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Here’s How to Watch the Indy 500 Live For Free to See the Greatest Spectacle in Racing

Rev your engines!

By Monica Mercuri

Monica Mercuri

Watch ‘Indy 500’

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The Indy 500 is also a cultural and entertaining event, from the Carb Day concert to the giant balloon release. Over the years, beloved traditions have also formed at the race, including singing “Back Home Again in Indiana” and the winner drinking milk in Victory Lane.

The competition is traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend and is part of the coveted Triple Crown alongside the Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix. In 2023, Josef Newgarden won the Indianapolis 500, narrowly beating 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson.

While hundreds of thousands of spectators watch the exciting race live, at the same time, millions of viewers are cheering on their favorite drivers at home. Read on to learn how to watch the Indy 500 live for free below.

When does the Indy 500 air?

The Indy 500 starts on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 11 a.m. Check out the full Indy 500 broadcast schedule on NBC here.

How to watch the Indy 500 live for free

The Indy 500 airs on NBC, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Peacock, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Peacock and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Peacock starts at $5.99 per month, while Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.

Best Overall Pick to Watch the Indy 500: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial

Watch ‘Indy 500’ With DirecTV Stream

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Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the Indy 500 for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first two months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $84.99 per month with the first two months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $159.99 per month.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Indy 500 with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.

Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching the Indy 500

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Indy 500: Fubo’s Free Trial

Watch ‘Indy 500’ With Fubo

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Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Indy 500 live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers two plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month; and Elite, which costs $89.99 per month.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Indy 500 with Fubo’s free trial.

Visit Fubo.TV
Click “Start Free Trial”
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching the Indy 500

Best Budget Pick to Watch the Indy 500: Peacock

Watch ‘Indy 500’ With Peacock

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Peacock is our best budget pick to watch the Indy 500 live for its price. Peacock offers two plans: Peacock Premium for $5.99 per month, and Peacock Premium Plus costs $11.99 per month.

As for the differences between the plans, Peacock Premium offers more than 80,000 hours of TV shows and movies including NBC and Peacock originals; live sports and events; current episodes of NBC and Bravo shows; and 50 live channels. Peacock Premium Plus offers everything included in Peacock Premium, as well as no ads; the ability to download and watch select titles offline; and 24/7 live access to your local NBC channel. To watch the Indy 500 live, fans will need Peacock Premium Plus. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Indy 500 with Peacock.

Visit PeacockTV.com
Click “Get Started”
Select your plan
Enter your information and payment method
Navigate to NBC and start watching the Indy 500

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Indy 500: Hulu+ Live TV

Watch ‘Indy 500’ With Hulu+ With Live TV

$68.99+

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Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Indy 500 based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Indy 500 with Hulu+ Live TV.

Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
Click “Sign Up Now”
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching the Indy 500

What is the Indy 500 schedule for 2024?

What’s the schedule for the 2024 Indy 500? There are four days allocated for practice before the start of qualifying. All drivers complete a four-lap journey around the 10-mile track during the first qualifying day. The 12 fastest times proceed to the following day for another four laps, securing positions No. 1-12, while drivers ranking 13-30 advance to the main race in those respective positions. Cars outside the top 30 can compete for spots 31-33 in the Last Chance Qualifier if more than 33 cars are entered.

On the second day of qualifying, drivers in positions No. 1-12 undertake another four-lap run, with positions 7-12 securing those spots. The six fastest cars undergo another round, determining the starting order for the race. The fastest driver earns pole position along with a cash prize for clinching the No. 1 spot.

Tuesday, May 14 (opening day of practice)

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Gates Open
9:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. – Indianapolis 500 Oval Veterans Practice
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 ROP & Refreshers
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Practice

Wednesday, May 15 (Indianapolis 500 practice)

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Gates Open
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Practice

Thursday, May 16 (Indianapolis 500 practice)

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Gates Open
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Practice

Friday, May 17 (Fast Friday/Indianapolis 500 practice)

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Gates Open
12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Practice
6:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Qualification Draw

Saturday, May 18 (PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Day 1)

8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Gates Open
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Practice (Full Field)
11:00 a.m. – 5:50 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Qualifying

Sunday, May 19 (PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Day 2)

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Gates Open
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Practice: Top 12
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Practice: Last Chance Qualifiers
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500: Top 12 Qualifying
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Last Chance Qualifying
5:15 p.m. – 5:45 pp.m. – Firestone Fast Six

Monday, May 20 (Indianapolis 500 Practice)

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Gates Open
1:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Practice

Friday, May 24 (Miller Lite Carb Day)

8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Gates Open
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Practice
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Miller Lite Carb Day Concert

Saturday, May 25 (Legends Day Presented By Firestone)

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 pm – Gates Open
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Full-Field Autograph Session
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Public Drivers’ Meeting

Sunday, May 26 (Indianapolis 500 Presented By Gainbridge)

6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Gates Open
12:45 pm – 108th Indianapolis 500

Who is competing in the Indy 500 in 2024?

Who is competing in the Indy 500 in 2024? According to FloRacing.com, “The Indianapolis 500 features a field of 33 drivers, and they start the race in 11 rows of three cars. The participants, and their starting places on the track, are determined during a two-day qualifying process.” Check out the entrance list for the race below.