Photos for Headline Surfer courtesy of IndyCar / A still shot from final practice on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Sunday's Indianapolis 500 race. (Images left to right) Rookie Robert Shwartzman is on the pole for the Indy 500 race on Sunday, May 25, 2025; Helio Castroneves is trying for his record 5th win; and Josef Newgarden is gearing up for a possible 3-peat in the greatest spectacle in motorsports racing.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
INDIANAPOLIS -- Sunday's 109th Indy 500 features multiple storylines, including Josef Newgarden going for a 3-peat despite being moved to the back of the field; Helio Castroneves shooting for a record 5th Indy 500 win; and rookie Robert Shwartzman securing the pole.
Scott Dixon's pursuit of an all-time starts record and Alex Palou's strong performance in IndyCar this season are also storylines to watch in the Indianapolis 500, which FOX will broadcast at 12:45 p.m. ET.
Team Penske faces plenty of scrutiny after a pre-qualifying technical inspection revealed violations on their cars. This led to management changes, resulting in Newgarden and 2018 winner Eill Power starting in the back of the field.
Roger Penske owns IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the track on which the race will be run.
Team Penske Controversy: Penske's cars failed pre-qualifying technical inspection due to a violation of Rule 14.7.8.16, an unapproved body fit on the rear attenuator. This led to the dismissal of three members of the organization's management. More significantly for the race,
Penske's top drivers, two-time defending Indy 500 champ Josef Newgarden and Will Power, will start in the back of the field.
The deepest starting position for a race winner is 28th, by Ray Harroun in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936. Two-time reigning winner Newgarden is starting 32nd this year.
And though nobody starting in the back of the field has ever won the Indy 500, Newgarden has one of the strongest cars in Sunday's race and has plenty of experience to get to the front when it matters.
Rookie Pole Position: Robert Shwartzman, making his Indy 500 debut, clinched the pole position, marking the first time a rookie has achieved this feat since Teo Fabi in 1983.
Contenders for the Win: Alex Palou, currently leading the points standings with four wins in five races, is considered a strong contender. Scott Dixon is also in the mix, potentially celebrating his all-time starts record with a victory. Newgarden's drive for a threepeat can't be understated despite being moved to the back of the field. Helio Castroneves could win his 5th Indy 500, moving him to No. 1 all-time ahead of fellow four-time Indy 500 champs AJ Foyt, Al Unser Sr., and Rick Mears.
Past Indy 500 Champions in the 2025 Race: Eight former Indianapolis 500 winners are in the starting field: the aforementioned Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021), Josef Newgarden (2023, 2024), Scott Dixon (2008), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016), Takuma Sato (2017, 2020), Will Power (2018), and Marcus Ericsson (2022).
The Weather: While a dry window is expected, two rounds of storms could bring severe weather to the race day.
Multimedia video: Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
Headline Surfer YouTube download / NTT IndyCar Series video / Extended Highlights | 2025 Indianapolis 500 - Carb Day Practice | IndyCar Series / Watch the top highlights from Indy 500 Carb Day as drivers and teams make their final adjustments before The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Indy 500 Racing Facts
(courtesy of IndyCar editorial staff)
-- There are three rookies in the field: Robert Shwartzman (starting first), Louis Foster (20th), and Nolan Siegel (24th). There were six rookies in the 2024 field. The last race with fewer than three rookies was 2021 (Scott McLaughlin, Pietro Fittipaldi).
-- The field average speed of 231.207 mph is the third fastest in history. The fastest was 232.184 mph in 2023, followed by 231.943 mph in 2024.
-- There are three rookies in the field: The Shwartzman, as mentioned earlier (starting first), Louis Foster (20th), and Nolan Siegel (24th). There were six rookies in the 2024 field. The last race with fewer than three rookies was 2021 (Scott McLaughlin, Pietro Fittipaldi).
-- Castroneves is the most experienced driver in the field, with 24 previous Indianapolis 500 starts. The record is 35, set by A.J. Foyt in consecutive years from 1958 to 1992.
-- Scott Dixon has led 677 career laps in the Indianapolis 500, the all-time event record. Helio Castroneves is the only other driver in the field who has led more than 200 laps (326).
-- Castroneves was the oldest driver in the starting field, 50 and 15 days old on Race Day. The youngest driver, Nolan Siegel, was 20 years and 197 days old. A.J. Foyt is the oldest driver to start the Indianapolis 500. He was 57 years and 128 days old when he made his last start in 1992. A.J. Foyt IV is the youngest driver to start the Indianapolis 500. His 19th birthday was on Race Day, 2003.
-- Castroneves will become the 15th driver age 50 or older to start the Indianapolis 500. The others: Mario Andretti, Indy 500 winner in 1969) Cliff Bergere, Gary Bettenhausen, Duane Carter, A.J. Foyt (Indy 500 winner in 1961, 1964, 1967 & 1977), Ralph Hepburn, Gordon Johncock (Indy 500 winner in 1973 & 1982), Jim McElreath, Danny Ongais, Johnny Rutherford (Indy 500 winner in 1974, 1976 & 1980), Johnny Parsons, Lyn St. James, Dick Simon, and Al Unser Sr. (Indy 500 winner in 1970, 1971, 1978 & 1987).
-- Castroneves will be the first driver, at age 50 or older, to start in the Indianapolis 500 since Lyn St. James in 2000.
-- Nolan Siegel, Kyffin Simpson, and Louis Foster will be younger on Race Day than Troy Ruttman (Indy 500 winner in 1952, who became the youngest winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1952 at age 22 years, 80 days old. Siegel will be 20 years, 197 days old on Race Day; Simpson 20 years, 228 days; Foster 21 years, 302 days.
-- Twenty-five drivers in this year’s field have led 2,575 laps in previous Indianapolis 500s.
-- There are 253 previous Indianapolis 500 starts among the 33 drivers in this year’s field. The record is 260 years of experience, set in 1987 and 1992. There were 222 years of combined experience in last year’s field.
-- The most-experienced row in this year’s starting lineup is Row 10, with a combined 37 career starts (Graham Rahal 17, Marco Andretti 19, Marcus Armstrong 1). The least-experienced row is Row 7, with four combined career starts (Kyle Larson 1, Louis Foster 0, Callum Ilott 3).
-- There are eight former Indianapolis 500 Rookies of the Year in this year’s field: Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Santino Ferrucci, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Kyle Larson, Scott McLaughlin, Pato O’Ward, and Alexander Rossi. The record is nine, in 1991 and 2021.
Multimedia video: Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
Headline Surfer YouTube download / Indianapolis Motor Speedway video / Watch the moment history was made as six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles completed two laps on Miller Lite Carb Day, with the INDYCAR on FOX booth on the call.
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