Billed by American enthusiasts as ‘the greatest spectacle in racing’, the 107th Indianapolis 500 takes place this weekend.
The race will see 33 IndyCar drivers fight it out over 500 miles for one of the top prizes in motorsport. Expect plenty of high-speed action, close competition, and even a celebratory bottle of milk.
Our full guide contains all the key information you need to watch the Indy 500 – and enjoy a big slice of American racing here in the UK.
How can I watch the 2023 Indy 500 in the UK?
Sky Sports has the sole UK broadcast rights to the 2023 Indianapolis 500.
Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch live via the Sky Sports F1 channel, following the conclusion of the Monaco Grand Prix. All the important build-up to the Indy 500 will air on the Sky Sports Arena channel.
General Sky subscribers can use the SkyGo app on their smartphone or mobile device to watch. Non-subscribers can purchase a Now TV Sky Sports day pass to watch the race. This can be used with a smart TV or compatible mobile device.
Is there a live stream for the 2023 Indy 500?
Sadly there is no official internet livestream for those wanting to watch the Indy 500 in the UK.
Viewers in the United States can watch online through the NBC Sports App, or via the NBC Sports website. NBC’s Peacock service will also cover the race in the USA.
What time does the 2023 Indy 500 start in the UK?
The Indy 500 starts relatively early in the United States, with race day traditions beginning at 9am local time on Sunday in Indianapolis. Cars will start appearing on the grid at around 10:30am – equivalent to 3:30pm British Summer Time (BST).
Sky’s coverage of the build-up to the Indy 500 will begin on Sky Sports Arena at 3:30pm BST, with Sky Sports F1 airing the race from 5:30pm BST.
After all the elaborate processions and ceremonies have taken place, the racing should finally begin at 12.45pm local time, or 5.45pm BST.
How many fans will be at the 2023 Indy 500?
Coronavirus meant that the 2020 Indy 500 took place without any fans present in the gigantic grandstands. And in 2021, the race was limited to 135,000 spectators.
Although this may sound like a large crowd, it meant the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was only operating at 40 percent capacity.
Last year, the crowd returned to full size – and for 2023 this should deliver an expected attendance of 300,000 spectators.
Who is on pole position for the 2023 Indy 500?
Everything is bigger at the Indy 500, including a qualifying process that takes place over two days. From the full field of 34 drivers, only 33 are able to start the race. This meant Graham Rahal was the unfortunate driver ‘bumped’ from the grid for 2023, before his unexpected return.
Drivers get four laps in each qualifying run, with an average speed then calculated. The fastest 12 drivers get to run again, fighting it out for a place in the final six, and the chance to claim pole position.
For 2023, Spain’s Alex Palou, the 2021 IndyCar champion, has emerged in pole position. This comes after he won the 2023 Indianapolis GMR Grand Prix earlier in the month.
Palou’s average qualifying speed of 234.217mph saw him claim the second-fastest Indy 500 qualifying time in history.
Which pace car is being used for the 2023 Indy 500?
The official pace car for the 2023 Indy 500 is the mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette Z06, in hardtop convertible guise.
It marks the 20th time a Corvette has been used as a pace car for the event, and the 34th time for a Chevrolet. The Bowtie brand first led the field in 1948, and has held a monopoly on the pace car role since 2002.
Will Romain Grosjean drive in the 2023 Indy 500?
Romain Grosjean exited Formula One in dramatic fashion at the end of the 2020 season, surviving a terrifying accident in the Bahrain Grand Prix. With no Formula One drive lined up for 2021, he made the move across the Atlantic for IndyCar.
When Grosjean initially switched to IndyCar, he was only contracted for races held on street and road courses. This was to avoid putting his family through the additional stress of him competing on high-speed circuits.
However, for 2022 and beyond, Romain has been allowed to enter all races with the Andretti Autosport team. This includes the Indy 500, where he will line-up 19th on the grid.
Are any British drivers in the 2023 Indy 500?
The 2023 Indy 500 sees three British competitors hoping to take victory in the American classic race.
The top British driver in the 2023 Indy 500 is Cambridge’s very own Callum Ilott. Competing in the Indy 500 for the second time, Ilott managed to qualify in 28th position.
Starting 33rd, and last, on the grid is Lincoln-born Jack Harvey. The 30-year-old driver has competed in IndyCar since 2017 but, like others in the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team, he struggled in qualifying. Harvey managed to secure the final place on the grid with a last-gasp run.
Katherine Legge is making her return to the Indy 500 for the first time since 2013, and is the only female driver on the grid for 2023. She emerged as the top Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing competitor, and took 30th position on the grid.
Stefan Wilson, younger brother of the late Justin Wilson, was due to start the 2023 Indy 500 in 24th position. However, a collision with Katherine Legge in practice saw Sheffield-born Stefan sidelined, with Graham Rahal returning to take his seat instead.
What other big-name drivers are in the 2023 Indy 500?
What makes the Indy 500 special is that experienced drivers will frequently make a return to racing, just to compete in this great event. Teams will sometimes field extra cars to accommodate iconic drivers, just for the one-off race.
Brazilian driver Helio Castroneves is one of the heroes returning to the Indy 500 grid for 2023, doing so as a four-time winner of the race. Helio last won the Indy 500 in 2021, and will be looking to use his talent and experience to do so again this year. The 48-year-old is driving for the Meyer Shank Racing team, and will start from 20th place.
Tony Kanaan, another 48-year-old Brazilian driver, will start the 2023 Indy 500 with a great chance at claiming a second victory. Kanaan took glory back in 2013, and is pictured kissing the yard of bricks in celebration.
Starting from sixth on the grid, and driving for the competitive Arrow McLaren team, TK has a fantastic opportunity to take glory on Sunday.
Why does the Indy 500 circuit feature a yard of bricks?
When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway first opened in 1909, the track surface was covered in a combination of soil, gravel and limestone covered in tar. Fatal accidents after only the first three days of racing led to the need for a new track covering.
Bricks were chosen as offering the best traction, with 3.2 million bricks used to pave the 2.5-mile circuit. This resulted in the nickname of ‘The Brickyard’, with the bricks remaining until 1961.
With the track now covered with asphalt, a symbolic yard of bricks was left to mark the finish line.
Why does the Indy 500 winner drink a bottle of milk?
Arguably one of the strangest traditions in the Indianapolis 500 is the winning driver drinking a bottle of milk to celebrate.
The tradition began in 1933, after Louis Meyer took his second Indy 500 victory. Meyer chose to drink buttermilk after the race, believing it would be refreshing on a hot day. He did the same again after his third Indy win in 1936.
A dairy company executive saw a photo of Meyer drinking milk, leading to the beverage being offered to future Indy 500 winners. Today, the Indiana Dairy association gives the winning driver $10,000 for choosing to drink milk as part of their post-race celebration.
Pictured above is Hélio Castroneves, celebrating his fourth Indy 500 win in 2021.
ALSO READ:
America’s best and worst Indy 500 pace cars