Indy 500: 108th race postponed due to weather, Kyle Larson's “double” attempt in danger; live updates

There were many warnings that there would be thunderstorms at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway just before the scheduled green flag, and indeed they are here. The start of the 108th running of “motorsport's greatest spectacle” is postponed indefinitely until the track has dried and the danger of lightning has passed.

Here's what you need to know before the weekend in Speedway, Indiana:

How to watch the 2024 Indy 500?

The Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live on Sunday, May 26 on NBC, Peacock, the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com.

Pre-race show: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
Race coverage: 12:30pm – 4pm ET (Green Flag at 12:45pm ET)

News and storylines about the Indy 500

The dominant theme during the “Month of May” at the Speedway is Kyle Larson's attempt to do “the double” — run the combined 600 laps and 1,100 miles of the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in one day. Weather could thwart that endeavor (more on that later), but if he starts both races, he would be only the fifth driver to ever accomplish that feat.

Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports wrote earlier this week about the key storylines from the Indy 500, including:

• Team Penske aims for 20th victory: The series and speedway owner has an impressive trophy collection and, after taking all three front row spots this year, has an excellent chance of making it 20 race wins.

• Honda’s challenge for Chevrolet: Chevys took the top eight spots in qualifying and had a clear advantage when the engines were at full throttle. Can a race-spec Honda knock them off their throne?

• Previous winners in the field: This year, eight former winners are in contention, including four-time winner Helio Castroneves. The Brazilian legend could break the record for most wins at the event, moving above AJ Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser.

Top drivers and odds for the 2024 Indy 500

Defending champion Josef Newgarden starts third and has the best odds for the weekend at 5:1, according to BetMGM.

Best chances of winning
Joseph Newgarden +500
Scott McLaughlin +550
Kyle Larson +675
Willpower +700
Alexander Rossi +800
Pato O’Ward +850

The six top favorites come from either the Penske or Arrow McLaren stable, with Indy 500 rookie and current NASCAR Cup Series leader Kyle Larson boasting a moneyline of +675 ahead of his first IndyCar start.

What are the traditions of the Indy 500?

Since it is the longest continuously running auto race in the United States (started in 1911), numerous traditions have developed over the years. The most famous are:

• Singing “Back Home Again in Indiana” immediately before the order to start the fire trucks.

• The Gordon Pipers bagpipe group from Indianapolis plays the Borg-Warner Trophy on the race track before the race and then carries the winner into Victory Lane.

• Starting grid with three cars wide (as opposed to the usual two-car width in all other races).

• Winner kisses the three-foot-tall bricks that mark the finish line of the race track (which was actually built after Dale Jarrett won NASCAR's Brickyard 400 in 1996).

• The winner drinks (or pours over himself) a liter of milk of his choice: whole milk, 2% or skimmed milk.

• The winner will receive a wreath with 33 orchids representing the 33 participating cars.

Starting grid for the 2024 Indy 500

1. Scott McLaughlin (3), Team Penske Chevrolet, 234.220 mph

2. Will Power (12), Team Penske Chevrolet, 233.917 mph

3. Joseph Newgarden (2), Team Penske Chevrolet, 233.808 mph

4. Alexander Rossi (7), Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, 374.967 km/h

5. Kyle Larson (17), Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, 232.846 mph

6. Santino Ferrucci (14), AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet, 232.692 mph

7. Rinus Veekay (21), Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, 232.610 mph

8. Pato O'Ward (5), Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, 232.584 mph

9. Felix Rosenqvist (60), Meyer Shank Racing Chevrolet, 232.305 mph

10. Takuma Sato (75), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, 232.171 mph

11. Kyle Kirkwood (27), Andretti Global Honda, 23.993 mph

12. Ryan Hunter-Reay (23), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports Chevrolet, 230.567 mph

13. Colton Herta (26), Andretti Global/Curb-Abajanian Honda, 232.316 mph

14. Alex Palou (10), Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, 232.306 mph

15. Callum Ilott (6), Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, 232.230 mph

16. Marcus Armstrong (11), Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, 232.017 mph

17. Ed Carpenter (20), Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, 232.017 mph

18. Kyffin Simpson (4), Chip Ganasi Racing Honda, 231.948 mph

19. Marco Andretti (98), Andretti Herta/Marco & Curb-Abajanian Honda, 231.890 mph

20. Helio Castroneves (06), Meyer Shank/urb-Abajanian Honda, 231.871 mph

21. Scott Dixon (9), Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, 231.851 mph

22. Agustin Canapino (75), Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, 231.847 mph

23. Sting Ray Robb (41), AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet, 231.826 mph

24. Christian Rasmussen (33), Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, 372.486 km/h

25. Tom Blomquist (66), Meyer Shank Racing Honda, 231.578 mph

26. Romain Grosjean (77), Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, 372.46 km/h

27. Linus Lundqvist (8), Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, 231.506 mph

28. Christian Lundgaard (45), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, 231.465 mph

29. Conor Daly (24), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports Chevrolet, 231.243 mph

30. Pietro Fittipaldi (30), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, 231.100 mph

31. Katherine Legge (51), Dale Coyne Racing Honda, 230.092 mph

32. Marcus Ericsson (28), Andretti Global Honda, 370.466 km/h

33. Graham Rahal (15), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, 229,974

Weather forecast for the Indy 500 2024

This is not a pretty look. Thunderstorms are forecast for Sunday with a 62% chance of rain, posing a major threat to Kyle Larson's attempt to drive all 1,100 miles in one day. Any significant green flag delay for the Indy 500 would likely result in Larson flying to his “day job”: driving Hendrick Racing's No. 5 Chevrolet in the series he won in 2021.

“Yeah, it doesn't look very promising for Indy on Sunday. … If it's supposed to rain, I hope it rains all day,” Larson told reporters earlier this week. “That way it can just be pushed back to Monday or something, and then it doesn't rain in Charlotte, I just hope it doesn't rain, and we can get it done Sunday night and then come here on Monday.”