The 2026 edition of the Indianapolis 500 averaged 6.635 million viewers, down from the 7.050 million that watched one year ago.
The pre-race buildup this year wasn’t as dramatic as the year prior, with no bumping and the fact that the Penske scandal dominated headlines. This is also the first time since 2023 that NASCAR star Kyle Larson wasn’t attempting the Indy-Charlotte ‘Double.’ Katherine Legge became the sixth driver in history to start both races on the same day, but she isn’t full-time in either series.
Advertisement
Despite the dip from 2025, this year’s Indy 500 is now the second-most-watched Indy 500 since 2012, and viewership peaked at 8.349 million around 4:00-4:15pm at the end of the race.
There was no blackout this year, and Indianapolis, Indiana was the top market, followed by Dayton, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Despite a slight mid-race delay for rain, the event went as scheduled for the most part. Felix Rosenqvist won the 110th running of the Indy 500 for Meyer Shank Racing, charging from third to first in a one-lap shootout. He passed Team Penske’s David Malukas in the final seconds of the race, beating Malukas in the closest finish ever in the history of the Indy 500 — 0.0233s. The previous record was 0.043, which stood since 1992.
Advertisement
Overall, this is the best start to an IndyCar season since 2008, when the split officially ended and IndyCar/Champ Car merged. The 2026 season is averaging 2.383 million viewers, which is a 10% bump from last year.
Photos from Indianapolis Race
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Gasoline Alley
Gasoline Alley
Penske Entertainment
Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet
Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Advertisement
Fireworks at day start
Fireworks at day start
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fireworks at day start
Fireworks at day start
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fans
Fans
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
Penske Entertainment
Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Penske Entertainment
Borg-Warner Trophy
Borg-Warner Trophy
Penske Entertainment
Fans
Fans
James Gilbert / Getty Images
A.J. Foyt
A.J. Foyt
Penske Entertainment
Pre-race Atmosphere
Pre-race Atmosphere
Penske Entertainment
Indy 500 field
Indy 500 field
Penske Entertainment
General view
General view
Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Pre-race atmosphere
Pre-race atmosphere
Penske Entertainment
Advertisement
General view
General view
Penske Entertainment
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Tribute to Kyle Busch during Indy 500 race
Tribute to Kyle Busch during Indy 500 race
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Caio Collet, AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet, Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Caio Collet, AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet, Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Advertisement
Race start
Race start
Penske Entertainment
Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet
Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Advertisement
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Will Power, Andretti Global Honda
Will Power, Andretti Global Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Advertisement
Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Michael L. Levitt / Lumen via Getty Images
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
General view
General view
Penske Entertainment
Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Phillip G. Abbott / Lumen via Getty Images
Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
Michael L. Levitt / Lumen via Getty Images
Advertisement
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda, David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda, David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Advertisement
David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
Penske Entertainment
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Penske Entertainment
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Penske Entertainment
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Penske Entertainment
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Advertisement
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Michael L. Levitt / Lumen via Getty Images
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Advertisement
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Penske Entertainment
Read Also:
Winners and losers from the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500
Mick Schumacher named Indy 500 Rookie of the Year
Felix Rosenqvist wins 2026 Indy 500 in closest-ever finish
To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
Read the full article here