IndyCar Series

The United States' most famous IndyCar race will experience its 100th running with the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

With 33 drivers in the field, a win on Sunday earns the victor an opportunity to kiss the hallowed bricks and drink what is probably the most satisfying jug of milk ever tasted. 

Here is the viewing information for racing fans who won't be in Indiana on Sunday:

Date	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
Sunday, May 29	12 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN

This is what the starting grid looks like and what the odds are for some of the race's favorites, per Odds Shark:

Row	Place	Driver	Odds
1	1	James Hinchcliffe	+1,000
1	2	Josef Newgarden	+1,000
1	3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	+1,400
2	4	Townsend Bell	+1,800
2	5	Carlos Munoz	+2,000
2	6	Will Power	+650
3	7	Mikhail Aleshin	+5,000
3	8	Simon Pagenaud	+650
3	9	Helio Castroneves	+750
4	10	Oriol Servia	+4,000
4	11	Alexander Rossi	+6,600
4	12	Takuma Sato	+3,300
5	13	Scott Dixon	+700
5	14	Marco Andretti	+2,000
5	15	JR Hildebrand	+3,300
6	16	Charlie Kimball	+5,000
6	17	Juan Pablo Montoya	+650
6	18	Tony Kanaan	+1,000
7	19	Sebastien Bourdais	+2,000
7	20	Ed Carpenter	+3,300
7	21	Gabby Chaves	+12,500
8	22	Max Chilton	+6,600
8	23	Sage Karam	+6,600
8	24	Conor Daly	+5,000
9	25	Pippa Mann	+15,000
9	26	Graham Rahal	+2,500
9	27	Matt Brabham	+15,000
10	28	Bryan Clauson	+12,500
10	29	Spencer Pigot	+15,000
10	30	Stefan Wilson	+12,500
11	31	Jack Hawksworth	+12,500
11	32	Buddy Lazier	+15,000
11	33	Alex Tagliani	+7,500

Two-time winner and last year's victor, Juan Pablo Montoya, will have some work to do to start this edition of the Indy 500 considering he'll be starting in Row 6 after qualifying 17th thanks to a run-in with a trash bag.

Given last year's performance, though, there's a reason why he's one of the favorites.

Montoya spoke with Joseph Wolkin of Frontstretch.com about how he's approaching this year's race.

"To me, it’s like any other race," Montoya said. "You take it as it comes, and you hope to have very good results. Yes, it’s the Indy 500 and it’s the biggest race of the year, but this one is worth just as much as last year. We’ll do whatever we can to win it."

The race's co-favorites, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud, will be starting from more favorable positions. Power will be in Row 2, while Pagenaud will be in No. 3. Neither has won an Indy 500. 

In fact, only one driver in the first two rows has won an Indy 500, which was Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2014.

Next to Pagenaud in the third row is a driver on the verge of history. If Helio Castroneves is able to kiss the bricks in 2016, it will be his fourth Indy 500 win, which would put him with A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the only drivers to win the race four times. 

Whether a racing fan is pulling for a fresh face or a seasoned veteran, the excitement of the Indianapolis 500 will ensure that this will be the biggest race of the year.

Stats courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com.

Sunday's 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 offers bettors plenty of chances to come away ahead against the house.

Now, this doesn't offer any refreshing milk with it, but besting the house is besting the house—a gratifying experience in many ways. This year's Indy 500 has plenty of serious contenders, but the more the merrier for those who play a handful of guesses right.

Unlike other major races—especially those on horses, not machines—Las Vegas has to stretch itself rather thin instead of throwing weight behind one favorite. It's a good thing for bettors, as you can cover a combination of plays by picking the correct winner.

There's no wrong way to pick, either. In fact, the only wrong thing that onlookers could do is miss the festivities. Here's a look at everything to know about the race before we break down the odds.

2016 Indy 500

When: Sunday at noon ET

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

TV: ABC

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Starting Grid

Pole Position	Driver	Driver	Pole Position
1	James Hinchcliffe	Josef Newgarden	2
3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Townsend Bell	4
5	Carlos Munoz	Will Power	6
7	Mikhail Aleshin	Simon Pagenaud	8
9	Helio Castroneves	Oriol Servia	10
11	Alexander Rossi	Takuma Sato	12
13	Scott Dixon	Marco Andretti	14
15	JR Hildebrand	Charlie Kimball	16
17	Juan Pablo Montoya	Tony Kanaan	18
19	Sebastien Bourdais	Ed Carpenter	20
21	Gabby Chaves	Max Chilton	22
23	Sage Karam	Conor Daly	24
25	Pippa Mann	Graham Rahal	26
27	Matt Brabham	Bryan Clauson	28
29	Spencer Pigot	Stefan Wilson	30
31	Jack Hawksworth	Buddy Lazier	32
33	Alex Tagliani

Indy 500 Odds

Driver	Odds
Will Power	6-1
Simon Pagenaud	6-1
Juan Pablo Montoya	6-1
Helio Castroneves	13-2
Scott Dixon	13-2
Tony Kanaan	9-1
James Hinchcliffe	12-1
Josef Newgarden	12-1
Sebastien Bourdais	16-1
Ryan Hunter-Reay	20-1

Full odds available at Odds Shark.

