Indy 500 forecast improves for race's first broadcast on FOX

Severe Midwest storms target Indianapolis days ahead of the Indy 500 qualifiers, as some regions face a level 3/5 severe storm threat

FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne reports from Indianapolis ahead of the Indy 500 as parts of the Midwest face a storm threat.

INDIANAPOLIS – The 109th Indy 500 race is set for Sunday, and the weather forecast is improving a bit just in time for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

Widely known as one of the biggest races in the world, it will feature professional drivers facing off in front of a sold-out crowd of 350,000 people.

The FOX Forecast Center now anticipates a 15% chance of precipitation at 12:45 p.m. ET when the race is scheduled to begin.  Rain chances increase to 30% by 3 p.m. but precipitation is expected to be in the form of passing showers that should remain light enough to not trigger any racing delays, the FOX Forecast Center says. 

High temperatures will be in the upper 60s to low 70s, and cloudy skies will prevail throughout the day.

If, by chance, any showers did lead to a delay, it wouldn't be the first time. The race was delayed by four hours in 2024 because of severe weather in the area.

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INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 27:  Cars sit in pit lane during a rain delay at the IRL IndyCar Series 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27, 2007 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

(Darrell Ingham / Getty Images)

According to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there have only been seven instances of rain causing a shortened race. 

It happened most recently in 2007, when the race was reduced to 166 laps compared to the normal 200. The race was delayed for 2 hours, 57 minutes, because of precipitation falling during Lap 113. It was officially over once the rain started again, resulting in the stoppage of the race at the 415-mile mark.

Be sure to tune into this year’s big race, airing for the first time on FOX Sports.