First-Time Indy 500 Winner

Morning Edition

May 25, 2026

Felix Rosenqvist won his first Indy 500 in a race that featured a record 70 lead changes and a thrilling late finish. The race also included appearances from Caitlin Clark and Curt Cignetti, plus tributes to Kyle Busch throughout.

A note to FOS readers: There will be no PM Memo today as we observe Memorial Day, but we will be back in your inboxes Tuesday for our regularly scheduled morning newsletter. Enjoy your holiday.

—Ben Horney

First Up

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Sportradar was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the company hid ties to illegal gambling operators from investors. Read the story.
Jalen Duren became eligible for a potential $287 million contract after earning All-NBA honors with the Pistons. Read the story.
UCLA coach Cori Close’s new contract includes a discounted buyout clause if she leaves for a WNBA head coaching job. Read the story.

Felix Rosenqvist Wins Wild Indy 500 After Record 70 Lead Changes

Imagn Images

The 2026 Indianapolis 500 went off without a hitch despite a threatening weather forecast, with Felix Rosenqvist winning the 110th running of the iconic race after a nail-biting finish that featured multiple lead changes in the last few laps.

Rosenqvist, who is Swedish and drives the No. 60 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing, lost the lead after a late restart but passed Team Penske’s David Malukas on the final stretch to win his first Indy 500 by 0.0233 seconds—the closest finish in race history.

The race featured 70 lead changes, the most ever in an Indy 500 (besting the previous record of 68, set in 2013). Last year’s winner, Josef Newgarden, crashed with about 75 laps to go.

As of Sunday evening, the prize purse had not been announced. The total prize purse is expected to reach as high as $21 million, according to The Sporting News.

Last Five Winners

2025: Alex Palou, $3.8 million
2024: Josef Newgarden, $4.3 million
2023: Josef Newgarden, $3.7 million
2022: Marcus Ericsson, $3.1 million
2021: Helio Castroneves, $1.8 million

Sunday’s Indy 500 was Rosenqvist’s eighth. Previously, his best finish was fourth place—something he did twice, in 2022 and 2025.

The race was broadcast on Fox Sports for the second straight year (and second time ever). Last year’s race drew 7.05 million viewers, making it the most-watched Indy 500 since 2008, which drew 7.2 million viewers. The 2025 race was up 40% from the 5 million who watched the 2024 Indy 500 on NBC.

IndyCar reached a multiyear media-rights deal with Fox in 2024 after NBC aired the Indianapolis 500 from 2019 through 2024. Before NBC, the race aired on ABC from 1965 to 2018.

History Not Made

Katherine Legge, who sought to make history by becoming the first woman to race both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, crashed early due to a dustup with Ryan Hunter-Reay, who spun out in front of her, and was unable to finish the first race. Had she been successful in her efforts, she would have been the sixth person to ever complete both races.

“I’m fine, just gutted more than anything,” Legge said, according to ESPN.

Caitlin Clark, Grand Marshal

The WNBA star, who plays home games for the Fever just under 6 miles away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, served as grand marshal for this year’s race. Appropriately outfitted in a racetrack-themed jacket complete with a checkered back, Clark got the festivities going, telling drivers to get to their cars to start the race.

"Drivers to your cars!"

Gainbridge℠ Ambassador Caitlin Clark gives the command for the 110th running of the Indy 500 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/2E6xSplbmM
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 24, 2026

Football Guy Becomes Racecar Guy

Indiana University head football coach Curt Cignetti enjoyed his role as honorary pace car driver ahead of the race. He practiced the day before, drove the pace laps in a custom-painted Chevrolet Corvette.

“It was awesome,” Cignetti said.

Tribute to Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch, a decorated NASCAR driver who passed away at 41 years old on Thursday, received multiple tributes, including being named during a pre-race prayer and being honored during the 18th lap of the Indy 500.

Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean of Dale Coyne Racing had the front of his vehicle outfitted to match the car Busch used during his career. Grosjean finished in ninth place.

Off the Field, the Standard Stays the Same

Anthony  Volpe’s partnership with Charles Tyrwhitt extends the New York Yankees’ commitment to preparation beyond the game. The London menswear brand brings a modern approach to classic style—designed for comfort, versatility, and confidence wherever the day leads.

Easy to wear and built to move, the collection reflects how today’s athletes and professionals show up when it matters most—without overthinking it.

👉 Read the full article here.

ONE BIG FIG

Soccer’s Next Mega Deal

$2.3 billion

That’s roughly the size of an offer from a consortium led by Underdog Global Partners to acquire Italian soccer club SSC Napoli, Front Office Sports can confirm. UGP, led by Italian-American investor Matt Rizzetta, already owns Napoli Basketball, among other assets.

The group, which includes unidentified private-equity investors, proposed the deal and would commit additional capital toward stadium-related infrastructure, a source familiar with the negotiations tells Front Office Sports. While no transaction is guaranteed, the sides have agreed on most major terms and remain in discussions over a handful of outstanding issues, the source says. The news was first reported by Bloomberg.

Daily sports trivia: Can you rank the top-five active NFL QBs with the most career interceptions thrown?

STATUS REPORT

Two Up, One Down, One Push

Imagn Images

Giants ⬆⬇ New York quarterback Jaxson Dart drew criticism for his friendly introduction of U.S. President Donald Trump during a rally Friday for Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York, including from teammate Abdul Carter, a pass rusher who initially posted “What we doing, man?” Carter later followed up with another social post: “Me & JD6 are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives.”

Johnny Manziel ⬆ The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner defeated influencer Bob Menery in a mixed-martial arts bout held Saturday night in Las Vegas. The 33-year-old former NFL quarterback won in the first round. Manziel, who is now 1-0 in his MMA career, doesn’t intend to participate in future fights. “This was good enough for one time,” he said after the fight.

Cristiano Ronaldo ⬆ A 2018 Panini Kaboom card of Ronaldo, when he was playing for Juventus, went for $1.35 million at a private Fanatics Collect sale. It represents the highest sale price for a Ronaldo card, and the second-highest price for a soccer card in history, behind a Lionel Messi rookie card that sold for $1.5 million, according to ESPN.

Ole Miss ⬇ The Rebels’ football program is under investigation by the NCAA for potential tampering violations, according to ESPN. The probe was launched after Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accused Pete Golding of Ole Miss of tampering with linebacker Luke Ferrelli, who enrolled at Clemson but then left to join the Rebels. NCAA enforcement staff has informed Ole Miss senior associate athletic director for compliance Taylor Hall that the school and its representatives must “preserve all relevant materials,” including emails and text messages.