Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images. Pictured: NTT IndyCar Series driver Takuma Sato kisses the bricks after winning the 2020 Indy 500.
“1,100 miles of racing” — a phrase that shakes my wife to the core.
As a motorsports bettor, there is no better day than the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend.
Typically, today’s schedule includes Formula 1’s (F1) Monaco Grand Prix, followed by IndyCar’s Indy 500, with NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 finishing off the day.
Due to schedule changes, Monaco was run last weekend, leaving the Indy 500 and Coke 600 to lead the way today.
While I do enjoy watching F1, I’m not an avid bettor of the series, so I typically consume this annual motorsports holiday by sweating the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 back-to-back.
As the race names imply, both the events add up to 1,100 miles of betting goodness, easily my favorite betting day of the entire year.
So with the Indy 500 leading off today’s activities, let’s go ahead and dive into the bets I’m making for the 105th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Please note that I started with Santino Ferrucci (60-1) back in April, then added Jack Harvey (66-1) two weeks ago.
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Indy 500 Odds, Picks
*Odds as of Sunday at 7 a.m. ET
Tony Kanaan: +1700 (FanDuel)
Scott Dixon is the heavy race favorite at +325, and for good reason. Dixon has been fast throughout the entire month of May, ultimately scoring pole position for today’s Indy 500.
And I’m not saying I won’t eventually be on Dixon as well, but right now I’m pivoting to his teammate, Tony Kanaan.
TK is in the same Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) equipment as Dixon, has shown speed in race trim and will roll fifth this afternoon.
Kanaan is always a threat at Indy when in good equipment, and CGR is certainly that.
Takuma Sato: +2000 (PointsBet)
Sato will always have a special place in my heart at Indianapolis.
The two-time Indy 500 winner cashed at 50-1 for me when he crossed the finish line first back in 2017 for his first win in this event and I’m taking another shot on him today.
In fact, Sato is the defending race winner, and like Kanaan, is often a contender at “the Brickyard.”
Throw in the fact that Sato’s team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, believes its cars are better this year than last, and we have very little reason to pass on Sato at this price.