How many laps make up the Indianapolis 500?

The Indianapolis 500 is made up of 200 laps.

Each lap circles the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile rectangular oval, so 200 laps add up to the event’s famous 500-mile distance. The race is therefore often called both the Indianapolis 500 and the Indy 500.

The number of laps is fixed even when weather or other circumstances shorten the race. A race can be declared official before all 200 laps are completed, but the scheduled distance remains 200 laps. This differs from many other major races, whose lap counts vary depending on circuit length.

The first Indianapolis 500 was held in 1911, and the 500-mile format has remained central to the event’s identity. A nearby fact readers often ask about is the race’s traditional month: it is associated with May and usually takes place around Memorial Day weekend.