The 2025 Indianapolis 500 has been overshadowed by Team Penske firing its senior IndyCar leadership after a cheating scandal involving illegal rear attenuator modifications during qualifying for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Luckily for us bettors, we've seen worse, so making a few Indy 500 race picks isn't too risky of a proposition.
In fact, I have a working theory: With the Team Penske cars getting pushed to the back where those cheaters belong, the race opens up for Chevrolet driver Pato O'Ward.
Think I'm full of it? Like O'Ward, I'm ready drink the milk. The taste may have been sour in years past, but it won't be come Sunday at 12:45 p.m. ET on FOX.
Keep on reading to find out my favorite free betting picks for the Indy 500.
Indianapolis 500 prop picks
- Top 3 Finish: Pato O'Ward (+155)
- Christian Lundgaard (-115) over David Malukas
- Winning Manufacturer: Chevrolet (-135)
Indy 500 props and best bets
Top 3 Finish: Pato O'Ward (+155 at DraftKings)
I get it, Pato O'Ward seems like a bit of a sucker bet, but hear me out.
He's finished in the Top 4 in three of his five Indy 500 starts, including two runner-up results in 2022 and 2024.
Last year, he narrowly missed victory, finishing second by just 0.3417 seconds after a dramatic final-lap battle.
That being said, O’Ward has consistently been one of the fastest and most competitive Chevy drivers at the Indy 500, with four Top 10 finishes.
Not to mention, he's been driving well recently. He finished second in the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis, showing strong pace at the Speedway leading up to the big race.
He's qualified third and will be starting in the front. Really, all he has to do is execute and avoid trouble.
At +155, this price is too good to pass up.
Christian Lundgaard (-115 at DraftKings) over David Malukas
This one’s pretty interesting to me. I actually have Lundgaard closer to -130 in this matchup.
Yeah, these guys are evenly matched on paper — they’re literally starting side by side on the grid, and their outright odds are almost identical.
But if you look at what they’ve done this season, Lundgaard’s got the edge. He’s sitting third in the points standings and already has three podiums in 2025.
Malukas, meanwhile, is just coming back from injury and hasn’t really had a chance to get into a rhythm yet. Plus, his best Indy 500 finish is only 16th, while Lundgaard is starting in the Top 10 for the first time, which shows he’s trending up.
All things considered, Lundgaard is showing good value, pending he drives a clean race and avoids trouble.
Winning Manufacturer: Chevrolet (-135 at DraftKings)
I won't lie, -135 is a steep price to pay, but there's relative value here.
Rookie Robert Shwartzman put a Chevy on pole in the Indy 500 this year at 232.790 mph. The Chevy field’s average qualifying speed of 231.207 mph is among the fastest ever.
Chevy drivers like O’Ward and Scott McLaughlin have consistently started up front and been in contention for wins, with O’Ward claiming pole at Thermal Club and McLaughlin at St. Petersburg.
Historically, Chevrolet has a strong history at the Indy 500, powering 11 winners across multiple eras, including several recent champions since 2012.
If I'm being honest, the combination of elite qualifying performance, proven race pace this season, and a history of success at Indianapolis does give Chevy a compelling chance to cash this wager.
I have Chevy priced closer to -175ish.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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