Odds Analysis

One doesn't need Las Vegas to realize Sunday is a power struggle between Will Power, Simon Pagenaud and Juan Pablo Montoya. 

Those men all come in at 6-1 for good reason. Start with Power—he's the guy who finished as the runner-up last year. He's starting sixth this year, and Las Vegas tends to think he can parlay the lessons learned from last year into a checkered flag.

Montoya gets a nod with the favorites because he's a two-time winner and the defending champion. In fact, over three starts at the event, he's won twice (2000, 2015) and finished fifth. The man simply knows how to compete at the sport's biggest event, so it shouldn't deter bettors too much that he has to start out of the 17th slot.

Besides, Montoya doesn't sound concerned about it:

Couldn't find the speed to get into the top 9. We have a good car & the conditions are very complicated cuz of the wind and the heat!

— Juan Pablo Montoya (@jpmontoya) May 22, 2016

Pagenaud is the top favorite to focus on, though.

While he hasn't finished better than eighth at the Indy 500, he's the sport's best driver this year. He started the season with a pair of second-place finishes and has gone on to win three races in a row, the most recent being the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

Elsewhere on the chart, Helio Castroneves is hard to ignore at 13-2. A three-time winner, the Team Penske driver has history on his mind and hasn't looked too shabby most of the season, finishing behind Pagenaud at the aforementioned event in Indianapolis.

Also at 13-2 is Scott Dixon, a veteran with a top-10 finish to his name in all five events this year. He won the Indy 500 in 2008 and has tallied nine top-10 finishes at the spectacle since 2003.

Last year, Dixon won the pole but wound up fourth. This year he starts 13th, but one has to think he's due to improve upon it by the time the race ends. He sounds confident after a gritty week of qualifying:

Happy with the #⚡️in race running today. Car feels strong. This is going to be an epic show! #Indy500 #teamtarget

— Scott Dixon (@scottdixon9) May 23, 2016

Of the other drivers among the top 10 out of Las Vegas, James Hinchcliffe is by far the most notable.

He stands as the center of attention going into Sunday after the near-fatal crash last year. He's back and in elite form—something one can glean from his winning the pole last weekend.

At 12-1, Hinchcliffe is a nice payout and a trustworthy option. He's posted three top-eight finishes in a row and is entering his second year with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports after not getting to take to the track with the team at this event last year.

Still, Hinchcliffe has remained grounded and is tempering expectations going into the event.

"You know, 10 miles (qualifying) is one thing, 500 miles is another," Hinchcliffe said, according to Elton Alexander of the Plain Dealer. "We still have a lot of work to do. There's still one big thing to check off the box before we start talking about the movie rights."

As mentioned, there isn't a wrong way for bettors to stack bets, as so many notable drivers and storylines suggest a wild race dominated by the big names. 

It's fitting that one of the globe's biggest sporting events looks better than ever for its 100th iteration.

Stats and information courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com unless otherwise specified. Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 offers plenty in the way of star power.

That's fitting, given the historic occasion.

James Hinchcliffe has one of the most notable comeback stories in any sport after a near-fatal wreck at the event last year and sits as the headliner.

But there's also household name Juan Pablo Montoya, and Will Power isn't far behind in star wattage. Helio Castroneves continues to chase history, though nobody continues to run better than Simon Pagenaud this season. Marco Andretti carries an impressive family name, and Ed Carpenter is a legend of the sport.

It goes on and on, but for those who seek out big names to help follow events, the Indy 500 has a little something for everyone. Here's a look at the info surrounding the race and predictions for some of the top drivers.

2016 Indy 500

When: Sunday at noon ET

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

TV: ABC

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Starting Grid

Pole Position	Driver	Driver	Pole Position
1	James Hinchcliffe	Josef Newgarden	2
3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Townsend Bell	4
5	Carlos Munoz	Will Power	6
7	Mikhail Aleshin	Simon Pagenaud	8
9	Helio Castroneves	Oriol Servia	10
11	Alexander Rossi	Takuma Sato	12
13	Scott Dixon	Marco Andretti	14
15	JR Hildebrand	Charlie Kimball	16
17	Juan Pablo Montoya	Tony Kanaan	18
19	Sebastien Bourdais	Ed Carpenter	20
21	Gabby Chaves	Max Chilton	22
23	Sage Karam	Conor Daly	24
25	Pippa Mann	Graham Rahal	26
27	Matt Brabham	Bryan Clauson	28
29	Spencer Pigot	Stefan Wilson	30
31	Jack Hawksworth	Buddy Lazier	32
33	Alex Tagliani

Predictions for Top Drivers

Will Power 

The runner-up behind Montoya last year, Power sits as one of the most notable names to watch this weekend because he's in the hunt to parlay the strong finish into a checkered flag. 

Improvement has been nothing short of a trend for Power since 2012, as his recent finishes show:

Year	Finish
2012	28
2013	19
2014	8
2015	2

He plans to use last year's experiences to help him Sunday. 

