By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou took home $3.8 million as part of the spoils of winning the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
It was also the fourth consecutive year the total purse soared to a new record, with this year’s bankroll hitting $20,283,000 – the largest in the century-plus history of the event. The average payout for IndyCar Series drivers was $596,500, which exceeded last year’s average earnings of $543,000.
While it marked Palou’s first win in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the payout fell short of the amount Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden took home after victory last year. In 2024, when the total purse was $18,456,000, Newgarden claimed $4.3 million that included a $440,000 roll-over bonus from BorgWarner for earning back-to-back wins.
The 2023 edition of the Indy 500 featured a purse that was $17,021,500, with the winner earning $3.7 million. In 2022, the Indianapolis 500 purse was $16,000,200, with $3.1 million going to the winner. Prior to 2022, the largest Indianapolis 500 purse was $14.4 million for the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
“The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world, and winning this race makes history in more ways than one,” INDYCAR and IMS president J. Douglas Boles said. “The Month of May featured a grandstand sellout crowd and intense on-track action. Alex Palou adds Indianapolis 500 winner to his long list of growing achievements and takes home the largest purse in Indianapolis 500 history. There’s no better way to end an epic month.”
Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors went to pole-winner Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing. The 25-year-old Israeli-born driver earned a $50,000 bonus for being named Rookie of the Year, adding to a total take-home prize of $327,300.
Next up for North America’s premier open-wheel championship is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, June 1. The race will be broadcast live on FOX and the INDYCAR Radio Network at 12:30 p.m. ET.
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