There are certain events that are so iconic that they transcend the sport to which they belomg. We are talking about events like the Super Bowl, the FIFA World Cup, and the Kentucky Derby. In the world of motor sports, there are few races as hyped as the Indianapolis 500. The 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 is almost upon us, with the IndyCar event set to go on Sunday, May 30th. The early odds are in, but you are probably going to want to keep checking in as the race approaches, as the prices you see now are not likely to remain the same. For now, let’s take a look at some of the favorites for the big race so you can bet against their IndyCar odds.
Really Early Indy 500 Odds | IndyCar Betting
Scott Dixon (+600)
It is perhaps no real surprise to see Scott Dixon in as the early favorite, as the man does nothing but win on a consistent basis. He has won 6 IndyCar world championships since 2008 and is always among the leaders in the years where he doesn’t win. For all that consistency, the Indianapolis 500 has eluded him, for the most part, which gives you an idea of just how unpredictable the race really is. Dixon won it in 2008, which was the year he won his first title, but he hasn’t won it since. There have been several podium finishes since then, so it would be a big mistake to count him out.
Alexander Rossi (+700)
You might look at the odds of some drivers in this race and wonder what the bookies are thinking. That would be the case with Alexander Rossi, as he has had a disappointing last couple of seasons and has started 2021 slowly, sitting down in 14th in the IndyCar driver standings. It’s not until you look at his history in this race that you begin to get a better idea of why he is among the favorites. Rossi won the Indy 500 in 2016, his first year in IndyCar, and went no worse than 7th in the next 3 years before having a rough ride last season. A dark horse pick for sure.
Josef Newgarden (+800)
It was a bit of an alarming start to the season for Josef Newgarden, as he went into the opening race of the year in Alabama and finished 23rd out of 24 drivers. Not the start you would expect from one of the most proficient drivers in IndyCar, but that performance proved to be a bit of an aberration. In the 4 races since opening week, he has not finished worse than 6th and has been on the podium twice, all of which has moved him up to 3rd in the driver standings. Newgarden has yet to win the Indy 500, but he has finished in the top 5 in each of the last 2 runs. That elusive first win may well come on May 30.
Simon Pagenaud (+900)
This is another driver who always seems to be in contention for a championship every single year, with his lone win coming in 2016. He only has a single podium finish this season, but he has also finished outside of the top 10 just once, so Pagenaud has been consistent. His performances at the Indy 500 are either brilliant or totally unforgettable, so you are looking at a bit of a coin flip here in terms of what you are going to get on May 30. He did win this race in 2019, so it’s best not to count him out.
