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Motorsport
Nick DeGroot

2026 Indy 500 purse is the largest in history, eclipsing $30 million

The purse for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is now the largest in history, increasing by over 50%, per IndyCar.

Last year, the Indy 500 purse was $20,283,000, and race winner Alex Palou took home $3.8 million. This year, the total purse rocketed up to $30,906,400 with newly crowned Indy 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist taking home $4.34 million.

“The Indianapolis 500 continues to make history, in more ways than one,” IndyCar and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The Month of May featured a back-to-back grandstand sellout crowd – our largest crowd since the 100th Running in 2016 – and intense on track action with the most lead changes ever in the Indy 500. Felix Rosenqvist added his name to the history books in stellar fashion, with the closest finish in Indy 500 history and now the largest purse. There’s no better end to a memorable month.”

Mick Schumacher won Rookie of the Year honors for this year's Indy 500 after finishing on the lead lap in 18th place -- higher than all other rookie challengers. He will take home $50,000 bonus for that, with a total of $218,800.

Here's a look at the purse money from recent years to see how it all compares:

2026: $30,906,400 total / $4.34 million to winner

2025: $20,283,000, / $3.8 million to the winner

2024: $18,456,000 / $4.3 million to the winner (including which $440,000 roll-over bonus for winning back-to-back)

2023: $17,021,500 / $3.7 million to the winner

2022: $16,000,200 / $3.1 million to the winner

The biggest purse in the years preceding that was $14.4 million back in 2008.

Photos from Indianapolis Race

60 IndyCar Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda, David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

General view

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Will Power, Andretti Global Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Race start

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Caio Collet, AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet, Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Tribute to Kyle Busch during Indy 500 race

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

General view

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Pre-race atmosphere

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

General view

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Indy 500 field

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Pre-race Atmosphere

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

A.J. Foyt

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Fans

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Borg-Warner Trophy

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Bobby Rahal

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Emerson Fittipaldi

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Fans

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Fireworks at day start

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Fireworks at day start

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Gasoline Alley

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda

Indianapolis 500 - Race day, in photos

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