4:15-5:15pm, LCQ Qualifying, one entry will be bumped
5:25-5:55pm, Fast Six qualifying, pole and positions 2-6 set

Alex Palou was last year's polesitter. Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images
MONDAY, MAY 20
1-3pm, Practice, broadcast on Peacock
TUESDAY, MAY 21
No on-track activity
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22
No on-track activity
THURSDAY, MAY 23
No on-track activity
FRIDAY, MAY 24 (Carb Day)
11am-1pm, Final Practice, broadcast on Peacock
2:30-4pm, Pit Stop Competition, broadcast on Peacock
4:00pm, Concerts: George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Gin Blossoms, Kid Quill
SATURDAY, MAY 25
No on-track activity
9-10am, Drivers Autograph Session, behind the pagoda
12-1pm, Former IndyCar Drivers Autograph Session, behind the pagoda
1:30-2:30pm, Former IndyCar Drivers Autograph Session, behind the pagoda
SUNDAY, MAY 26 (Race Day)
9am-9:20 am, Cars to pit lane
10:30-10:55am, Cars to grid
10:37-10:58am, Indy Winners and Historic Indy 500 Cars laps
11:47am, Driver Introductions
12:38pm, Drivers Start Engines Command
12:45pm, Race Start, 200 Laps, 500 Miles
Marshall Pruett
The 2026 season marks Marshall Pruett's 40th year working in the sport. In his role today for RACER, Pruett covers open-wheel and sports car racing as a writer, reporter, photographer, and filmmaker. In his previous career, he served as a mechanic, engineer, and team manager in a variety of series, including IndyCar, IMSA, and World Challenge.
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