Indianapolis 500 Race Start Postponed by Rain Showers

The start of the 109th Indianapolis 500 has been pushed back due to light rain showers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Race organizers paused pre-race activities shortly after noon as sprinkles began to fall around the 2.5-mile oval, forcing officials to delay the traditional command to start engines.

The Indianapolis 500 was originally set to begin at 12:45 p.m. EST, with driver introductions and ceremonies already completed before the weather interruption. Light rain and overcast skies have lingered in the area throughout the morning, but forecasts suggest the event will move forward once the rain clears.

The track crew is standing by as fans in the grandstands wait for an official update. History shows the Indianapolis 500 has been fully postponed to Monday only three times, most recently in 1997, while a rain-shortened race has not occurred since 2007.

This minor delay could create difficulties for Kyle Larson, who is attempting to race both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day. Only four drivers have ever started both races in a single day, and just Tony Stewart has completed all 1,100 miles.

Larson needs everything to run on schedule at Indianapolis to have enough travel time to Charlotte. Tony Kanaan remains on standby to drive the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet if Larson is forced to leave early for the NASCAR event.

The situation this year feels familiar for Larson, after weather trouble derailed his 2024 double attempt. Rain at Indianapolis last year delayed the start, leading to Larson missing the opening laps of the Coke 600, and a downpour later stopped that race with 249 laps completed.

In 2025, he must at least take the green flag in the NASCAR event, or risk losing all playoff points due to stricter waiver rules. Rookie Robert Shwartzman lines up on pole position in the No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet after an impressive month of qualifying.

Takuma Sato and Pato O’Ward join him on the front row, promising an exciting battle when racing begins. The rest of the field remains ready, and fans hope for clear skies to enjoy the full spectacle of this legendary event.

The Indianapolis 500 stands as a centerpiece on the IndyCar calendar, attracting a global audience and showcasing some of the series’ top talent. The event draws over 300,000 fans yearly and continues to be a highlight of Memorial Day weekend, as documented by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s official history page.

As race officials monitor the radar and work to dry the racing surface, anticipation builds for the green flag later in the afternoon. Despite the initial weather delay, optimism remains high that the entire scheduled distance will be run today.

Track crews and fans alike are prepared, recalling past editions when patience eventually paid off and the racing went on. The eyes of the racing world now turn to Indianapolis, waiting for action to resume in America’s most famous motorsports event. For more details on the event’s historical significance, visit the Library of Congress’ sports history archives.