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How to Bet on the Indy 500 2026: Win With our Indianapolis 500 Betting Guide

Last Updated on 10/28/2026
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

HOW TO BET ON THE INDIANAPOLIS 500

Horseracing has some similarities to betting on race cars. This will make it easy to remember how to bet on horse racing?

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Choose the winner

To pick the winner of the Indianapolis 500, this is the simplest and most straightforward type of Indianapolis 500 bet. This type of wager is available on almost every website that offers motorsports betting.

These types of bets have long odds, even for favorites. Motorsports have many variables that can influence the outcome of a race.

This means that even favorites can’t get less than 6-1 odds. Check out the best new sports betting sites!

Even past winners like Helio Castroneves or Tony Kanaan are still available at odds of more than 10 to 1. These types of situations can be quite unpredictable.

Top 3 Places

This style of betting will be familiar to those who are used to betting on horse races.  For all intents, betting on the top three finishes is the same thing as placing a bet on a specific horse.

This type of bet basically means the bettor is betting on the driver they think will finish in the top three. It’s understandable that the odds of any driver finishing in the top three are long.

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Head to Head Matchups

Head-to-head matchups reduce the race to just two drivers. The bettor bets on which driver will finish higher.

These matchups use money lines to determine the favorite and underdog of each pair. Hypothetically, Will Power could be at -125 and Helio Castroneves would be at +145, respectively.

Futures bets

A future bet works the same way as a pick-the-winner bet. The bettor chooses a member from the field to win.

The difference is in the time. These bets are often placed weeks or months before race day.

They are also more susceptible to driver injuries, setbacks or just plain bad luck. As race time nears, these odds can fluctuate a lot. Check out the best sports betting sites!

Proposition bets

A proposition wager on Indianapolis 500 is likely to include some kind of gimmick. The conditions of the wager may not fully reflect the driver’s ability.

A prop bet can be something as simple as a wager on which former champion will place highest or on the winner’s country of origin. A prop bet will also have an ancillary element that is not related to the race.

INDY 500 FAST FACTS

Here’s a quick guide for those who are in a rush:

  • Date: Sunday May 29, 2022
  • Time 11:00 Eastern
  • TV: NBC
  • Watch online with the easiest way: Log in to NBC.com to submit your cable subscription information
  • Additional online viewing options Hulu and YouTube
  • Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
  • Distance: 500 Miles (roughly 200 laps around track)
  • Surface: Brick and Asphalt
  • IndyCar Series: Race Series
  • Defending champion: Helio Castroneves

 

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A BREAK HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS 500

In 1911, the Indianapolis 500 was first run. Ray Harroun won the inaugural race. The racetrack and racetrack have been synonymous with one of the most recognizable auto races in the world. This annual race is sometimes called “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

Open-wheel, open cockpit format is used for the 500-mile race. This means that drivers and tires are open to the elements. Due to its presence at the event, this format is now known as ” Indy Car Racing“.

For its partial brick surfacing, the track is a rectangular oval called ” The Brickyard“. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has more than 250,000 seats and is the largest sports venue with a capacity of over 500,000. More than 300,000 people will be there to watch the race on race day.

The Indianapolis 500 has many traditions, just like other revered sporting events. Each race begins with race officials and a designated performer leading the crowd in a rendition of ” back home again in Indiana“.

To celebrate his win, the winner traditionally has a glass of milk. Here is a list of competitors who have tried dairy products during the race.

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