2019 Indianapolis 500 Odds & Picks: Newgarden, Power, Rossi & Pagenaud All Listed as Co-Favorites

Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power is joined by Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, and Simon Pagenaud as +800 co-favorites in this year’s event

Power has failed to earn a win since claiming victory in last year’s Indy 500 but has reach the podium in this race twice in the past five years

Pagenaud is coming off a thrilling win in the rain at the IndyCar GrandPrix, and will start on the pole in Sunday’s race

Will Power will face plenty of stiff competition in his bid this weekend to repeat as the winner of the Indianapolis 500. Despite extending his season-long winless drought with a disappointing seventh-place finish at this month’s IndyCar Grand Prix, Power remains deadlocked in a four-way tie atop the Indianapolis 500 futures odds, joining Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, and Simon Pagenaud as a +800 co-favorite.

2019 Indianapolis 500 Odds

*Odds taken 05/23/19

Power Aiming to End Drought, Repeat as Indy 500 Champ

Power claimed his first career Indy 500 victory a year ago, outlasting pole-sitter Ed Carpenter who had held the lead for 65 laps. However, wins have been scarce since for the 38-year-old Australian. Power’s only other victory came last August at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, and he has failed to reach the podium in four outings since finishing third in the season opener at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

It is tough to discount Power’s chances to repeat due to his recent shaky run. The Team Penske driver has reached the podium at the Brickyard twice in the past four years. However, Power has enjoyed little luck at Indy when failing to lock up a spot in the front row of the starting grid, finishing in the top 10 just once when starting from the second row, where he will begin the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

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Pagenaud Prays for Rain Following IndyCar Grand Prix Victory

Conversely, Pagenaud will be looking to build on his first victory since 2017 when he starts on the pole at Sunday’s race. The 35-year-old Frenchman earned his first win in 17 appearances at this month’s IndyCar Grand Prix, passing Scott Dixon with just two laps to go in wet conditions to earn the win by 2.0469 seconds.

Pagenaud continued his impressive performance in Indianapolis 500 qualifying, claiming the pole position, and will start from the front row for the third time in five years.

The 27-year-old has produced consistent results early on this season, turning in three top five performances including defending his title at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, but took a step back earlier this month at the IndyCar Grand Prix, recording his worst performance in almost two years with a 22nd-place finish.

Newgarden Continues to Top Standings Despite Shaky Run at IndyCar Grand Prix

Newgarden is also coming off his worst run of the season, finishing a distant 15th at the IndyCar Grand Prix after leading for 20 laps. However, after earning three trips to the podium in five race appearances this season, the Hendersonville, Tennessee native remains perched atop the NTT IndyCar Series standings with 182 points, six up on Scott Dixon.

The fast start to the season may be just what Newgarden needs to turn around a somewhat mediocre track record at the Indianapolis 500. The 28-year-old reached the podium with a third-place run after starting at the front of the grid back in 2016, but has otherwise not been a factor in seven previous appearances at the legendary Memorial Day weekend event.

No longer a regular driver in IndyCar Series racing, Castroneves has turned in mixed results in recent appearances at the Indianapolis 500. The 44-year-old Brazilian legend has finished second on two occasions in his past five appearances, but turned in a career-worst 27th-place performance last year after starting from the third row.

Pick: Simon Pagenaud (+800)