Indianapolis 500 rookie Mick Schumacher will start the 2026 race from the outside of Row 9 after a 4-lap qualifying run at 229.450 mph on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. The 110th running takes place Sunday, May 24, 2026, with the green flag set
When the 4-lap qualifying run ended, Mick Schumacher’s number—47—was still in the frame, still moving fast enough to matter. He posted 229.450 mph on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and will start the 2026 Indy 500 from the outside of Row 9.
For Schumacher, a 27-year-old IndyCar driver from Gland, Switzerland, this is a new kind of pressure: the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 comes Sunday, May 24, 2026, and the green flag for the 200-lap race is scheduled to drop at 12:45 p.m. ET.
He drives for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and runs under a Honda engine. The grid slot is a lift in a season that still has him learning the rhythm of IndyCar at full speed. In 2026 IndyCar results, his best finish is 17th and he stands 25th in points.
Schumacher’s position on the starting lineup connects to the team that will have their eyes on his first steps in the Speedway’s signature test. Along with him at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing are Graham Rahal (car 15). Louis Foster (car 45). and Takuma Sato (car 75. Indianapolis 500 only). Schumacher is the Indy 500 rookie among them.
What the broadcast will sound like matters to the fans filling the stands long before the green flag. The Indianapolis 500 is on Fox, with Will Buxton as the play-by-play voice and analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell.
If you can’t watch live, the race is also available on SiriusXM. IndyCar Nation is on SiriusXM Channel 218, with IndyCar Live and the IndyCar Radio Network available through affiliates.
Outside the race itself. the season standings show where drivers stand right now—where Alex Palou leads with 237 points. followed by Kyle Kirkwood with 210. Christian Lundgaard and Josef Newgarden each have won races. alongside other winners including Alex Palou. Christian Lundgaard. Josef Newgarden. and Kyle Kirkwood. Mick Schumacher sits within that larger picture at 54 points.
The schedule keeps pushing forward even as the focus tightens on May 24: the next IndyCar races after Indianapolis are Sunday, May 31 at Detroit at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, June 7 at Madison, Illinois at 9 p.m., and Sunday, June 21 at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin at 2 p.m.
But for Schumacher, the attention starts where qualifying left it—on a row that puts him close enough to feel the moment, far enough back that mistakes could snowball. Row 9, outside lane, 229.450 mph as the calling card. Now comes the 200 laps.
Mick Schumacher 2026 Indy 500 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Indianapolis Motor Speedway qualifying Row 9 Honda IndyCar
Row 9?? That seems pretty bad for a “rookie” lol. Like why not qualify higher?
229.450 mph sounds made up honestly. My cousin said Indy qualifying is rigged anyway so idk.
Schumacher on a Honda engine is gonna be the downfall, mark my words. Also 4-lap run and “still moving fast enough” like okay so he almost crashed? Fox coverage will probably show 47 more than the others.
So Sunday May 24 12:45 ET… but Indy 500 is always like Memorial Day weekend, right? I’m confused. Either way outside of Row 9 means he’s basically mid-pack, and then they act like it’s pressure??