“It was a great race,” Power said, according to the Detroit Free Press' Mike Brudenell. “That sort of thing builds confidence for sure. I definitely learned from it. … You learn something new every time you come here.”

Starting sixth, Power seems in a position to keep the upward trend going. The only problem is how difficult it can be to get over the proverbial hump, especially in a field this deep. Look for Power to remain steady but lose out in the test of endurance late.

Prediction: Power finishes second.

Helio Castroneves

Few better stories than Castroneves' march toward history exist Sunday.

He is a three-time winner of the Indy 500, claiming victory in 2001, 2002 and 2009. A fourth would rank him among the all-time greats, and it's easy to feel for him even two years later, after Ryan Hunter-Reay passed him late to win in 2014.

Still, Castroneves has history on his mind, so much so that he suggested to USA Today's Jeff Olson that No. 4 might be more important than an outright championship:

It’s more to me than a championship. When people say I’m missing a championship in my career, I tell them I want a fourth Indy more than a championship. Don’t get me wrong — I still want a championship — but we have a generation of fans who haven’t seen a four-time winner. I think it would be really cool for the history of racing to win a fourth.

The Team Penske driver seems well on his way to contention Sunday. He's finished third, seventh and second over his last three outings, the last one in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

Slotted ninth, it's safe to presume Castroneves will make a late push for Victory Lane. In fact, it almost seems like the only thing that can stop him is a driver who simply cannot be surpassed often this year.

Which, of course, is something Sunday's field boasts thanks to the next man on the list.

Prediction: Castroneves finishes third. 

Simon Pagenaud

So far this has done much to hype up Pagenaud—and for good reason.

There's little need to jot down the incredible story of his season so far. The visual route is even more impressive:

DATE	RACE	PLACE	START
3/13	Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg	2	1
4/2	Phoenix Grand Prix	2	10
4/17	Grand Prix of Long Beach	1	3
4/24	Grand Prix of Alabama	1	1
5/14	Grand Prix of Indianapolis	1	1

As if this weren't wow-worthy enough, Pagenaud cruised in qualifying to land the eighth slot out of the gates. That's not perfect, but it's close enough to match pace over a crushing test of endurance before putting on his usual moves late.

Yet as great as Pagenaud has looked during his emergence, he still hasn't finished better than eighth over four starts at the Indy 500. But this is his second year with Penske Racing, and he credits the growing chemistry for the success thus far.

“It’s all the preparation that we put in last year,” Pagenaud said, according to Jerry Garrett of the New York Times. “All that work that happened in 2015. It wasn’t visible in terms of results. But we built a really strong team, with really awesome people.”

With a new look and talented team in tow, this seems like the perfect time for Pagenaud to seize his first Indy 500 win. This field is deep, but he's been by far the best driver on a week-to-week basis. That won't change at the sport's biggest event.

Prediction: Pagenaud wins the Indy 500.

Stats and information courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com unless otherwise specified. Odds via Odds Shark.

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the hallmark events on the American sports calendar. Any question as to the reason why it's earned that status was answered during the final laps one year ago, as Juan Pablo Montoya edged Will Power by one-tenth of a second for his second Indy 500 victory.

All signs point to another highly competitive battle in the 2016 edition. Odds Shark noted there are eight different drivers with odds of 10-1 or better, but nobody is less than 6-1. That suggests there should be a wide-open race Sunday afternoon.

Let's check out all of the important details for the milestone 100th running of the Indy 500. That's followed by a look at the starting grid and a race preview.

Viewing Information

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana

When: Sunday, May 29, at noon ET

Watch: ABC

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Starting Grid

Row	Inside	Middle	Outside
1	James Hinchcliffe	Josef Newgarden	Ryan Hunter-Reay
2	Townsend Bell	Carlos Munoz	Will Power
3	Mikhail Aleshin	Simon Pagenaud	Helio Castroneves
4	Oriol Servia	Alexander Rossi	Takuma Sato
5	Scott Dixon	Marco Andretti	JR Hildebrand
6	Charlie Kimball	Juan Pablo Montoya	Tony Kanaan
7	Sebastien Bourdais	Ed Carpenter	Gabby Chaves
8	Max Chilton	Sage Karam	Conor Daly
9	Pippa Mann	Graham Rahal	Matthew Brabham
10	Bryan Clauson	Spencer Pigot	Stefan Wilson
11	Jack Hawksworth	Buddy Lazier	Alex Tagliani

Race Preview

James Hinchcliffe's story of perseverance will be difficult to top this weekend regardless of how the 200 laps play out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Simply making it back to the race healthy after suffering life-threatening injuries during practice one year ago would have been a terrific accomplishment. Sitting on the pole with a legitimate chance to win one of the most prized titles in motorsports is nothing short of astonishing.

The 29-year-old Canadian is enjoying a solid stretch of racing, registering three straight top-10 finishes heading into the series' marquee event. He's never enjoyed much success in the Indy 500, however, ending up outside the top 20 three times in four appearances.

