What style of race car is used in the Indianapolis 500?

The Indianapolis 500 uses open-wheel cars. Their wheels sit outside the main bodywork rather than being enclosed by fenders, creating the distinctive single-seat, exposed-wheel profile associated with Indy racing.

Today’s Indianapolis 500 cars are purpose-built Indy cars competing in the IndyCar Series. They use standardized Dallara chassis designs with powerful engines, aerodynamic wings and safety equipment, including the cockpit aeroscreen. Unlike touring cars or stock cars, they are designed specifically for high-speed circuit and oval racing rather than adapted from road-going production vehicles.

A common mix-up is confusing “open-wheel” with “open-cockpit.” Open-wheel describes the exposed wheels; the driver’s cockpit is also open in the traditional sense, although modern Indy cars use an aeroscreen for protection. Rally cars and stock cars can race at high speed, but they have enclosed wheel wells and very different chassis and aerodynamic designs. The Indy 500’s 2.5-mile oval and 200-lap distance place unusual demands on speed, downforce, tire management and reliability.