Indianapolis 500 110th running May 24

Alex Palou started the 110th Indianapolis 500 from pole on Sunday, May 24, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning qualifying for the race’s front spot earlier in the week. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver entered as the defending Indianapolis 500 winner and a four-time IndyCar champion pursuing a fifth series title. FOX carried the race, with Indianapolis Motor Speedway listing a 12:45 p.m. ET green flag after pre-race ceremonies. Rain remained part of the race-day picture, with local forecasts and race-day coverage warning that showers could affect the schedule. ### Why was Alex Palou the central name before the green flag? Alex Palou arrived with the fastest qualifying run of the month, posting a four-lap average of 232.248 mph to earn his second career Indianapolis 500 pole. The front row also included Alexander Rossi and David Malukas, according to qualifying coverage and official event notes. (indycar.com) The 29-year-old Spaniard also brought the strongest recent résumé in the field. IndyCar lists Palou as a four-time series champion in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and as the winner of the 109th Indianapolis 500 in 2025. ### What did Caitlin Clark do at the Speedway? Caitlin Clark served as grand marshal for the race, a role Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced on May 19. (sports.yahoo.com) IMS and IndyCar said the Indiana Fever star and Gainbridge brand ambassador would deliver the traditional command for drivers to report to their cars during pre-race ceremonies. (indycar.com) The selection added another high-profile Indiana sports figure to the event’s pre-race program. WTHR and IMS both identified Clark’s appearance as part of the Sunday ceremonies before the field rolled off. ### What was the Lap 18 tribute about? (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Indianapolis Motor Speedway organizers said the scoring pylon was set to light on Lap 18 as a tribute tied to Kyle Busch’s No. 18. WTHR reported the planned gesture in its pre-race coverage from the Speedway. (wthr.com) The tribute sat alongside the event’s usual race-day ceremonies, fan programming and celebrity appearances around the track. Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s race-day schedule listed gates opening at 6 a.m. ET and a full day of pre-race activity before the start. ### How much did weather matter on Sunday? (wthr.com) Indianapolis-area forecasts on May 24 pointed to at least some chance of showers and thunderstorms around race day. IndyStar said weather had been uncertain in the days leading up to the event, while FOX Sports cited a race-day rain chance of 24% based on FOX Weather. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Local television forecasts also warned of on-and-off rain chances through the day. WTHR said there would likely be dry periods as well, underscoring the stop-and-start uncertainty that has affected recent Indianapolis 500 race days. (indystar.com) ### Where do official results and the next schedule updates appear? IndyCar’s live timing page said results would be posted shortly after the session was completed. The series schedule lists the next race after Indianapolis as Detroit on May 31. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has already posted future Month of May planning for the 111th Running in 2027, while the official race hub and results pages remain the primary source for finishing order, lap charts and post-race updates from Sunday’s event. (wthr.com) (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) (indycar.com)