As he attempts to reverse that trend, Geoffrey Miller of Athlon Sports noted the reminder of what happened last year is still ever-present:

https://twitter.com/GeoffreyMiller/status/732321187301187584

Power is another driver seeking his first Indy 500 victory. He's come close several times before, finishing inside the top 10 four times in eight starts, including a second-place result in 2015. Now the question is whether he can finally get over the hump into Victory Lane.

The 35-year-old veteran isn't downplaying the importance of winning the race, either. Jeff Gluck of USA Today noted the Aussie stated the event "is everything for me right now" while also discussing how it can make or break a driver's resume.

"You'd finish your career feeling really happy about it if you won that race," Power said. "And to win a race that size with that many people, to feel that feeling in Victory Lane, that would just be awesome. It would be something you'd never forget."

While that level of desire is constant across those without an Indy title, no driver enters the fray with more momentum than Simon Pagenaud. He's been spectacular during the early stages of the campaign, capturing three straight checkered flags after finishing second in the first two races.

It's allowed him to rapidly build a 76-point lead in the standings. Winning Sunday would not only give him the coveted Indy title, but it would eliminate any lingering questions about whether he's in line for a potentially record-breaking season.

Luke Smith of NBC Sports believes Pagenaud is in rare air right now:

Pagenaud up there with the most dominant racers in the world right now. Rosberg, di Grassi and Kyle Busch the others that come to mind.

— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) May 14, 2016

Beyond that trio, it's tough to count out those who have won the race before. High-profile names like Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Montoya figure to find themselves right back in the mix as well.

The bottom line is it's a race totally up for grabs. As a result, there should be a high number of lead changes, and the entertainment value should be high; that's the most important thing in the end, at least from a fan's perspective.

Predictions: 1. Will Power 2. Simon Pagenaud 3. James Hinchcliffe

The Indianapolis 500 has long been a must-watch event for racing fans everywhere, and Sunday's 100th edition is no different due largely to the depth and talent of the field that will vie for a victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

As many as half the drivers competing in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing have a legitimate chance to take the checkered flag, including several who have already done so in the past. Seven different drivers have won the Indy 500 over the past eight years, and that trend of unpredictability seemingly has a strong chance to continue in 2016.

Ahead of the highly anticipated event, here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch the Indianapolis 500, as well as a closer look at some of the top contenders.

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana

When: Sunday, May 29 at 12 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Starting Postion	Driver	Average Speed (MPH)
1	James Hinchcliffe	230.76
2	Josef Newgarden	230.7
3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	230.648
4	Townsend Bell	230.481
5	Carlos Munoz	230.287
6	Will Power	229.669
7	Mikhail Aleshin	229.562
8	Simon Pagenaud	229.139
9	Helio Castroneves	229.115
10	Oriol Servia	229.06
11	Alexander Rossi	228.473
12	Takuma Sato	228.029
13	Scott Dixon	227.991
14	Marco Andretti	227.969
15	JR Hildebrand	227.876
16	Charlie Kimball	227.822
17	Juan Pablo Montoya	227.684
18	Tony Kanaan	227.43
19	Sebastien Bourdais	227.428
20	Ed Carpenter	227.226
21	Gabby Chaves	227.192
22	Max Chilton	226.686
23	Sage Karam	226.436
24	Conor Daly	226.312
25	Pippa Mann	226.006
26	Graham Rahal	225.847
27	Matt Brabham	225.727
28	Bryan Clauson	225.266
29	Spencer Pigot	224.847
30	Stefan Wilson	224.602
31	Jack Hawksworth	224.596
32	Buddy Lazier	222.154
33	Alex Tagliani	No Speed

Drivers to Watch

Simon Pagenaud

Simon Pagenaud has never finished better than eighth in the Indianapolis 500, but as the most dominant driver in the IndyCar Series so far in 2016, he may be the person to beat Sunday.

Pagenaud enters the weekend on an absolute tear, having won each of the past three races, and he holds a commanding, 76-point lead in the standings.

The 32-year-old Frenchman qualified eighth for the Indy 500, and he has a ton of confidence in the car and the team around him, according to Pete DiPrimio of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel:

All the work we did last year is finally showing. It's very enjoyable. It's a great time. Obviously when you're winning is when you have the most fun in racing.

[...]

We have the best cars and we are the best team. That pushes us to the limits even farther. That's why things happen. We've had a really good start, but it's a long, long way to go for us.

While Pagenaud didn't continue his trend of taking the pole after winning three poles in the season's first five races, the fact that he was part of the Fast Nine suggests he should have a good enough car to contend for the victory.

A Frenchman hasn't won the Indianapolis 500 since Gaston Chevrolet in 1920, but Pagenaud has a golden opportunity to end that drought if his recent form carries over to Sunday's race.

Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon is one of just six active drivers with an Indianapolis 500 win to their credit in Sunday's field, and he has a chance to join an elite group of drivers who have won the race on multiple occasions.

The New Zealander's first and only Indy triumph came back in 2008, and while he has five top-10 finishes at the track since then, he has been unable to take the checkered flag for a second time.

