IndyCar tweaks Indy 500 qualifying format

The absence of the 34-car Indy 500 field required for bumping has led Penske Entertainment and IndyCar Seres co-owner FOX to alter this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 qualifying process.

With 33 cars on the entry list set to fill the 33 spots on the starting grid, there’s little of interest to follow on Saturday and Sunday beyond the run for pole position and elevated speeds that might be achieved. In response, the Last Chance Qualifying process to bump cars and set the final row of three has been removed.

The previous practice of locking in all cars from Saturday that qualify from 13th through 30th has also been changed, with the new process shifting the locked-in group from 16th through 33rd. The practice of taking the fastest 12 from Saturday into Sunday for the run for pole continues, but with a new twist involving carrying the drivers who run 13th through 15th over to Sunday, and holding the “Final 15” session from 4-5pm ET.

That Final 15 group will also include the drivers from Saturday who ran 10th through 12th, and those six drivers –10th through 15th – will go out in the order of slowest to fastest and get a single run to set their qualifying speed and make use of the newfound opportunity to try and make the Top 12.

The three fastest will continue onto the Top 12 qualifying session and get to cool their cars down while lapping behind the pace car, while the drivers from 13th through 15th are secured in their positions and finished for the day.

From 5:00-6:00pm, the Top 12 session will start with the order set from slowest to fastest and each drivers getting a single run. Those from seventh through 12th are done with qualifying, while the six best will get to cool their cars running behind the pace car.

At approximately 6:35pm, the Firestone Fast Six will be held and pole position will be set, with the winner receiving $100,000 for their achievement.

Saturday kicks off with split practice groups from 8:30-9:00am and 9:00-9:30am before qualifying takes place from 11:00am-5:00pm. On Sunday, a practice window from 1:00-3:00pm has been created for the five in the Final 15 from 1:00-2:00pm, and the remaining nine in the Top 12 from 2:00-3:00pm before the three stages of Final 15, Top 12, and Fast Six sessions are run from 4:00-7:00pm.

Between practice and qualifying on Sunday, the Speedway will be used from 3:15-3:45pm to hold a Monster Jam/Monster Truck world record attempt that awaits the revealing of wider details.

“Next to Race Day, Indianapolis 500 qualifying weekend is a can’t-miss moment on the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway calendar,” IndyCar and IMS president Doug Boles said.

“As the past few seasons have proven, IndyCar has an incredibly deep and world-class field filled with current and rising stars. This expanded format, which includes all rounds on FOX, will shine a massive spotlight on the remarkable skill it takes to start toward the front of our sport’s biggest event.

“Winning pole position for the ‘500’ carries with it one of the most prestigious honors in all of motorsports, and we know our fans – whether spending the day with us at the track or watching on FOX – will look forward to celebrating this year’s pole winner.”