Pictured: An IndyCar rain delay at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

Indy 500 weather forecast: Rain could delay Sunday’s race

Originally posted on Action Network | By PJ Walsh | Last updated 5/25/24

The wait for the 108th running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is almost over, well, if Indy 500 weather decides to cooperate.

The latest Indy 500 forecast is a wet one, with rain expected on Sunday.

With that said, the updated forecast doesn't suggest an automatic washout, so it's important to consider not only the chance of rain but also the timing of precipitation.

So let's dig into the updated Indy 500 forecast ahead of Sunday's race.

Indy 500 Weather Forecast

According to the National Weather Service, it's going to be wet and windy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday.

There's currently a 90% chance of rain with wind gusts touching 29 mph. Not great.

The hourly breakdown provides even more detail as there's a 44% chance of rain from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. ET, which then rockets up to 87% at 2 p.m. ET.

So, while the overall forecast looks wet, there is a scenario in which the Indy 500 could potentially get started, and if the rain happens to hold off an extra hour or two, past the half-way point.

Why does that matter?

The Indy 500 will be official once cars complete Lap 100.

And because Indianapolis Motor Speedway does not have lights, there is not an opportunity to start (or restart) the race once the sun sets.

Should the Indy 500 get postponed until Monday due to the rain, the Memorial Day forecast looks much more promising with just a 30% chance of rain throughout the day.

Live Indy 500 odds show Scott McLaughlin as the race favorite at +500, followed by Josef Newgarden (+550), Will Power (+650), Kyle Larson (+700) and Alexander Rossi (+1000).

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