Dixon nearly found himself in a precarious position when he had engine issues ahead of qualifying, but Chip Ganassi Racing managed to fix the problem in time, which Dixon was grateful for, according to Jeff Olson of USA Today: "It was huge. We had an engine fail—to what extent I'm not sure—and I can't thank the team enough. Not just Team Target, but the other three teams, as well."

That resulted in a solid, 13th-place qualifying run, which puts Dixon in a decent position to contend Sunday.

The car has seemingly gotten better since then, too, as Dixon was thrilled with it during a recent practice run:

Happy with the #⚡️in race running today. Car feels strong. This is going to be an epic show! #Indy500 #teamtarget

— Scott Dixon (@scottdixon9) May 23, 2016

Dixon regularly finds himself in the mix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and while it hasn't happened in recent years, he knows how to seal the deal there.

He is also running well so far in 2016 with one victory to his credit and the No. 2 spot in the standings, so he has the momentum needed to be a factor in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Juan Pablo Montoya

After winning last year's Indianapolis 500 from the No. 15 starting spot, Juan Pablo Montoya will have a bit more work to do this year from the 17th position.

The Colombian star had some struggles during qualifying, but he believes he has a strong car to his credit entering Sunday's event:

Couldn't find the speed to get into the top 9. We have a good car & the conditions are very complicated cuz of the wind and the heat!

— Juan Pablo Montoya (@jpmontoya) May 22, 2016

Montoya and his team managed to make some adjustments and generate plenty speed between qualifying and the race last year, so there is plenty of reason to believe they can pull off a similar feat in 2016.

The 40-year-old veteran is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and he has won once already this season, making him among the top contenders despite his mediocre qualifying performance.

Montoya has always enjoyed a great deal of success at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and if he manages to find his way to the front of the field, he will be extremely difficult to knock off.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

There wasn't a better time for the media blackout around the Indianapolis 500 to get lifted.

For the first time since 1950, the Indy 500 gets a live broadcast in its locale for its 100th edition after selling out. The ABC and SportsCenter family has big plans for the spectacle—as it should given not only the on-track action but the accompanying storylines.

Whether it's James Hinchcliffe's return or major names such as Marco Andretti looking to power through and make a bit of history, the 2016 Indy 500 has a little bit of something for everyone.

With the basics out of the way, here's everything to know about the event.

2016 Indy 500

When: Sunday at noon ET

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

TV: ABC

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Starting Grid

Pole Position	Driver	Driver	Pole Position
1	James Hinchcliffe	Josef Newgarden	2
3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Townsend Bell	4
5	Carlos Munoz	Will Power	6
7	Mikhail Aleshin	Simon Pagenaud	8
9	Helio Castroneves	Oriol Servia	10
11	Alexander Rossi	Takuma Sato	12
13	Scott Dixon	Marco Andretti	14
15	JR Hildebrand	Charlie Kimball	16
17	Juan Pablo Montoya	Tony Kanaan	18
19	Sebastien Bourdais	Ed Carpenter	20
21	Gabby Chaves	Max Chilton	22
23	Sage Karam	Conor Daly	24
25	Pippa Mann	Graham Rahal	26
27	Matt Brabham	Bryan Clauson	28
29	Spencer Pigot	Stefan Wilson	30
31	Jack Hawksworth	Buddy Lazier	32
33	Alex Tagliani

Storylines to Watch

The Andretti Drought

Andretti wouldn't mind getting the family monkey off his back.

Meaning, of course, he'd like to not come up in stats such as this, as shared by ESPN Stats & Info:

The 5 Andrettis to run the #Indy500 (Mario, Michael, John, Marco, Jeff) have combined for 1,130 laps led - but only 1 win (Mario in 1969)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 27, 2016

Marco has done his fair share of contributing, having placed second as a rookie in 2006 and finished sixth or better in each of his past three outings.

He enters Sunday sitting 14th and doesn't sound too pleased about the situation.

"We were all over the place setup-wise," he said, according to ESPN.com's John Oreovicz. "I think we have a direction, but we weren't able to confirm it so we need to watch how much we read into Carb Day. Looking forward to getting back out there at the end of the week."

There's no question Andretti has the talent to compete and seizing a checkered flag from farther back on the grid isn't impossible. If he can parlay his strong recent outings at the event to a win, he'll shake one of the sport's bigger storylines away.

James Hinchcliffe's Return

By now, most must be familiar with the storyline around Hinchcliffe.

Hinchcliffe suffered a near-fatal crash last year and is back for a redemption story on the biggest stage possible—even more so than usual with the media blackout lifted.

He got started on the right foot too, winning the pole despite the always-intense qualifying period.

Suffice to say he's an inspiration, with drivers such as Ryan Hunter-Reay quick to praise his journey, as captured by Mike Hembree of USA Today:

Nobody can really describe the position he was put in and the courage he had to not only come out of that and work through it but to get back in the car and push to the absolute limit—to 110 [percent].

You look at the fact that the car failed him and he almost lost his life. There’s a certain area there where I think only drivers can understand it. That was very inspirational to me.

Indeed, Hinchcliffe will be the center of coverage and deservedly so. The fact he's running so well only makes it all the better, especially in an event he's only tallied one top-10 finish in thus far.

