The 108th running of the historic Indianapolis 500 is set to take place on Sunday at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Known as “The Brickyard” due to its signature brick racing surface, the first Indianapolis 500 took place in 1911, making it one of the longest-running sporting events in the world. This year’s race also marks the first of three races in the Triple Crown of Motorsport.
Scott McLaughlin is the favorite in the 2024 Indy 500 odds, followed closely by Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and NASCAR driver Kyle Larson. Larson will be pulling double duty, racing in both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day. Before making any predictions, be sure to check out the latest picks from SportsLine’s predictive data engineer, Mike McClure.
McClure’s model has been incredibly accurate, predicting 18 NASCAR winners since 2021 and all of Max Verstappen’s wins in Formula 1 last season. The model has simulated the 2024 Indianapolis 500 10,000 times, and one surprise prediction is that Scott Dixon, a +1600 long shot, could be a strong contender for the win.
While McLaughlin is the top favorite, the model suggests that he may not perform as expected, opening up opportunities for other drivers to shine. With the starting grid set and the excitement building, fans are eagerly anticipating the thrilling action that the Indy 500 never fails to deliver. Stay tuned for the race on Sunday to see who will emerge victorious in this prestigious event.