WHO WILL WIN THE Indianapolis 500?

Favorites to bet

Scott Dixon (+400)

He may only have one Indy 500 victory in his career, but he won the lone superspeedway race on the season at Texas back in June. He started second that day. Dixon, starts second on Sunday for the ‘500. Also, Dixon was in the top three in the first three practice sessions in race trim too.

Alexander Rossi (+750)

He’s at his best on superspeedways. Rossi, has never finished worse than seventh at Indy including a runner-up last year.

Ryan Hunter-Reay (+800)

He’s looked stout all week of practice and even qualified fifth. Hunter-Reay also has two top eight finishes in each of his last two Indy starts.

Marco Andretti (+850)

Quickest on Fast Friday. Fastest car in both days of qualifying. Starting on the pole. Also, hasn’t been worse than third in any practice session last week either.

Will Power (+1200)

Arguably the best superspeedway racer in the series right now. Power, won this race in 2018 and was fifth last year. He has five top 10 finishes in his last six Indy 500 tries.

Long shots to bet

Simon Pagenaud (+1400)

You’re getting the defending winner for these odds? Everyone has said that Pagenaud’s car looks to be the strongest out there on race trim too.

Takuma Sato (+1600)

He was third in last year’s race. He won in 2017. He starts third. The only other time he started in the top 10 here, he won. You can get him for this?

Conor Daly (+2500)

His race pace has been in the top 10 all week. Daly, had his best career result last year. Watch out for him on race day.

Graham Rahal (+2500)

He made the Fast Nine. He’s happy with his car, more so than in the past. Rahal, is a good value pick for these odds.

Helio Castroneves (+3300)

You mean to tell me I can get a three-time Indy 500 winner for these odds? He was in the top five in race practice on Sunday too.

Ed Carpenter (+4000)

He too has a good “race” car. Carpenter, was second in 2018 and sixth last year.

Alex Palou (+4500)

The fearless rookie looks to be among those that just get the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Palou, was in the top 10 of every practice session. He qualified seventh.

Tony Kanaan (+5000)

The popular Brazilian is happy with his car on race trim too. While he starts 23rd, he’s not concerned. Kanaan, has three top 10 finishes in his last four Indy 500 tries and has led at least one lap in seven of his last eight Indy 500 tries.

BETTING Indianapolis Motor Speedway

This year’s Indy 500 will look a bit different. The Aeroscreen will debut for the first time on the Indy oval and these cars are being difficult to drive as a result. That’s led to varying strategies between the two manufacturers. Honda went for qualifying pace so they can have the track position up front. Chevy went with more race pace so they can hopefully pass people.

Which wins out?

Starting position has mattered lately with the last three race winners coming from fourth, second and first respectively. That bodes well for the Honda’s since they start 1-2-3 and have 11 of the top 12 starters. Chevy has 11 of the bottom 12 starters.

Rookie Winner? Not Likely

In the past 103 years of this race, only nine times has a rookie driver won. It’s happened three times in the last 52 years and only four times in the last 91 years. So, while two rookies start in the first 3 Rows, it’s not likely they will win.

Repeat Winner? Not Likely

Pagenaud has the odds stacked against him this weekend. The last repeat winner was his teammate Helio Castroneves in 2001 and 2002. Helio, is the last repeat winner since Al Unser Sr. in 1970 and 1971. That’s two times this has happened in 65 years. Do you think it happens for the third time in 66 years?

Doubtful.

STAT TO WATCH

We’ve had a first time winner of this race in each of the last six years. Since 2003, only two drivers have won the Indy 500 more than once too. But, you have the “Big 3” in Andretti, Ganassi and Penske who have also combined to win 13 of the last 15 Indy 500’s too and all but a couple since 2000.