Which racing series includes the Indianapolis 500?

The Indianapolis 500 is part of the IndyCar Series.

IndyCar is the sanctioning organization for American open-wheel racing, while the IndyCar Series is its premier championship series. The Indianapolis 500 is the series’ centerpiece and one of its most prestigious points-paying events. It is commonly shortened to “the Indy 500,” but it is not a Formula One, NASCAR, or IMSA race.

The modern IndyCar Series traces its competitive organization to the Indy Racing League, which began racing in 1996. That same year, the Indianapolis 500 became an Indy Racing League event after a major split between rival American open-wheel organizations. The series later adopted the IndyCar name, and the Indianapolis 500 continued as its defining annual contest.

The race is distinctive even within the series. Most IndyCar events use road or street circuits, while the 500 is held on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval. Drivers complete 200 laps, and the traditional field contains 33 cars. Its enormous prestige means that winning the 500 can be a career-defining achievement even though the event is one round of a broader championship.