2025 Indy 500 Nears Start With Rookie Pole, Newgarden Defending

The 109th Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday, May 25, 2025, with the race starting at 12:45 p.m. ET and a global audience eagerly anticipating the event. Rookie Robert Shwartzman made history by earning pole position, the first rookie to do so since 1983, alongside two-time winner Takuma Sato and favorite Pato O’Ward on the front row. Defending champion Josef Newgarden, aiming for a rare three-peat, will start at the back of the pack after Team Penske was penalized for cheating during qualifying, a scandal that has added drama to the race. General admission tickets remain available for $55, though reserved seats and premium options like paddock box and penthouse seating are sold at higher prices or through secondary markets. The race will be broadcast on FOX in the U.S., with international streaming options such as Stan Sport available in Australia. Preparations continue with final practice sessions and the Pit Stop Challenge, underscoring the intense competition and mechanical precision required to succeed at this iconic motorsport event.