Finlay McSporran
Published: 17:17 25 May 2026
Just 0.0233 seconds separated winner Felix Rosenqvist from second place David Malukas.
It’s the closest finish in the race’s 115 year history.
But how did Rosenqvist come out on top?
Road to Glory
The 34-year-old Swedish driver qualified fourth for the race, but spent most of the 200 laps towards the bottom end of the top 10, as defending champion Alex Palou and youngster David Malukas exchanged the lead.
However, a bold strategy left himself and Pato O’ward, both of whom had yet to win this race, out in front with 25 laps left.
It meant they would have to go easy on their fuel and tyres to make it to the end. Meanwhile Palou and Malukas, who had just made their final pit stop, could push flat out to the end.
The race was on!
Disaster struck with just eight laps to go, as Rookie Caio Collet’s A.J. Foyt machine crashed after hitting the wall at high speed.
The Brazilian had been running well as the top rookie, and thankfully walked away unharmed after a scary incident which saw his car catch fire.
This was bad news for Rosenqvist, as the resulting red fag slashed his lead over Palou and Malukas, who would be just a few cars behind at the restart.
One of the cars between them was the Meyer Shank of Marcus Armstrong who, at the restart, tucked his car into the tow. That extra speed allowed him to swoop past O’ward and Rosenqvist to lead the 500 with just four laps left.
Malukas also moved up, passing Rosenqvist for second and demoting the Swede to third.
But there was more drama, as the caution came out once again with four laps left after Mick Schumacher grazed the wall.
Unfortunately for Armstrong, it wouldn’t last till the end. Instead, we were treated to a one lap shootout to decide the winner of the 110th running of the Indy500…
Malukas immediately went on the attack, taking the lead on the restart as Armstrong held off Rosenqvist.
The two were side-by-side the majority of the lap, the slipstream from Malukas giving Rosenqvist the overspeed to get passed Armstrong.
He wasn’t done yet.
Rosenqvist charged up to the back of the race leader as they approached the checkered flag for a photo finish, with the Swedish driver just, just, ahead as they crossed the line.
What a race!
Reaction
Felix Rosenqvist – “Unreal, I still don’t believe it,” Rosenqvist said. “It kind of worked out the right way when I got back to third, and then I just had to flat-out lap on the high line, and it stuck.
“It was just the coolest way you can finish and win an Indy 500.”
“I really miss my wife and my newborn child, Stella.” He continues: “I wish they were here with me. This whole month, becoming a dad and winning the ‘500’ … We joked about it in the beginning: ‘Maybe you’ll win the ‘500’ and have a baby.’ It’s just unreal.”
David Malukas – “I don’t know what else we could have done,” Malukas said as he held back tears. “We were the fastest car that whole race. I gave it 150 percent. I mean, I almost crashed this damn car every lap, and we still ended up with a P2.
“I just can’t believe it. I don’t know what else I can give. So close.
“This place, we’re going to come back and bring it everything. We’re going to give it 160 percent the next time.”
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