The 106th running of the Indy 500 takes place this weekend, and we have all the information you need to know ahead of the race, including the UK start time.
The Indy 500, which takes place across the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is arguably the biggest race in single-seater competition.
It is the pinnacle of the IndyCar season, with the race drawing in over 300,000 spectators at the speedway. Last season’s race only saw 135,000 fans attend due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it was still the highest-attended sporting event since the pandemic began.
Contested over 200 gruelling laps around the famous oval, the Indy 500 is one of the biggest tests of skill, speed and concentration. Drivers regularly reach speeds in excess of 240mph, and there is no margin for error with walls adorning the track.
Last season’s Indy 500 was won by Helio Castroneves. The popular Brazilian took the chequered flag for a record-equalling fourth time at the Brickyard.
Amongst the ex-Formula 1 drivers competing this year are Marcus Ericsson, Juan Pablo Montoya and Romain Grosjean. Ericsson, qualified fifth, is among the favourites to pick up the victory. Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta, who are both on the books at McLaren and have been tipped for future F1 drives, will also be involved.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the race:
What is the UK start time of the Indy 500?
The UK start time of the 2022 Indy 500 is 5:45pm BST on Sunday, May 29.
How can I watch the Indy 500?
Sky Sports will have exclusive live coverage of this year’s edition of the Indy 500. You can watch the race live on Sky Sports F1 (Sky channel 406/Virgin channel 506).
However, the race takes place on the same day as the Monaco Grand Prix. The Sky Sports F1 coverage of the Indy 500 is currently scheduled to commence at 7pm – two hours after programming in Monaco concludes.
Barring any delays to the F1 action, it is likely that the coverage start time will be pushed forward.
Fans, however, need not worry that they will miss the start of the race. Sky Sports Action (Sky channel 409/Virgin channel 509) will carry coverage of the build-up to the race from 3:45pm. Tom Gaymor is the presenter, with former F1 and IndyCar driver Max Chilton providing expert analysis.
How much will it cost to watch the Indy 500?
UK viewers need an active Sky Sports subscription to watch the Indy 500.
Users can purchase a Sky Sports F1-only package, which costs £18 a month on top of an existing Sky subscription. For more information and details on other subscription options, click here.
What is the prize money for the Indy 500?
The total prize purse for the 2022 Indy 500 is set at $10 million. The winner of the race will receive 20 per cent, or $2 million, of that overall purse. Whoever finishes in second, meanwhile, will earn $700,000.
The Indy 500 also counts for double points when it comes to the championship standings. That means a result at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is even more important than usual.
What is the full grid for the Indy 500?
New Zealand’s Scott Dixon will lead the field away for the 106th Indy 500. He qualified on pole position on Sunday. Dixon broke the record for the fastest four-lap average qualifying speed (234.046mph) in the process.
The Chip Ganassi driver will start ahead of team-mate Alex Palou. Dutch star Rinus VeeKay, meanwhile, completes the front row in third.
Here is the full 2022 Indy 500 grid (car numbers in brackets):
Row 1
- Scott Dixon (9) – 234.046 MPH
- Alex Palou (10) – 233.499 MPH
- Rinus VeeKay (21) – 233.385 MPH
Row 2
- Ed Carpenter (33) – 233.080 MPH
- Marcus Ericsson (8) – 232.764 MPH
- Tony Kanaan (1) – 232.372 MPH
Row 3
- Pato O’Ward (5) – 232.705 MPH
- Felix Rosenqvist (7) – 232.182 MPH
- Romain Grosjean (28) – 231.999 MPH
Row 4
- Takuma Sato (51) – 231.670 MPH
- Will Power (12) – 231.534 MPH
- Jimmie Johnson (48) – 231.264 MPH
Row 5
- David Malukas (18) – 231.607 MPH
- Josef Newgarden (2) – 231.580 MPH
- Santino Ferrucci (23) – 231.508 MPH
Row 6
- Simon Pagenaud (60) – 231.275 MPH
- JR Hildebrand (11) – 231.112 MPH
- Conor Daly (20) – 230.999 MPH
Row 7
- Callum Ilott (77) – 230.961 MPH
- Alexander Rossi (27) – 230.812 MPH
- Graham Rahal (15) – 230.766 MPH
Row 8
- Sage Karam (24) – 230.464 MPH
- Marco Andretti (98) – 230.326 MPH
- Devlin DeFrancesco (29) – 230.326 MPH
Row 9
- Colton Herta (26) – 230.235 MPH
- Scott McLaughlin (3) – 230.154 MPH
- Helio Castroneves (06) – 229.630 MPH
Row 10
- Kyle Kirkwood (14) – 229.406 MPH
- Dalton Kellett (4) – 228.916 MPH
- Juan Pablo Montoya (6) – 228.622 MPH
Row 11
- Christian Lundgaard (30) – 227.053 MPH
- Jack Harvey (45) – 226.851 MPH
- Stefan Wilson (25) – No time
Featured Image Credit: Getty