Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

2025 Indy 500 hauls in biggest ratings in nearly twenty years

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones05/26/25brianjones_93

The 2025 Indy 500 was a ratings hit for FOX. The network announced that it got 7.050 million viewers for the Indy 500. That number is an increase from the 5.344 million viewers last year on NBC and Peacock, and it was the most-watched Indy 500 since 2008 (7.245 million).

Over seven million people watched Alex Palou win the Indy 500, holding off former Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Ericsson (who was later disqualified) over the final laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Palou is arguably the best driver in the IndyCar Series, winning three IndyCar titles in four years and posting five wins in his first six races this season.

“I cannot believe it,” Palou said after the race, per IndyCar.com. “It’s amazing to win. There were some moments that I felt really good in the race, but at the end, I didn’t know if I was going to able to pass Marcus or not, but I made it happen. First oval win. What a better place?”

Alex Palou and Kyle Larson talk about the 2025 Indy 500

Alex Palou also gave credit to his No. 10 Chip Ganassi team. “I think I get a lot of credit because you see that I’m the only one driving the car. But there’s a huge team behind that is making me look very good on track,” Palou said, per FOX Sports. “Whenever we’ve had the chance to win, we’ve been able to execute. And that’s taking into account not only the setup, but the strategies, the pit stops.

“I’ve been telling you guys that I know that this is not normal,” he added. “But I’m glad that it didn’t end (at Indy) and that we got the wave until the 500 at least.”

NASCAR star Kyle Larson competed in the Indy500 as he was attempting to finish that race and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening. “The Double” did not happen for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion as he wrecked on Lap 91 of the Indy 500.

“It was a bit crazy there on the start. I got really tight behind Takuma (Sato),” Larson told FOX after he left the infield care center. “I was really close to him. I got loose and then I kinda got all over the place and spun. Yeah, just hate … I got a little too eager there on the restart and caused that crash. Hate it for everybody that got caught up in it. Yeah, bummed out.”