It's hard to imagine anyone would complain if Hinchcliffe gets a Disney-esque finish to his incredible journey.

Juan Pablo Montoya vs. Simon Pagenaud

Wait, these two are teammates? 

It's been an odd season for both, with Simon Pagenaud getting the best of Juan Pablo Montoya so far.

USA Today captured the disparity well:

Defending #Indy500 champion @jpmontoya has been overshadowed by teammate @simonpagenaud so far this season.https://t.co/ZMx0HFUK2J

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) May 27, 2016

It makes for an interesting storyline, to say the least.

Montoya is arguably the bigger household name, especially after winning the Indy 500 last year and now looking for a historic third win. But it's Pagenaud who has been on an epic tear this year and ranks first after pulling in three successive checkered flags and having yet to finish worse than second over all five races.

So oddly enough, it's Montoya looking to prove himself after falling behind, and he'll have to do so out of the 17th slot. Pagenaud operates from the eighth.

In an ideal world, the two duel one another down the stretch, making for an incredible finish.

Stats and information courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com unless otherwise specified. Odds via Odds Shark.

It's easy to classify any event as historic and call it a day—especially when it comes to the sporting juggernaut that is the Indy 500.

But it's not a throwaway descriptor for the 2016 iteration, as the Indy 500 has truly made history this year by selling out and lifting the controversial media blackout for the first time since 1950.

In other words, the Indy 500 enters the modern world and will get a televised edition, and the networks will pull out all the stops to celebrate.

The Indianapolis Star's Curt Cavin detailed some of the plans: "ABC is planning a local lead-in to Sunday’s race. Its SportsCenter crew will be at IMS both weekend days, and in the hour before the 500’s broadcast begins SportsCenter will have Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and receiver TY Hilton as guests."

So yes, "historic" is the right tagline here. Below, let's take a look at the pertinent info surrounding Sunday's event.

2016 Indy 500

When: Sunday at noon ET

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

TV: ABC

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Starting Grid

Pole Position	Driver	Driver	Pole Position
1	James Hinchcliffe	Josef Newgarden	2
3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Townsend Bell	4
5	Carlos Munoz	Will Power	6
7	Mikhail Aleshin	Simon Pagenaud	8
9	Helio Castroneves	Oriol Servia	10
11	Alexander Rossi	Takuma Sato	12
13	Scott Dixon	Marco Andretti	14
15	JR Hildebrand	Charlie Kimball	16
17	Juan Pablo Montoya	Tony Kanaan	18
19	Sebastien Bourdais	Ed Carpenter	20
21	Gabby Chaves	Max Chilton	22
23	Sage Karam	Conor Daly	24
25	Pippa Mann	Graham Rahal	26
27	Matt Brabham	Bryan Clauson	28
29	Spencer Pigot	Stefan Wilson	30
31	Jack Hawksworth	Buddy Lazier	32
33	Alex Tagliani

Drivers to Watch

Josef Newgarden

The globe won't hear much about Josef Newgarden out of the second pole slot thanks to the incredible story of the man in front of him: James Hinchcliffe.

It's not a reason to sleep on Newgarden, though.

Newgarden has posted consistent outings as of late; he not only slotted second in qualifying but managed a pair of top-six finishes over his past four outings. He took to Instagram to stress his team's preparation for Sunday:

At just 25 years old, Newgarden has an impressive story as well, posting his best career finish at this event by coming in ninth place last year.

This year, he's suiting up for Ed Carpenter Racing, and recent momentum added to growing experience suggests he'll give the top names a major run for the checkered flag.

Juan Pablo Montoya

The legendary Juan Pablo Montoya starting 17th is a tad misleading.

Montoya had a slight issue with a trash bag on the track during qualifying, according to Jeff Gluck of USA Today. But he's still the same driver who has won two of these epic events and enters Sunday gunning for a third after placing ninth or better in every IndyCar event this year.

ESPN.com's PJ Walsh explained why Montoya's starting slot isn't a major concern:

Montoya, the defending Indy 500 champion, ran over a trash bag during his initial qualifying run, forcing the driver to abort the attempt. IndyCar granted Montoya a second attempt because of the "extenuating circumstances", but unbeknownst to the team, the bag had somehow cracked the wing on Montoya's car, slowing him to a 17th place run in qualifying.

Few drivers can win from anywhere on the grid, but one only has to look to last year to understand Montoya is one of the rare few. In 2015, he started 15th and still captured the checkered flag.

Although he's two slots deeper this time due to an oddity, Montoya cannot go ignored Sunday.

James Hinchcliffe

What a ride it has been for Hinchcliffe.

He looked poised to seize victory last year given his form going into the race, but he suffered a near-fatal wreck. A piece of suspension punctured his leg, which required medical personnel to give him 14 pints of blood before even getting him to the hospital, according to Rachel Cohen of the Associated Press.

So yes, it's great to see Hinchcliffe not only back on the track but leading the pack. Cavin's colleague, Gregg Doyel, put it best:

James Hinchcliffe: What an ambassador for IndyCar. Smart, funny, humble. And the 2016 Indy 500 pole winner. More of this guy, please.

— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) May 22, 2016

Hinchcliffe earned the second spot on the grid last year before the accident, so it's clear he's continuing to post better numbers as he gets more experience on the track.

That said, the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer added some necessary perspective for what could be a feel-good story:

Not to rain on @Hinchtown's parade, but: Last time a pole-sitter won the #Indy500 was Castroneves in 2009. Hasn't happened in 6 years.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) May 22, 2016

If there's a guy who will buck the trends and take the checkered flag, though, one has to think it would be Hinchcliffe.

While far from the only storyline Sunday, Hinchcliffe's personal battle makes him the top driver to watch.

Stats and information courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com unless otherwise specified. Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 Sunday has few equals in the sporting realm.

It's not just the fast pace, risky overtakes and ever-evolving aerodynamics of the sport. The athletes involved—from James Hinchcliffe's comeback story to Ed Carpenter's legendary status—make for a deep and entertaining field.  

Qualifying was proof enough. The action was intense and came down to milliseconds to form the official starting grid,  from which each driver will then trek the 500 miles in search of a checkered flag.

Here's a look at the official grid:

Pole Position	Driver	Driver	Pole Position
1	James Hinchcliffe	Josef Newgarden	2
3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Townsend Bell	4
5	Carlos Munoz	Will Power	6
7	Mikhail Aleshin	Simon Pagenaud	8
9	Helio Castroneves	Oriol Servia	10
11	Alexander Rossi	Takuma Sato	12
13	Scott Dixon	Marco Andretti	14
15	JR Hildebrand	Charlie Kimball	16
17	Juan Pablo Montoya	Tony Kanaan	18
19	Sebastien Bourdais	Ed Carpenter	20
21	Gabby Chaves	Max Chilton	22
23	Sage Karam	Conor Daly	24
25	Pippa Mann	Graham Rahal	26
27	Matt Brabham	Bryan Clauson	28
29	Spencer Pigot	Stefan Wilson	30
31	Jack Hawksworth	Buddy Lazier	32
33	Alex Tagliani

It's all about Hinchcliffe this year—and not because he won the pole.

He looked great last year in practice before a near-fatal wreck. 

"My last memory of the Speedway last year was a great one: I was driving around, my car felt good, and life was peachy," Hinchcliffe said, according to Rachel Cohen of the Associated Press.

As Cohen went on to point out, Hinchcliffe required 14 pints of blood while being transported to the hospital, so one can understand not only the hype for his return this weekend but his surefire contender status after putting on a show in qualifying.

While on the topic of qualifying, Hinchcliffe has some serious competition close to him right out of the gates thanks to Ryan Hunter-Reay. The winner in 2014 dominated practices this week, even besting the field in speed for an entire day, per Chris Hagan of Fox 59.

Not far behind those two sits Will Power. Improving finishes over the past three seasons (19th, eighth and second) has Power looking like a threat to steal the show.

Other notables are spread throughout the grid, though none is more important than Juan Pablo Montoya. Last year's winner is a force, as he is looking to win his third event and cement himself in history.

The task is tough, though, because Montoya has to start 17th after a controversial qualifying run ruined by a trash bag on the track, which is a lot more dangerous than it sounds when your car is gunning down the track at 230 mph.

“That was scary,” Montoya said, according to Jeff Gluck of USA Today. "There’s really one line there, especially when you’re in that trim in qualifying. So I just hit it flat, thinking it’s not going to do anything.”

If somebody can overcome the odds and make history, it's a driver as talented as Montoya. 

Speaking of history, though, this year's event is not only sold out, but the blackout at Indianapolis Motor Speedway also got lifted, which means it will make the rare live appearance on television in Indiana, as Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star detailed:

Wow news from @curtcavin: IMS blackout lifted after Indy 500 sellout https://t.co/vrWbKOTM8t

— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) May 25, 2016

The festivities start at noon Sunday on ABC.

Long story short, this isn't an event to miss. Not only is it one of the most entertaining sports around, but the names involved, epic storylines and the ever-increasing popularity capable of getting it in front of a live audience demand attention.

Just don't blink.

Stats and information courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com unless otherwise specified. Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

In what looks to be one of the most competitive fields ever, the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place this Sunday and could also be one of the most memorable based on the latest betting odds at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

Five drivers are listed at odds of 7-1 or less, led by two favorites who have never won the race in Will Power and Simon Pagenaud, who are both 6-1.

Defending champion Juan Pablo Montoya is also at 6-1, followed by two other former winners, Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves, at 13-2. Montoya won the Indy 500 as a rookie in 2000 and followed that up with his second career victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year. The 40-year-old Colombian is one of just two Chevrolet drivers to take the checkered flag since Castroneves won it in 2002.

Castroneves won two straight years following Montoya’s first victory, while Dixon entered the winner’s circle for the first and only time in 2008.

Other former winners racing in the 2016 Indy 500 field include Buddy Lazier (1996), Tony Kanaan (2013) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014). Of that group, Lazier is the long shot at 100-1, mainly because he has gone the longest since winning it last.

