Expanded Field To Compete for $50,000 Reward in Pit Stop Challenge

An expanded field and four former Oscar Mayer $150,000 Pit Stop Challenge winners will square off Friday as part of Miller Lite Carb Day festivities at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Sixteen of the 33 drivers and crews set to compete in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge comprise this year’s Pit Stop Challenge field, the largest in the history of the event that began in 1977. Among the past winners participating are Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon (four wins), Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden (three wins) and single winners Will Power and Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global.

SEE: Pit Stop Challenge Bracket

The annual tradition that features head-to-head competition between teams and their “500” pit crews will take place at 2:30 p.m. ET in front of the iconic frontstretch grandstands. The action will air live FOX, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

The winning crew will earn $50,000, with $25,000 going to the runner-up crew.

Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Newgarden has been the winning driver each of the past two years and in three of the past four years. Last year, it was an all-Team Penske final round, with Power finishing second. This will be Power’s first Pit Stop Challenge as a member of Andretti Global. He won the event in 2017.

Newgarden is one of seven drivers to have won the Pit Stop Challenge and the “500” in the same year, in 2024. Newgarden and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward are the only pair of drivers to finish first and second in the two marquee events in the same year, also in 2024.

Newgarden vs. Dixon and O’Ward vs. Power are the featured matchups in this year’s first round.

O’Ward is one of three Arrow McLaren drivers in the Pit Stop Challenge. Christian Lundgaard will face ECR’s Christian Rasmussen in the first round; Ryan Hunter-Reay will meet “500” pole sitter and fellow “500” winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing also has three groups in this Pit Stop Challenge field, and two of them will meet early in the event (Graham Rahal vs. Louis Foster). Rookie Mick Schumacher will face off against fellow first-time Dennis Hauger of Dale Coyne Racing.

The other first-round matchups are Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Rinus VeeKay vs. Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean and Ericsson vs. Team Penske’s David Malukas.

The first driver listed in the bracket receives lane choice in the first round. The final round is a best-of-three competition, with lane choice for the first run determined by the car with the quicker run in the previous round. Cars swap lanes for the second run.

During each round, crews will simulate a fuel hookup and change all four Firestone Firehawk tires.

The Pit Stop Challenge was first held in 1977 when Jim McElreath defeated Wally Dallenbach in the final round. The event has been held annually ever since except for a rainout in 2008 and a two-year break during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Team Penske has won the Pit Stop Challenge a record 20 times. Chip Ganassi Racing has won the event four times, most recently with Dixon in 2023. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has two wins, the most recent with Buddy Rice in 2004. Rice also won the “500” that year.

Gates open for Friday’s Miller Lite Carb Day open at 8 a.m. ET with the action including a two-hour practice for all 33 cars beginning at 11 a.m. on FOX, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. The second Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 is set for 2 p.m. with the Miller Lite Carb Day concert featuring Counting Crows beginning at 4 p.m.