2026 Indy 500 Time Schedule
The schedule for the 2026 edition of the Indy 500 runs this year from May 12 to May 24. On May 12, it’s ‘Opening Day', featuring the Rookie Orientation Program, refreshers and first official practice for veterans. After that, there will be three more practice days before qualifying takes place during the weekend of May 16 and 17. Following a practice session on Monday, May 18, teams will have their final opportunity to dial in their cars on ‘Carb Day,’ Friday, May 22.
The 110th edition of the Indianapolis 500 will start on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 12:45 PM Eastern Time (ET) / 9:45 AM Pacific Time (PT) / 5:45 PM Western European Time (WET) / 2:45 AM (May 26) Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
The 110th edition of the Indianapolis 500 will start on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 12:45 PM Eastern Time (ET) / 9:45 AM Pacific Time (PT) / 5:45 PM Western European Time (WET) / 2:45 AM (May 26) Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
The full provisional time schedule of the 2026 Indianapolis 500
| Tuesday May 13: Opening Day |
| Indianapolis 500 Practice |
 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT  5:00 PM - 7:00 PM WET  2:00 AM - 4:00 (May 14) AM AEST |
| Rookie Orientation Programm & Refreshers |
| 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM PT 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM WET 4:00 AM - 6:00 (May 14) AM AEST |
| Indianapolis 500 Practice |
| 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM PT 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM WET 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (May 14) AEST |
| Wednesday May 14: Practice day |
| Indianapolis 500 Practice |
| 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PT 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM WET 2:00 AM - 8:00 AM (May 15) AEST |
| Thursday May 15: Practice Day |
| Indianapolis 500 Practice |
| 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PT 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM WET 2:00 AM - 8:00 AM (May 16) AEST |
| Friday May 16: Fast Friday |
| Indianapolis 500 Fast Friday Practice |
| 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PT 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM WET 2:00 AM - 8:00 AM (May 17) AEST |
| Saturday Qualifying Order Draw |
| 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM ET 3:15 AM - 4:00 PM PT 11:15 PM - 12:00 AM WET 2:00 AM - 8:00 AM (May 17) AEST |
| Saturday May 17: PPG Armed Forces Qualifying - Day 1 |
| Free Practice |
| 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM ET 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM PT 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM WET 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM AEST |
| Saturday Qualifying |
| 11:00 AM - 5:50 PM ET 8:00 AM - 2:50 PM PT 4:00 PM - 10:50 PM WET 1:00 AM - 7:50 AM (May 18) AEST |
| Sunday May 18: PPG Armed Forces Qualifying - Day 2 |
| Free Practice for Top 12 Qualifying Participants |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM WET 3:00 AM - 4:00 AM (May 19) AEST |
| Free Practice for Last Chance Qualifying Participants |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM WET 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM (May 19) AEST |
| Top 12 Qualifying |
| 4:05 PM - 5:05 PM ET 1:05 PM - 2:05 PM PT 9:05 PM - 10:05 PM WET 6:05 AM - 7:05 AM (May 19) AEST |
| Last Chance Qualifying |
| 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM ET 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM PT 10:15 PM - 11:15 PM WET 7:15 AM - 8:15 AM (May 19) AEST |
| Firestone Fase Six Qualifying |
| 6:25 PM - 6:55 PM ET 3:25 PM - 3:55 PM PT 11:25 PM - 11:55 PM WET 8:25 AM - 8:55 AM (May 19) AEST |
| Monday May 19: Practice Day |
| Indianapolis 500 Practice |
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM WET 3:00 AM - 5:00 AM (May 20) AEST |
| Friday May 23: Miller Lite Carb Day |
| Warm-up Practice |
| 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM PT 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM WET 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM (May 24) AEST |
| Pitstop Challenge |
| 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM ET 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PT 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM WET 4:30 AM - 6:00 AM (May 24) AEST |
| Sunday May 25: Race Day |
| Start of the 109th Indianapolis 500 |
| 12:45 PM ET 9:45 AM PT 5:45 PM WET 2:45 AM (May 26) AEST |