Indy 500 2015: Latest Race Odds and Sleeper Contenders
It's known as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," and for the entire month of May, Indianapolis 500 fever sweeps over the state of Indiana and the entire IndyCar circuit like a 200-mph fuel-injected hurricane.
Each year's winner claims a bounty of prizes—the Borg-Warner Trophy, a chilled glass bottle of milk and eternal racing glory—for defeating all comers in one of the racing world's oldest and most hallowed events.
We're just a few days away from the 99th running of the Indy 500. We have our 33 drivers. We have our pole-sitter. We have our favorites and underdogs.
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With qualifying complete and the field finally set, odds have been readjusted accordingly ahead of the race, per Odds Shark:
| 1 | Scott Dixon | 9-2 |
| 2 | Will Power | 11-2 |
| 3 | Simon Pagenaud | 11-2 |
| 4 | Tony Kanaan | 13-2 |
| 5 | Helio Castroneves | 13-2 |
| 6 | Justin Wilson | 33-1 |
| 7 | Sebastien Bourdais | 50-1 |
| 8 | Marco Andretti | 12-1 |
| 9 | Josef Newgarden | 25-1 |
| 10 | J.R. Hildebrand | 33-1 |
| 11 | Carlos Munoz | 22-1 |
| 12 | Ed Carpenter | 22-1 |
| 13 | Oriol Servia | 75-1 |
| 14 | Charlie Kimball | 100-1 |
| 15 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 7-1 |
| 16 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 25-1 |
| 17 | Graham Rahal | 33-1 |
| 18 | Carlos Huertas | 100-1 |
| 19 | Simona de Silvestro | 100-1 |
| 20 | James Jakes | 100-1 |
| 21 | Tristan Vautier | 150-1 |
| 22 | Alex Tagliani | 100-1 |
| 23 | Sage Karam | 50-1 |
| *24 | *James Hinchcliffe | N/A |
| 25 | Conor Daly | 150-1 |
| 26 | Townsend Bell | 100-1 |
| 27 | Takuma Sato | 100-1 |
| 28 | Pippa Mann | 150-1 |
| 29 | Gabby Chaves | 150-1 |
| 30 | Sebastian Saavedra | 150-1 |
| 31 | Jack Hawksworth | 75-1 |
| 32 | Stefano Coletti | 150-1 |
| 33 | Bryan Clauson | 150-1 |
*Note: James Hinchcliffe qualified 24th, but due to serious injuries sustained during Tuesday's practice, he will be unable to participate in this year's race. Ryan Briscoe is expected to replace Hinchcliffe and start in the last row, per a report from the Indianapolis Star's Curt Cavin.
Here's another look, this time sorted by odds rather than starting position:
| Scott Dixon | 9-2 | 1 |
| Simon Pagenaud | 11-2 | 3 |
| Will Power | 11-2 | 2 |
| Helio Castroneves | 13-2 | 5 |
| Tony Kanaan | 13-2 | 4 |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 7-1 | 15 |
| Marco Andretti | 12-1 | 8 |
| Carlos Munoz | 22-1 | 11 |
| Ed Carpenter | 22-1 | 12 |
| Josef Newgarden | 25-1 | 9 |
| Ryan Hunter-Reay | 25-1 | 16 |
| J.R. Hildebrand | 33-1 | 10 |
| Justin Wilson | 33-1 | 6 |
| Graham Rahal | 33-1 | 17 |
| Sage Karam | 50-1 | 23 |
| Sebastien Bourdais | 50-1 | 7 |
| Jack Hawksworth | 75-1 | 31 |
| Oriol Servia | 75-1 | 13 |
| Alex Tagliani | 100-1 | 22 |
| Carlos Huertas | 100-1 | 18 |
| Charlie Kimball | 100-1 | 14 |
| James Jakes | 100-1 | 20 |
| Simona De Silvestro | 100-1 | 19 |
| Takuma Sato | 100-1 | 27 |
| Townsend Bell | 100-1 | 26 |
| Bryan Clauson | 150-1 | 33 |
| Conor Daly | 150-1 | 25 |
| Gabby Chaves | 150-1 | 29 |
| Pippa Mann | 150-1 | 28 |
| Sebastian Saavedra | 150-1 | 30 |
| Stefano Coletti | 150-1 | 32 |
| Tristan Vautier | 150-1 | 21 |
The key players need little introduction.
Defending champion Ryan Hunter-Reay is looking to become the first repeat champion since Helio Castroneves in 2001 and 2002.
Pole winner Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing are hoping for a successful sequel to 2008, when Dixon won the pole, the race and that glorious jar of milk.
Helio Castroneves, seeking a record-tying fourth Indy 500 victory, is still dangerous—even at age 40.
But behind the former winners and lofty last names are the dark horses, the sidebars to the feature.
I spoke with Daniel McFadin, writer for NBC Sports NASCAR Talk and MotorSports Talk, to get his take on some potential sleeper candidates for this year's Indy 500.
Carlos Munoz (22-1), Andretti Autosport, Qualified 11th
Carlos Munoz is 23 years old, doesn't have a single IndyCar victory under his belt and is just 11th in points heading into the race.
But there's something about the stage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that invigorates the 2013 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.
"I think Munoz is going to be a dark horse," McFadin said. "He's only in his second full year of racing in IndyCar, but this will be his third Indy 500, so he has the experience."
"He's started in the top 10 each of the last two races (second in 2013; seventh in 2014) and finished in the top five (second in 2013; fourth in 2014) in each one," McFadin continued. "He led one of the early practice sessions and even though he doesn't have very many notable performances outside of the Indy 500, I think you can probably put him top three here. That's something Andretti Autosports needs this year...they just haven't been very strong at all."
Graham Rahal (33-1), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Qualified 17th
Bloodlines don't guarantee victory at the Indy 500—just ask the Andrettis how that's working out—but Rahal certainly has the blood of a champion flowing through his veins.
Rahal's father, Bobby, captured his first and only Indy 500 crown in 1986. Graham has been chasing his own for eight years now.
Rahal has only finished in the top 10 once—third in 2011—but he's entering this year's race with a ton of momentum.
"I'd look at Graham Rahal as another dark horse," McFadin said. "He's finished second in each of the last two races and has been the highest-performing Honda when Honda hasn't been faring well. Last year he was the first car out of the race with electrical problems, but I think you can expect to see him up at the front at some point."
Sage Karam (50-1), Chip Ganassi Racing, Qualified 23rd
Only 19 years old in his first Indy 500 start last year, Sage Karam made a statement to the racing world by finishing ninth after qualifying 31st.
Just two years removed from becoming the eighth rookie to win the Indy Lights title, the 20-year-old has all the makings of a future star.
"Look out for Sage Karam this year," McFadin warned. "He led a few practice sessions, he's got the Ganassi stable backing, he's looked really good out there. He's got a lot of talent, lot of potential. I think you should expect to see him in the top 10 at some point in the night for sure."
Karam hasn't had an inspiring season to date. He's finished 19th, 18th and 18th in three starts this year, but a rising star on a big stage is always a story worth watching.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand.
You can follow Daniel McFadin on Twitter @danielmcfadin and find his work at NBC Sports MotorSports Talk and NASCAR Talk.
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