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LIVE: 2024 Indy 500 race updates, leaders, crashes, rain watch from IMS

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LIVE: 2024 Indy 500 race updates, leaders, crashes, rain watch from IMS

The 108th Indianapolis 500 is here! Thirty-three drivers will take the green flag at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in search of the checkered flag, getting their likeness etched on the Borg-Warner trophy and a champion’s blue jacket.

Scott McLaughlin is the pole-sitter, leading an all-Team Penske front row that includes 2018 race winner Will Power and defending race champion Josef Newgarden. NASCAR Cup points leader Kyle Larson is trying to race here (where he starts fifth) and in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Helio Castroneves is trying to become the first five-time race champion.

Here is the complete 33-car starting grid and more about the Indy 500 drivers and teams.

Nathan Brown is your best follow for all things Indy 500 and IndyCar. Stay here for updates, highlights and crashes, and please remember to refresh.

LET’S HAVE SOME FUN: Indy 500 coverage from Snake Pit, Coke Lot and more

LIVE LEADERBOARD: Here’s the race running order

With lightning expected in the Speedway area, track officials ask fans to seek shelter.

Doug Boles anticipates rain arriving at IMS between noon-12:30 p.m.

He says the biggest concern is lightning, and would ask fans to leave grandstands by 11:15 a.m. if lightning is approaching the Speedway, and all on-track festivities would stop. The same would apply to the Snake Pit concert.

“It’s really a challenging day for us,” he said. “No matter what the decision is, it will be a difficult one.”

He adds that fans would be allowed to leave the Speedway and re-enter, which is different from usual protocol.

If the storm tracks the way he anticipates, Boles said track drying could begin between 2:30-3 p.m., with plans to get the race in.

IndyStar’s Nathan Brown says on the “Pit Pass Live” preview show that Rick Hendrick, Kyle Larson’s NASCAR Cup team owner, has given the OK for Larson to stay in Indianapolis in case rain delays or interrupts for Indy 500. A relief driver would take over Larson’s car in the Coca-Cola 600, which scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET start in Charlotte, N.C.

More: Larson will drive Indy 500 over NASCAR Cup race if weather dictates

Gavin Ward, team principal for Arrow McLaren, which is fielding Larson’s car, said on the prerace show that Hendrick is “committed” to Larson’s Indy 500 participation if at all possible.

IMS President Doug Boles says on the “Pit Pass Live” preview show that biggest challenge facing race fans will be lightning.

“It’s a challenge and there’s no good answer,” he said.

Boles said that in a break from a usual race day, IMS officials will allow fans to leave the track and re-enter should weather delay or interrupt the race.

Rain could affect Kyle Larson’s effort to race the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola today. Boles loves the possibility, but “I haven’t thought about Kyle Larson at all.”

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IMS President Doug Boles on delays to 2024 Indy 500 as weather looms

IMS President Doug Boles discusses weather, potential delays to 2024 Indy 500

IMS President Doug Boles said early Sunday that track officials are watching approaching weather.

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