31 confirmed entries. 9 former winners. And the field is still coming together. Here's everything we know about who's racing for the biggest prize in motorsport.

Confirmed Full-Season Entries (25 cars)

No. Driver Team Engine
2Josef NewgardenTeam PenskeChevy
3Scott McLaughlinTeam PenskeChevy
4Caio Collet RA.J. Foyt RacingChevy
5Pato O'WardArrow McLarenChevy
6Nolan SiegelArrow McLarenChevy
7Christian LundgaardArrow McLarenChevy
8Kyffin SimpsonChip Ganassi RacingHonda
9Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingHonda
10Alex PalouChip Ganassi RacingHonda
12David MalukasTeam PenskeChevy
14Santino FerrucciA.J. Foyt RacingChevy
15Graham RahalRLL RacingHonda
18Romain GrosjeanDale Coyne RacingHonda
19Dennis Hauger RDale Coyne RacingHonda
20Alexander RossiEd Carpenter RacingChevy
21Christian RasmussenEd Carpenter RacingChevy
26Will PowerAndretti GlobalHonda
27Kyle KirkwoodAndretti GlobalHonda
28Marcus EricssonAndretti GlobalHonda
45Louis FosterRLL RacingHonda
47Mick Schumacher RRLL RacingHonda
60Felix RosenqvistMeyer Shank RacingHonda
66Marcus ArmstrongMeyer Shank RacingHonda
76Rinus VeeKayJuncos Hollinger RacingChevy
77Sting Ray RobbJuncos Hollinger RacingChevy

Confirmed Indy 500 One-Off Entries (6 cars)

These drivers are not running the full season — they're here for the 500 only. These are the stories that make May special.

No. Driver Team The Story
06 Helio Castroneves Meyer Shank Racing 4x winner. The Drive for Five. Can anyone stop him?
23 Conor Daly Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 13th Indy 500 attempt. Gained 19 positions in 2024. Kingspan sponsorship.
24 Jack Harvey Dreyer & Reinbold Racing DRR's second car. Also a Fox Sports pit reporter — broadcasting and racing.
31 Ryan Hunter-Reay Arrow McLaren (4th car) 2014 Indy 500 winner returns. McLaren's Indy-only extra entry.
33 Ed Carpenter Ed Carpenter Racing Oval specialist. Team owner who straps in for Indy only.
75 Takuma Sato RLL Racing 2x Indy 500 winner (2017, 2020). Returns to RLL with Amada sponsorship.

Confirmed entries: 31 of 33 spots filled.

Rumored / Unconfirmed

Driver Team Status
Colton Herta Andretti Global (4th car, No. 98) Likely but threatened. Racing F2 with Hitech. Andretti CEO "not denying the rumors." Possible F2 schedule conflict on May 24.
Robert Shwartzman PREMA Racing (No. 83) In limbo. PREMA seeking new ownership after Rosin family departure. Took pole on Indy debut in 2025.
Callum Ilott PREMA Racing (No. 90) Same situation as Shwartzman — tied to PREMA ownership resolution.
Jacob Abel Abel Motorsports Preparing. Has budget, staff, equipment, and a chassis being readied. Most likely 33rd entry.

Former Winners in the Field

Nine former Indy 500 winners. Fourteen combined victories. The most stacked return field in recent memory.

Driver Wins Year(s) 2026 Team
Helio Castroneves 4 2001, 2002, 2009, 2021 Meyer Shank Racing
Josef Newgarden 2 2023, 2024 Team Penske
Takuma Sato 2 2017, 2020 RLL Racing
Alex Palou 1 2025 Chip Ganassi Racing
Marcus Ericsson 1 2022 Andretti Global
Will Power 1 2018 Andretti Global
Alexander Rossi 1 2016 Ed Carpenter Racing
Ryan Hunter-Reay 1 2014 Arrow McLaren
Scott Dixon 1 2008 Chip Ganassi Racing

The Storylines

  • Helio's Drive for Five — Castroneves is chasing history. A 5th win would tie him with the all-time record. At MSR, in what could be his final 500.
  • Mick Schumacher's Oval Debut — The son of a 7-time F1 champion making his first Indy 500 start. Completed 97-lap oval test at Homestead in February.
  • Will Power's New Home — After 15 years at Penske, Power is racing the 500 with Andretti Global. How will he adapt?
  • Conor Daly — The Indy Kid — 13th attempt. Noblesville native. Gained 19 positions in 2024 with DRR. Sponsored by Kingspan.
  • The PREMA Question — Pole sitters in 2025, but ownership turmoil threatens their 2026 entry. The April 28-29 open test is the deadline.
  • Colton Herta — F1 or Indy? — Racing F2 as a Cadillac F1 test driver, but a potential F2 schedule conflict could block his Indy return.
  • The Defending Champion — Alex Palou won in 2025 and leads the points. Can he go back-to-back?
  • 33 and Counting — 31 confirmed entries. The field will likely land right at 33. Bump day drama is unlikely but not impossible.

Month of May Schedule

Date Event
Apr 28-29Open Test & Rookie Orientation
May 12Opening Day — Practice begins
May 13-14Practice Days
May 15Fast Friday — qualifying boost levels
May 16Qualifying Day 1 (FOX, 4:00 PM ET)
May 17Qualifying Day 2 — Top 12, Last Chance, Firestone Fast Six (FOX, 4:00 PM ET)
May 18Final post-qualifying practice
May 22Miller Lite Carb Day — final practice, Pit Stop Challenge, concert
May 23Legends Day — all 33 driver autographs, Drivers' Meeting, 500 Festival Parade
May 24RACE DAY — Green Flag 12:45 PM ET (FOX)