Indianapolis 500 start time, lineup, TV schedule

INDIANAPOLIS — It's the 97th running of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," and we've got some essential information you need to get ready for today's Indianapolis 500.

START TIME: The command to start the 33 engines in the field will be given by Indianapolis Motor Speedway matriarch Mari Hulman George at 12:06 p.m. ET. After a few pace laps, the green flag will wave at 12:12 p.m. So if you want to skip the pre-race show and just tune in for the race itself, flip on your TV at 12:12 p.m. ET.

RACE DISTANCE: 500 miles, 200 laps on the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Christian music singer Sandi Patty will perform the anthem at 11:53 a.m. In a tradition that dates to 1972, actor Jim Nabors will sing (Back Home Again In) Indiana at 12:04 p.m. after missing last year's race because of illness. Jon McLaughlin will sing God Bless America at 11:47 a.m. in place of regular performer Florence Henderson, who will miss this year's race because of illness.

TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: ABC will broadcast the race and has a pre-race show beginning at 11 a.m. ET. The IMS Radio Network will have the radio broadcast.

WEATHER: Dicey. Showers are forecasted for the entire day, and according to wunderground.com, there is a 40% chance of thunderstorms Sunday in Indianapolis. The high temperature is expected to be 66 degrees.

LAST TIME: Dario Franchitti held off a furious charge by Takuma Sato on the last lap to win his third Indianapolis 500. Scott Dixon was second to give Target Chip Ganassi Racing a sweep of the top two spots.

STARTING LINEUP: There are two Americans on the front row of the race for the first time. Rookie Carlos Munoz, 21, is youngest driver to start on the front row. Chevrolets swept the top 10 spots.

Here's the starting lineup for today's Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

1. Ed Carpenter

2. Carlos Munoz

3. Marco Andretti

4. E.J. Viso

5. AJ Allmendinger

6. Will Power

7. Ryan Hunter-Reay

8. Helio Castroneves

9. James Hinchcliffe

10. J.R. Hildebrand

11. Alex Tagliani

12. Tony Kanaan

13. Oriol Servia

14. Justin Wilson

15. Sebastien Bourdais

16. Scott Dixon

17. Dario Franchitti

18. Takuma Sato

19. Charlie Kimball

20. James Jakes

21. Simon Pagenaud

22. Townsend Bell

23. Ryan Briscoe

24. Simona de Silvestro

25. Josef Newgarden

26. Graham Rahal

27. Sebastian Saavedra

28. Tristan Vautier

29. Ana Beatriz

30. Pippa Mann

31. Conor Daly

32. Buddy Lazier

33. Katherine Legge

Follow Nate Ryan on Twitter @nateryan