Who won the Indy 500 in 2025? Full results, standings & highlights from the finish

The 109th Indy 500 was unforgiving for some, but it was pure bliss for Alex Palou on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Spaniard, a proven IndyCar Series winner looking to finally prove he can triumph on an oval, prevailed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to claim his first Indy 500 victory and the first for his home country.

Palou did not hold the lead for much of the race, which was ravaged by weather, wrecks, and caution flags over the first 110 laps, but the most consequential moment came when he made an aggressive move to pass Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps to go. Despite fuel and tire concerns, Palou never let Ericsson regain the lead. 

MORE: Indy 500 purse, payout breakdown

For the other 32 drivers, it was an all-around tough day. More than a quarter of the field didn't finish the race, with defending champion Josef Newgarden knocked out by a mechanical issue. Pit lane saw a series of bizarre events, including pole winner Robert Shwartzman running down his own pit team and Alexander Rossi bowing out after his car caught fire.

Kyle Larson was unable to complete "the double" after a wreck took him out as the race restarted following a caution flag, while Scott McLaughlin couldn't even start the race after spinning out during the pace lap. 

With only 24 drivers still standing by the final 15 laps, it was Palou who made the move that defined the day and earned a trip to the winner's circle. 

The Sporting News had you covered for all 200 laps and 500 miles. Here are the full results from the Indy 500 and all the key moments you might have missed.

Indy 500 results 2025

*Ericsson and Kirkwood finished P2 and P6, respectively. However, they were docked prize money and championship points after their cars were found to have used unapproved modifications in the post-race inspection.

Indy 500 live updates, results, highlights from 2025 race

(All times Eastern)

4:27 p.m. — ALEX PALOU WINS THE INDY 500! The race ends with a caution flag after a late wreck, but he was in control all the way after passing Ericsson with 14 laps to go. The 28-year-old Spaniard brings home his first Indy 500 win and a victory for Chip Ganassi Racin. 

ALEX PALOU WINS THE 109TH #INDY500 ON FOX! pic.twitter.com/zxtNreWZm4

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025

4:26 p.m. — Palou is in control with two laps to go! Ericsson has the best shot at him.

4:24 p.m. — With five laps to go, Palou leads Ericsson and Malukas. 

4:18 p.m. — Alex Palou makes his move and passes Ericsson with 14 laps to go. He's keeping close tabs on his fuel, with Ericsson in a better situation there, but Palou is in front. 

Another look at Alex Palou's pass for the lead in the #Indy500 on FOX! pic.twitter.com/StjFYThP1f

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025

4:15 p.m. — Ryan Hunter-Reay is OUT after his car stalled in pit lane. A devastating ending for the former leader.

4:11 p.m. — Ericsson is maintaining a lead just in front of Alex Palou and David Malukas with 23 laps to go. Pato O'Ward is lingering in fourth.

4:06 p.m. — Wow, Hunter-Reay stalls in pit lane. Meanwhile, Malukas is in pit lane and Marcus Ericsson is in the lead. 

4:01 p.m. — Daly reports he's struggling with a tire as his pace slows. Malukas pulls ahead of Daly, who is rapidly falling behind.

3:58 p.m. — Hunter-Reay leads, but there hasn't been too much separation between him, Daly and David Malukas as the Indy 500 closes in on 40 laps to go.

3:50 p.m. — Josef Newgarden is DONE for the day. There won't be a three-peat despite his best efforts to climb up from the back. 

There will be no three-peat. Josef Newgarden and the No. 2 team are done.#Indy500 on FOX pic.twitter.com/Hl8zwjLnZU

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025

3:43 p.m. — Christian Rasmussen has jumped in front, with Hunter-Reay now in third and Daly in fourth. 

3:42 p.m. — Ryan Hunter-Reay is back in front with 63 laps to go, with Daly in fifth. 

3:32 p.m. — With DeFrancesco in pit lane, hometown kid Conor Daly has taken the lead.

3:30 p.m. — Devin DeFrancesco is holding steady in the lead with 80 laps to go.

3:23 p.m. — Back to green with 90 laps to go, and Conor Daly quickly makes a move to get right near the leader. 

3:20 p.m. — It was NOT a crash, as Christian Rasmussen briefly lost control but gathered himself after some smoke came  up from under his tires. This caution should be brief. 

3:19 p.m. — The caution flag has been lifted...and we have a crash. The caution is back out. 

3:18 p.m. — The caution flag is about to be lifted.

3:13 p.m. — The Indy 500 is halfway over but remains under caution due to rain in the area. 105 laps down...

2:57 p.m. — We have ANOTHER crash, and this one knocks Kyle Larson out of contention for the double. He, Sting Ray Robb and Kyffin Simpson are all affected. It was Larson who spun himself out. 

Larson Simpson and Robb #Indy500 #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/0pfn4ZzGdJ

— Matt Archuleta (@indy44) May 25, 2025

2:56 p.m. — The green flag is back out, and Ryan Hunter-Reay leads the pack. 

2:54 p.m. — That's the end for Robert Shwartzman, who barrels into his own pit crew and sustains damage. A brutal ending for the rookie who started in pole position. One of Shwartzman's crew members is injured and being wheeled off. 

Shwartzman 🎳 !!!!!! #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/T1X6Kl1rcg

— Au Rupteur (@AuRupteur) May 25, 2025

2:43 p.m. — Now Rinus Veekay spins out of control in pit lane. He says he lost his brakes, and he's done for the day as well. That's four drivers already out of the race, which is back under caution. 

VEEKAY SPINS ON PIT LANE 😬

The #Indy500 is currently under caution on Lap 87. pic.twitter.com/5vDzhFPfyJ

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 25, 2025

2:42 p.m. — Josef Newgarden is already up to 10th after starting from the back.

