2026 Indianapolis 500 Predictions, Picks & Odds: Palou Seeks Back-to-Back Brickyard Wins

Last year, Alex Palou checked off the last major items on his IndyCar to-do list by winning the Indianapolis 500. Can he become just the seventh repeat winner of the race? That will be on his agenda today as he leads the field in the 110^th running of one of the greatest spectacles in sports.Top of Form

Entering last year's Indy 500, Palou had long established himself as the standard in the IndyCar Series, but his glittering resume was missing two glaring items: an oval win and a win in the series' biggest race.

After taking the lead on lap 187, Palou led the rest of the way to knock out both of those items in one fell swoop. In the process, he also became the first Spaniard to win the Indianapolis 500.

After winning eight races and his fourth title in five seasons, Palou has recorded three wins in the first six races this season and holds a 27-point lead over Kyle Kirkwood atop the IndyCar Series standings.

He isn't on the same hot streak that he was at this time last year, but he remains the man to beat for the series title. A second straight Indy 500 win would put some valuable distance between Palou and the potential cast of challengers, and after claiming pole, he is a firm favorite at Lucky Rebel and other top online sportsbooks.

2026 Indianapolis 500 Information

• Race: 2026 Indianapolis 500 (Race 7 of 18 of the 2026 IndyCar Series season)
• Track (Location): Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Race Length: 200 laps (500 miles)
• Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
• Time: 12:24 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX

Odds to Win the 2026 Indianapolis 500

Odds are from Lucky Rebel.

2026 Indianapolis 500 Starting Grid

Drivers in bold are former Indy 500 winners. Drivers in italics are Indy 500 rookies.

Indy 500 Predictions and Picks

Pato O'Ward to Finish in the Top Five (+100 at BetOnline)

O'Ward has four top-five finishes in his last five Indianapolis 500 starts, and were it not for a late-race crash while racing for the lead in 2023, that record might be five in five.

• 2025: 3^rd
• 2024: 2^nd
• 2023: 24^th
• 2022: 2^nd
• 2021: 4^th
• 2020: 6^th

Could this be the year an Indy 500 win finally stops eluding Pato? Due to a practice crash last Monday, he will be in a backup car for the race. Don't let that put you off of still backing him to do well, however.

A lot will have to go right for him to contend and to win, but a victory is well within his reach, even in a backup car. And even if it doesn't, his record of strong results makes this the best value play on the board if you are going for a finishing position pick.