Kanaan is 9-1 with Hunter-Reay 20-1, and two more drivers with similar odds on the betting board are pole-sitter James Hinchcliffe (12-1) and Josef Newgarden (12-1).

Hinchcliffe is the leading Canadian in this year’s Indy 500, and Newgarden is the top American. A Canadian has not won the race since Jacques Villeneuve in 1995. Hunter-Reay was the last American to win it and the lone driver representing the Stars and Stripes in the previous nine years. Four Americans won it in the 11 years before that.

In addition, Pippa Mann is the only woman in the Indy 500 field and the longest shot on the board at 150-1. Mann has competed in the race since 2011 but has never finished better than 20th.

Ironically, Danica Patrick’s last Indy 500 came in 2011, and she leads all women with six top-10 finishes in seven years, placing a career-best third in 2009.

James Hinchcliffe headlines the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.

He's not alone, of course, not with names such as Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya and Will Power in the running for the historic right to grab a checkered flag at Sunday's event.

Hinchcliffe's return from a life-threatening crash last year won't fade as the headline act going into the event. For bettors who are hoping to come out of it ahead, though, it's always worth taking a gander at the odds out of Las Vegas and digging deep to find a few worthwhile sleepers with big returns.

Here's a look at the odds with a few sleepers to know after the jump.

Indy 500 Odds

Driver	Odds
Will Power	6-1
Simon Pagenaud	6-1
Juan Pablo Montoya	6-1
Helio Castroneves	13-2
Scott Dixon	13-2
Tony Kanaan	9-1
James Hinchcliffe	12-1
Josef Newgarden	12-1
Sebastien Bourdais	16-1
Ryan Hunter-Reay	20-1

Full odds available at Odds Shark.

Sleeper Contenders

Ryan Hunter-Reay (20-1)

Ryan Hunter-Reay has already gone out of his way to prove these odds wrong thanks to his strong practice and qualifying runs.

He'll be close to the front of the pack when the event starts thanks to those strong performances, including besting the field last Wednesday, as Chris Hagan of Fox 59 noted:

Ryan Hunter-Reay's 228.202mph holds up the entire day to top the speed chart. Teammate Carlos Munoz was 2nd quick followed by Will Power.

— Chris Hagan (@ChrisHaganIndy) May 18, 2016

It's no surprise to see Hunter-Reay performing so well at the track after he won it all back in 2014.

In fact, last year's 15th slot was a hiccup considering he had put together a pair of top-three finishes the two years prior. Since he's already running well and comes with a decent payout here, it's hard to ignore Hunter-Reay.

J.R. Hildebrand (33-1)

Bettors might not love the idea of J.R. Hildebrand, a guy who spends much of his time in the Formula Drift series. 

But since 2014, Hildebrand has improved in this event, finishing 10th and then eighth last year. And he now sounds as if he hopes another strong performance in Sunday's event will lead to a full-time gig.

"I've had some leads on a full-time ride, but it just hasn't completely panned out yet. I think we're going to keep moving closer in that direction until it all comes together," Hildebrand said, according to Autoweek's Matt Weaver.

Steady improvement is always something bettors should look for alongside experience, which Hildebrand also has thanks to a second-place finish in 2011. It sure wouldn't hurt for bettors to get over the hump with him.

Charlie Kimball (40-1)

Charlie Kimball is an interesting name who is not getting enough coverage despite some impressive numbers.

For example, he has three top-10 finishes under his belt in five career runs at the Indy 500. And this year he's been on a roll, most recently posting back-to-back top-nine finishes while never finishing worse than 12th. He sits sixth in the standings.

Kimball seems close, and he also has an interesting story as a driver with diabetes.

"Physically, I don’t know if it’s any harder (on me) than the other drivers," said Kimball, according to Mike Brudenell of the Detroit Free Press. "I just have to work more and try and be prepared, and that’s getting the right nutrition and making sure I have the right balance of protein and carbs and stay hydrated."

After a third-place finish last year, Kimball looks ready to strike a checkered flag off his list of goals. Las Vegas doesn't seem to agree, but that could be a good thing. 

Ed Carpenter (50-1)

Is this the year Ed Carpenter gets back in contention?

Las Vegas doesn't think so, and it's hard to argue when you consider Carpenter has finished 27th and 30th over his past two outings at the event.

Still, Carpenter finished 10th in 2013, and there's nothing like experience to help a veteran stay in contention. He's going into Indy 500 No. 13 and won the pole in 2013 and 2014. PaddockTalk.com provided his thoughts on this weekend:

I've got a great car. That's as well of handling car as when I had the pole here. It just doesn't want to go fast this week. We'll hope for a little more speed next week but the handling is certainly there so I think we'll have what it takes to get to the front in the race. We'll have to pass more cars and be a little more aggressive than what I had anticipated earlier in the race.

Starting 12th Sunday, Carpenter could put his wealth of experience to use by sticking around and then making a late push. For those who are searching for a major payout, Carpenter sounds like he is ready to push his car to the limit.

Stats and information courtesy of IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com unless otherwise specified. Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.