Indianapolis 500 Purse Record Set Again as Alex Palou Claims Victory
In a historic edition of the Indianapolis 500, Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing emerged victorious, taking home a record $3.8 million from a total purse of $20,283,000. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the race’s purse record has been surpassed.
The average payout for NTT IndyCar Series drivers has also reached new heights, with 2023 averaging $596,500, an increase from $543,000 in 2022. This trend underscores the growing financial stakes in the series.
Comparatively, last year’s Indianapolis 500 boasted a purse of $17,021,500 with the winner receiving $3.7 million. This contrasts sharply with 2022’s purse of $16,000,200 and a winner’s share of $3.1 million. Before 2022, the largest purse was $14.4 million, awarded during the 2008 race.
Doug Boles, President of IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, remarked, “The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world, and winning this race makes history in more ways than one. Alex Palou adds Indianapolis 500 winner to his long list of achievements and takes home the largest purse in history. There’s no better way to end an epic month.”
Rookie honors went to pole-winner Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing, who earned a $50,000 bonus, contributing to a total prize of $327,300.
The Indianapolis 500 purse is composed of awards from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NTT IndyCar Series, alongside additional designated awards. The annual Victory Celebration, where these awards are distributed, took place this year at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis on Monday night.
