2014 Indianapolis 500 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Vegas Odds on Indy 500 this Sunday

2014 Indianapolis 500 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Vegas Odds on Indy 500 this Sunday: While many of the biggest names in open-wheel racing have won the prestigious Indianapolis 500, there have also been many of surprise winners of the event. Granted, sometimes fuel mileage strategy plays a factor in allowing underdogs to emerge victorious and sometimes unexpected drivers just have great cars. Either way, the fact that the Indianapolis 500 is the biggest race of the IndyCar season doesn’t mean one of the biggest names in the sport has to win the race. With that in mind, here is a closer look at some drivers that could pull off the upset in the 2014 Indianapolis 500.

He is quickly establishing himself as one of the top drivers in the series, and after finishes of fifth and third in the final standings the past two years, Simon Pagenaud is off to another fast start in 2014. In fact, he is the only driver in the series to open the year with top-five finishes in all four races. Granted, he is still looking for a breakout run at Indianapolis, but after he finished 16th at the track in his first start, he improved to eighth last year. Pagenaud’s talent is undeniable, and another year of experience combined with his early-season momentum could be enough to propel him to a win in the Indianapolis 500.

A fast start to the season has Justin Wilson sitting in in the top 10 in points heading into the Indianapolis 500. More importantly, he has been steadily improving at Indy the past few years. He has finished seventh or better in three of his last four starts at the track, including a career-best fifth-place finish last year. Wilson has been on the verge of making a serious run at a win at Indianapolis three times in the past four years, and this could be the year he takes his performance to the next level.

He is definitely a wild-card in this year’s field, but NASCAR driver Kurt Busch simply can’t be ignored when it comes to discussing drivers with a shot at winning the Indianapolis 500. Granted, open-wheel racing is no his first discipline, but we are talking about a former Sprint Cup Series champion. Yes, Busch’s attitude and personality have rubbed people the wrong way, but his talent has never been questioned. In fact, Busch ranked second on the charts in the first practice for the Indianapolis 500. He has more than enough talent behind the wheel to win the Indianapolis 500.

Indianapolis has always been kind to Charlie Kimball. In three starts at the track, he is averaging a top-10 finish and has never finished outside the top 15. Meanwhile, Kimball has finished eighth and ninth in his last two starts in the Indianapolis 500, leading some laps in the 2012 race. Kimball has yet to make a real run at a victory at Indy, but given his consistency at the track, it wouldn’t be surprised to see him make the leap.

Although he has only made three starts at Indianapolis, J.R. Hildebrand has already has his share of heartbreak at the track. After all, he was going to win the Indianapolis 500 in his first-ever start in the event, but as he exited the final corner with a comfortable lead on the final lap, he crashed while trying to pass a lap car. He limped his wounded car to the finish line but settled for second in the process. He followed up his runner-up effort with a top-15 run in 2012, but after qualifying in the top 10 last year, a wreck ended what seemed to be a promising day. While it remains to be seen if he will ever be able to close the deal, it is a safe bet that Hildebrand will have a car capable of making some noise at Indianapolis.

While he isn’t really a star in IndyCar, Oriol Servia has had a knack for delivering solid performances at Indianapolis. In five starts at the track, he has four finishes off 11th or better, including three straight. More importantly, he has finished sixth or better twice in his last three starts in the Indianapolis 500. Servia may be an average option at best most weeks, but he has proven to be a consistent top-10 driver at Indy. Don’t be surprised to see him in the mix in the biggest race of the year.

Check the latest NASCAR Odds and Betting Lines and updated 2014 Indy 500 Odds from BOVADA below: