I picked the Indy 500 winner last year, check out the IndyStar picks for 2024
INDIANAPOLIS — Pay attention!
The IndyStar crew had its best year predicting the results of the Indianapolis 500 in recent memory in 2023, so if you want to know what's going to happen, you have come to the right place.
Trending reporter Scott Horner and intern Tyler Tachman were within 9 spots of picking the top three. Horner had Santino Ferrucci (third), Marcus Ericsson (second) and Rinus VeeKay (10th); Tachman had Alex Palou (fourth), Takuma Sato (seventh) and Ericsson (second). But neither is our winner.
IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel was off by a mere six spots — Ferrucci (third), Palou (fourth) and Alexander Rossi (fifth). But he's not our winner.
The winner is ...
Me.
I predicted Josef Newgarden's win. It doesn't matter that I picked Pato O'Ward (24th) second and Scott Dixon (sixth) third. You pick the winner, you win the picks.
Here are IndyStar's predictions for the 2024 Indianapolis 500.
What to know: When is Indy 500 2024 start time? What to know from schedule, TV blackout, race time, more
2024 Indy 500 predictions
Nathan Brown, motorsports insider
1. Josef Newgarden: The defending winner’s car was fast all practice week, and what may be more important, in comparison to the two drivers below still looking for their first IndyCar oval wins, is he’s done this before. That experience — along with a fiery ‘win-at-all-costs’ — will make the difference Sunday. 2. Colton Herta: Herta’s No. 26 Honda looked supremely race-y during Monday's practice, but with a car that likely won’t be set up to run nearly as well at the front after starting 13th, it’ll be one thing to get up near the lead for the final stint. Coming out on top will be another task entirely. 3. Scott McLaughlin: A reliable driver whenever he and the Thirsty 3s start up-front, McLaughlin will be in the mix all day, but ultimately this year will prove to be another learning lesson in just his first opportunity to seriously factor into the conversation on race day.
Gregg Doyel, columnist
1. Alexander Rossi: Nobody’s better than Rossi when he’s angry, and he’s GOOD and angry with Team Penske. 2. Will Power: RoboDriver scares me, so I’m putting him here. Plus he’s really good. 3. Kyle Larson: What. Say something.
Dana Hunsinger Benbow
1. Will Power: The senior member of Team Penske has a 2018 Indy 500 victory under his belt as well as two IndyCar Series championships. He also has the second fastest qualifying attempt in his Chevrolet at 233.917 mph. If there ever was a year for this 43-year-old veteran, this is it. 2. Scott Dixon: Also 43, Dixon is long overdue for his second Indy 500 win. His first came in 2008 and he's been a legitimate contender since. Driving a Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, Dixon will prove that experience on the track matters. 3. Scott McLaughlin: I'm going with the Indy 500 pole sitter as an easy third place finisher with his 234.220 average qualifying speed over four laps, the best for a pole sitter in race history.
Grace Hollars, photographer
1. Scott McLaughlin: I’ve been watching him this season and I really think he has enough experience racing the oval, a good crew to nail down their strategy and a fast car that’ll put him on the Victory Podium on Sunday. 2. Scott Dixon: He’s raced this track enough he knows the game plan. I really don’t think you can ever really count him or Hélio Castroneves out. 3. Alexander Rossi: McLaren has him in a fast car. He’s gritty enough to stay up in the top 10 during the race and maybe make some moves to place in the top three. Really, I can see any McLaren car jumping in the top three.
Mykal McEldowney, photographer
1. Hélio Castroneves: The 5th win storyline is too good. I'd like to see him stand alone at the top. 2. Scott Dixon: It's hard to imagine Dixon not winning another Indianapolis 500. I just assume he's already a multiple 500 winner but that's just not the case ... yet. 3. Rinus VeeKay: There's something about the support he has from his family and the constant smile on his face that makes me feel like one of these years he's going to win this thing.
Scott Horner, trending writer
1. Santino Ferrucci: He has finished in the top 10, improving from his starting position, in all five of his Indy 500 starts. He starts 6th. 2. Scott McLaughlin: It would be silly to not include at least one of the Penske cars, and Will Power and Josef Newgarden already have Indy 500 wins. 3. Scott Dixon: His crew has shown some fuel strategy wizardry already this season, and maybe he can parlay an alternate pit strategy into something magical.
Clark Wade, videographer
1. Scott McLaughlin: McLaughlin has the fastest car and will have clean air at the start. It's possible he may run away with this one. 2. Kyle Larson: During practice, he turned the fastest lap at 234.271 mph, demonstrating his speed and adaptability on the track. Keep an eye on him as he contends for a strong finish. 3. Alexander Rossi: Known for his fearless and aggressive driving style, I expected him to make a run in the last 10 laps.
Nate Atkins, sportswriter
1. Pato O'Ward: A year after leading for the most laps in this race, the 25-year-old will complete his IndyCar ascension by finishing the job this time around. 2. Scott McLaughlin: The New Zealander has the pole position without much debate and will fall just short of his childhood dream of winning. 3. Kyle Larson: Becoming the first driver to attempt "The Double" in a decade is a monstrous task, but NASCAR's Cup Series leader has a top-five pole position and the tutelage of Jeff Gordon and Tony Kanaan to bolster the best-ever IndyCar finish for a racer attempting this feat.
Nat Newell, sports editor
1. Alex Palou: He's the best driver in the series and the Indy 500 is long enough for him to win it after starting 14th. 2. Helio Castroneves: He'll come agonizingly close to a record fifth 500 win. 3. Kyle Larson: The NASCAR star has been impressive in his first IndyCar experience, always root for the story.
Kyle Smedley, intern
1. Scott McLaughlin: A boring pick, but the New Zealand native recently set the fastest time to secure pole position in history for a reason. 2. Alexander Rossi: This 2016 Indianapolis 500 winning Arrow McLaren driver has been driving with a chip on his shoulder, looking to knock off Team Penske any way he can. 3. Álex Palou: Although the Spaniard finished outside the Fast 12, the current leader in the 2024 IndyCar Series standings will earn a podium finish at the Indianapolis 500 for the third time in his career.
Zion Brown, intern
1. Alexander Rossi: The 2016 Indy 500 champion is starting in the front two rows for the first time since 2017 and is in prime position to become a two-time Indy 500 champ. 2. Scott McLaughlin: McLaughlin has established himself as one of the best on the IndyCar circuit, and the driver on the pole will have his first career Indy 500 podium finish. 3. Álex Palou: Last year's pole starter is starting outside of the top seven for the first time in his career, but Palou — who currently sits first in the IndyCar series standings — will get his second Indy 500 podium finish.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 2024 predictions by IndyStar staff
