The early betting predictions for the 110th Indianapolis 500, released by DraftKings Sportsbook, have shifted as two-time runner-up Pato O’Ward emerges as the outright favorite, surpassing 2025 winner Alex Palou. Palou, who had entered the previous race as a co-favorite alongside O’Ward, is now listed below the top spot for the upcoming event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Palou’s rise to prominence came after a notable 2025 season, where he secured his first Indy 500 victory by leading the last 14 laps, ending a personal drought on oval tracks despite holding 15 career wins. His 2025 season culminated in winning his fourth NTT IndyCar Series championship, achieving a rare feat of capturing the championship and the Indy 500 title in the same year — a milestone not seen since Dario Franchitti in 2010. Additionally, Palou led the standings from start to finish, a feat last accomplished by Johnny Rutherford in 1980, and claimed the series oval championship.
Changing Lineup of Top Contenders for 2026
Pato O’Ward has risen in the odds with a +550 listing, becoming the clear favorite for the 2026 Indy 500. Despite nine career IndyCar victories, O’Ward has yet to secure an Indy 500 win, holding the distinction of the most successful active full-time IndyCar driver without the prestigious race victory. His near-misses include a third-place finish in 2025 and runner-up positions in both 2022 and 2024. His performances remain consistent, though he crashed late in the 2023 race while fighting for second place.
Alex Palou trails closely behind, tied for second place at +600 along with Josef Newgarden, who won the Indy 500 in both 2023 and 2024. Palou’s previous performances at the event show a series of close calls before his 2025 breakthrough. In his first Indy 500 for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, Palou finished second to Helio Castroneves, a four-time winner. Other strong finishes include overcoming setbacks in 2022 and 2023, starting far back after pit issues yet climbing to ninth and fourth place respectively. In 2024, Palou managed to lead laps late in the race and ultimately finished fifth despite a less impressive performance in the No. 10 Honda.
Palou’s teammate, 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon, is currently the fourth favorite at +900. Another set of contenders tied at +1000 are Takuma Sato alongside Team Penske drivers Scott McLaughlin, the 2024 polesitter, and David Malukas, the 2025 runner-up who recently joined the team for the 2026 season. While Sato’s return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has not yet been confirmed, he notably led the most laps in the 2025 race after starting in the middle of the front row—a career-best qualifying position.
Broadcast and Schedule Information for 2026 Season
All 18 races of the 2026 IndyCar Series are set to broadcast live on Fox, including the season opener on Sunday, March 1, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Indianapolis 500 is the seventh event on the schedule, slated for Sunday, May 24. Fans can access the full season coverage through streaming services such as FuboTV, ensuring continuous access to every race in America’s premier open-wheel racing championship.
