Field of 33 Set for the 109th Running of the Indy 500, Rookie Shwartzman Leads Star-Studded Grid

The field is officially locked and loaded for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and it’s a mix of youthful promise, seasoned champions, and compelling storylines that span all 33 spots in the starting grid. Topping the chart in a historic shocker is rookie Robert Shwartzman, who claimed the pole position in dramatic fashion Sunday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Shwartzman, driving the No. 83 Chevrolet for PREMA Racing, clocked in a four-lap average of 232.790 mph to become the first rookie to start from the pole since Teo Fabi in 1983. He’ll lead the field to green in what will be his first-ever oval race, capping off a fairy tale qualifying effort for the first-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES team.

Joining Shwartzman on the front row are two names no stranger to the spotlight: two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato (No. 75 Honda, 232.478 mph) and Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Chevrolet, 232.098 mph), both of whom have looked strong throughout the Month of May. The second row is a who’s-who of elite drivers with 2008 winner Scott Dixon (No. 9, 232.052), Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60, 231.987), and reigning series points leader Alex Palou (No. 10, 231.378) lined up nose-to-tail.

Just behind them, the third row features David Malukas, Christian Lundgaard, and 2022 Indy 500 champ Marcus Ericsson, all pushing the mid-231 range and showing enough qualifying muscle to be threats come race day.

Row 4 packs plenty of drama and horsepower. All three Team Penske entries — Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power — will start 10th through 12th, respectively, after being bumped from the Fast Six due to technical violations involving the rear attenuator. Their Saturday qualifying runs still kept them in the top 12, but their penalty keeps them from starting up front where they had the speed to be.

Conor Daly leads off Row 5, looking to finally crack Victory Lane at his home track. He’ll line up alongside Alexander Rossi and Kyffin Simpson, a row that blends experience with youth and aggression.

Ed Carpenter, Santino Ferrucci, and Devlin DeFrancesco make up Row 6. All three are capable of long stints and fast restarts, making them sleepers to watch.

Further down the grid, eyes will be on NASCAR superstar Kyle Larson, who’s pulling the double between the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. Larson qualified 21st in the No. 17 Chevrolet, but with plenty of track time left before race day, don’t count out the HendrickCars.com machine just yet.

Helio Castroneves, chasing a record fifth Indy 500 victory, starts 24th in the No. 06 Honda. He shares Row 8 with Callum Ilott and Kyle Kirkwood.

Rounding out the final few rows are seasoned veterans and brave rookies alike. Graham Rahal starts 30th, while Marco Andretti, Marcus Armstrong, and Rinus VeeKay fill out the last row. VeeKay snagged the final spot in the field with a 226.913 mph average, just ahead of teammate Jacob Abel, who was the lone driver bumped from the field.

This year’s starting grid blends past champions, fiery rookies, and teams both familiar and brand-new. With Chevrolet and Honda trading blows at the top, and the drama of qualifying in the rearview mirror, all eyes now shift to race week and the main event on Sunday, May 25.

From legends like Dixon and Castroneves to upstarts like Shwartzman and Simpson, the stage is set for another unforgettable chapter in the lore of the Indianapolis 500 — “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The race can be heard on our stations with coverage beginning at 11 am on Race Day.