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Indy 500 dates, 2026 schedule, Indianapolis weather, UK race start time for IndyCar's biggest event and how to watch or stream on Sky Sports

Find out the schedule, weather and how to watch the Indy 500 from Indianapolis; watch the Indy 500 from 4.30pm on Sunday, May 24 live on Sky Sports ahead of Formula 1's Canadian Grand Prix on the same day

Monday 11 May 2026 12:31, UK

Alex Palou, of Spain, drives through the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Image: Alex Palou won last year's Indy 500 (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The Indy 500 - one of the highlights on the motorsport calendar - is here and you can watch it all across Sky Sports.

Practice takes place this week ahead of the weekend's Qualifying which lasts six hours on Saturday due to its unique format, before the thrilling shootout for pole position on Sunday evening.

IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou will be aiming to defend his title in a race that is often unpredictable and known as "the greatest spectacle in racing" thanks to the bravery of 33 drivers going wheel to wheel at over 200mph on a 2.5-mile oval.

You can watch every session live on Sky Sports, including coverage of the race itself on Sunday May 24 ahead of Formula 1's Canadian Grand Prix.

Indy 500 weather

The weather for practice this week is dry but there is a chance of rain on Saturday for the six-hour qualifying, but Sunday's qualifying to determine the pole-sitter should be dry.

The long forecast for the 110th running of the Indy 500 itself on Sunday May 24 is currently expected to be dry.

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The Indy 500 fortnight usually sees some massive crashes, as Colton Herta showed last year in qualifying

Sky Sports F1's Indy 500 schedule

Tuesday May 12
5pm: Indy 500 Practice One

Wednesday May 13
5pm: Indy 500 Practice Two

Thursday May 14
5pm: Indy 500 Practice Three

Friday May 15
5pm: Indy 500 Practice Four

Saturday May 16
1.30pm: Indy 500 Practice Five
4pm: Indy 500 Qualifying

Sunday May 17
6pm: Indy 500 Practice Six
9pm: Indy 500 Qualifying

Monday May 18
6pm: Indy 500 Practice Seven

Friday May 22
4pm: Indy 500 Practice Eight*
8.10pm: Pit Stop Challenge

Sunday May 24
3pm: 110TH RUNNING OF THE INDY 500 (Race start at 5.30pm)

*live on Sky Sports Mix

Alex Palou, of Spain, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Image: Alex Palou is aiming to become just the seventh driver to defend their Indy 500 crown (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indy 500 Qualifying format

Each driver is guaranteed at least one run in Saturday's six-hour qualifying after a random draw. In that run, a driver will do an out lap, warm-up lap then complete four consecutive flying laps where the average speed across that run counts.

After that, if the weather is dry, drivers can try to improve their average speed to move up the order. To do so, teams move their car into either Lane 1 or Lane 2.

Lane 1 is the priority lane, so any drivers in that lane will go next, but your best speed is wiped off, so there's a risk you could drop down the order. Drivers in Lane 2 will keep their best time and will not lose it, even if they go slower with their next run.

Positions 13-33 are locked in but the top 12 advance to Sunday's qualifying shootouts which see the top 12 complete one run in reverse order of Saturday's position.

The top six from this advance to the pole position shootout where one more run will determine the final grid for the Indy 500.

For the first time since 2022, there is no "bump" qualifying session as only 33 drivers have entered this year's event. When there are more than 33 drivers, a shootout is held to decide where the slowest driver does not qualify for the Indy 500.

How to watch or stream the Indy 500 in the UK and Ireland

Got Sky?

TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports F1 with the race start itself on Sunday May 24 at 5.30pm

App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app - with the option to go onboard with any driver!

Not got Sky?

Stream: Non-Sky Customers can stream the action with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass

How to watch the Indy 500 on mobile with the Sky Sports app

Sky Sports Subscribers can:

  1. Download or open the Sky Sports app
  2. Head to the 'Watch' section for build-up from 3pm on Sunday May 24
  3. Tap on the Sky Sports F1 or Sky Sports Mix channel
  4. Sign in with your Sky iD (*you'll only need to do this once)

*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD

What is NOW?

NOW is an instant streaming service offering access to all 12 Sky Sports channels, every Sky Sports+ stream, and much more.

It's an app, so customers can sign up and stream instantly across over 60 devices. It offers contract-free membership options, so customers can cancel anytime!

You can choose between a Month or Day Membership. See the latest NOW membership prices.

More information about NOW can be found here.

Watch the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix and Indy 500 on a bumper weekend on May 22-24 across Sky Sports. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

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