2:38 p.m. — Wow, Rossi's car goes up in flames in pit lane and fire extinguishers are out. The green flag remains out with the situation isolated, but Rossi's day is done after an early lead.

And now the car catches fire after a fuel spill. Alexander Rossi is out. pic.twitter.com/zPaUSQopTw

— Vincent Bruins 🧡 (@VincentJBruins) May 25, 2025

2:37 p.m. — Alexander Rossi's car appears to be either smoking or steaming, and Alex Palou is dealing with the brunt of it behind him. Rossi is in pit lane.

2:30 p.m. — Colton Herta is penalized for speeding on pit road. Sato, meanwhile, remains in front as he aims for a third Indy 500 win.

2:24 p.m. — Takuma Sato is in front as the race crosses the quarter mark at 50 laps.

2:16 p.m. — Now Jack Harvey holds the lead as Rossi pits on lap 43. 

2:15 p.m. — A much quieter stretch here than the beginning, and the result is Rossi holding strong in the lead through 43 laps. 

2:08 p.m. — Christian Rasmussen takes the lead out of the restart but is passed by Alexander Rossi. We're 34 laps in and hoping for green for the foreseeable future.

1:50 p.m. — Light rain has brought the race back under caution...

1:42 p.m. — The Indy 500 is back in the green at lap No. 10, and now this race can truly begin. 

1:35 p.m. — We have another crash: Marco Andretti gets hit by Jack Harvey and brings the race back under caution just seconds after the green flag. A brutal start. 

Already lots of drama on a chillier than usual day for the #Indy500. Marco Andretti gets into a wreck shortly after green, similar to his race back in 2009.
.
Shades of the 1992 race so far. pic.twitter.com/n3xw2BrH8u

— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) May 25, 2025

1:32 p.m. — Here's a look at what became of McLaughlin's car. His day is done. The race is under caution already.

Oh My. Scott McLaughlin has a had a wreck on the pace lap, reminiscent of Roberto Guerrero’s wreck as the pole sitter in 1992. Such a bummer for someone who was in position to compete for the win. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/QzYdpUiXhb

— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) May 25, 2025

1:31 p.m. — Dixon actually wasn't even involved with McLaughlin, as replay shows McLaughlin was just warming up his tires when he lost control and barreled into the wall. 

1:27 p.m. — We have a crash in warmups! Scott McLaughlin's day is done before it even begins, and he's devastated. Scott Dixon, meanwhile, is smoking, but the broadcast reports his team believes he can keep going. 

Scott McLaughlin has crashed during pace laps. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/HghGfwySYN

— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) May 25, 2025

1:23 p.m. — Roger Penske just delivered the "drivers, start your engines" call, and Tom Brady is off and running with Jimmie Johnson before the pace lap. 

1:14 p.m. — There is still no start time for the Indy 500, but it isn't expected to be much longer. 

1:05 p.m. — It's visibly brighter in Indianapolis and rain appears to have stopped, so it's just a matter of getting the track in good shape. 

1:00 p.m. — Well, we are delayed at the Indy 500 due to light rain. The weather isn't nearly as bad as it was last year, but the race is in a holding pattern. Kyle Larson's attempt at "the double" is also in danger. 

12:53 p.m. — ...Still minutes away from the start.

12:40 p.m. — Just minutes away from the Indy 500 as a little bit of scattered rain passes through Indianapolis. 

12:36 p.m. — Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez deliver their command as the honorary starters at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

12:27 p.m. — Natalie Grant is performing the national anthem with less than 20 minutes until the start of the race.

12:22 p.m. — The pre-race prayer included the line, "God bless our Pacers," as the Pacers prepare for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight.

12:15 p.m. — We're about 30 minutes from the official start of the Indy 500 as Josef Newgarden tries to go back-to-back-to-back. "America the Beautiful" was just performed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

11:55 a.m. — Tom Brady is suited up...and still not well liked in Indianapolis.

Hear the boos when Tom Brady was announced at the Indianapolis 500! pic.twitter.com/hgyKSNYmP1

— 1075 The Fan (@1075thefan) May 25, 2025

11:20 a.m. — Kyle Larson is again attempting to complete "the double" and race in both the Indy 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 today. While there is some rain in the forecast in Charlotte, a fine weather day in Indianapolis should make the feat more doable for Larson this year.

11:10 a.m. — Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is part of Fox's Indy 500 coverage, and he's certainly staying on brand.

“I feel like I’m at home because I absolutely OWN the Colts!” Let’s check back in with @RobGronkowski at the @Indy500SnakePit.#Indy500: 12:30p ET on FOX! pic.twitter.com/gDe4sCd6lG

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025

11:05 a.m. — Mario Andretti is among the greats at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of the race.

The LEGENDS are here.#Indy500: 12:30p ET on FOX! pic.twitter.com/r4gKi29dxM

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025

MORE INDY 500 NEWS:

• Why does the Indianapolis 500 winner drink milk?
• Why is Indianapolis Motor Speedway called the Brickyard? 
• Updated list of past Indy 500 champions, most wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

How to watch the Indy 500

• Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Fox
• Live streams: Fox Sports App | Fubo

Coverage of the 2025 Indy 500 begins at 10 a.m. ET on Fox, which picks up broadcasting rights for the race this year after a long stint on NBC.

Drivers will be introduced at 11:47 a.m., with the national anthem scheduled for 12:18 p.m. and the "start your engines" command set for 12:38 p.m. Seven minutes later, the green flag will be waved to start the race.

Those hoping to watch the race can find it on Fox. It will also be streamed on the Fox Sports App with a cable subscription and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Indy 500 starting grid

The complete starting lineup for this year's Indy 500 lineup: