The sixth race of the 2023 IndyCar Series is upon us as we prepare for the 106th Indy 500 race in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday May 28th.
The season is wide open right now with five different winners in the opening races of the season, but it's Alex Palou who comes into this race on pole position after winning the last race in the GMR Grand Prix.
We'll look ahead to the race and provide you with our best free IndyCar picks to see if we can earn you some extra cash to claim while watching a fun motor race.
| Indy Series 2023 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Palou | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Scott Dixon | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Pato O'Ward | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Takuma Sato | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Alexander Rossi | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
Remember that these bookies offer plenty of betting bonuses and promotions.
Indy 500 information
- Sunday, May 28th 2023
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
- 12:45 ET start time
- 500 miles
- 200 laps
Indy 500 favorites
Below you'll find a list of the favorites to win the 2023 Indy 500 IndyCar race.
Alex Palou - (+700)
Of all the Indy Car Series young guns in the running this season, no one is under the radar more than Scott Dixon's teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing, Alex Palou.
The Spaniard not only is learning under the tutelage of Dixon, but also Tony Kanaan (18-1), the 2013 Indy 500 winner and 2004 IndyCar Series Champion, who is running just the ovals this year as seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson drives the 48 on the road and street courses.
Palou is not all that experienced on the ovals but did finish fourth and seventh at the two Texas races last month. He was the fastest on the grid in the final practice in race trim for Sunday's post-qualifying session and has secured pole position for the race.
He won the most recent race too, and will be pushing hard to become the first person to win multiple races this season. He's our IndyCar Indy 500 pick for the race.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
Scott Dixon - (+750)
Dixon is no stranger to the Indy 500. He won the event in 2008 and is a powerhouse for Chip Ganassi Racing.
In 2020, Dixon dominated the Indy 500 for most of the race but finished second under caution behind Takuma Sato. Many believe he would’ve won because Sato didn’t have enough fuel to finish. However, the caution flag would change the course of history and meant he wasn't allowed to overtake.
Dixon was dominating the race again during the 2022 race and became the all-time leader in laps led in the Indy 500. However, an untimely penalty would cost him the win. This would send Dixon to the back of the field, and he finished 21st, yet again altering history.
Many believe that with a solid game plan, Dixon could be the Indy 500 champion for the second time in his career and it would be duly deserved. Dixon starts the race in 6th place and he clearly loves the track and has the skills to get himself into a winning position, so at this price it would be mad not to take a look at him and have a flutter.
Check out our review for BetUS sports betting here.
Pato O'Ward - (+800)
Pato O’Ward is still in the early days of his IndyCar Series career. However, he’s now a rising star competing in his fourth season with Arrow McLaren. O’Ward so far has four career victories in the IndyCar Series, but the Indianapolis 500 has so far eluded him and this would easily be the biggest victory of his young career.
O'Ward has shown that he is more than capable of competing at the highest level and that he has got a bright future ahead of him. O’Ward is also off to a great start in 2023, finishing runner-up in St. Petersburg, Fort Worth and most recently in the Grand Prix on May 13.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
Takuma Sato - (+900)
This legendary driver is 46-years-old and still going, and will be looking to secure his third career Indy 500 victory in 2023.
Sato claimed his first win back in 2017 at the eighth attempt, having never finished higher than 13th prior to that. He then claimed a third-placed finish two years later and got a second victory the following year in 2020.
This year he has really struggled to find his best form and finished in 28th place in his only other race this season, so coming into the Indy 500 without much practice won't be the best preparation.
He will start the race in 8th place on the grid, and with the lack of real pace in his car it will be super tough for him to come out on top.
His name and legendary status mean his odds are pretty short, but realistically this is probably a bet to avoid, despite him being among only nine previous winners of this race.
