The Indianapolis 500 is a rarity in skilled motorsport.

In a panorama the place the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an invitation-only occasion, NASCAR’s prime groups are secured a beginning spot via a racing entitlement contract (referred to as “charters” within the collection), and Formulation 1’s present group of constructors stubbornly refuse to welcome any kind of growth, the Indy 500 ensures any potential entry the prospect to qualify – however ensures no person the proper to begin the race via any means aside from advantage.

This 12 months, 34 groups and drivers will contest 33 beginning positions. One driver’s ambitions of profitable the most important race of the IndyCar Collection season might be dashed every week earlier than the race begins.

An occasion with this a lot at stake for the full-season IndyCar rivals and the “500 specialists” requires a particular qualifying format, distinctive to this occasion.

Saturday

Full-field qualifying (11:00 native time / 16:00 BST)

On the primary day of qualifying, all 34 drivers could have six hours and 50 minutes to attempt to qualify for subsequent week’s race. On the finish of this session, 30 drivers will qualify for the Indianapolis 500. The quickest 12 drivers will proceed to a two-stage pole shootout on Sunday, whereas the drivers in positions 13 via 30 are locked in.

The drivers might be ranked not by the quickest single lap time, however by the common velocity of 4 consecutive laps in a single-car format.

They may proceed with these preliminary qualification makes an attempt within the order which they drew on Friday night, as follows:

Place
Automotive
Driver
Workforce
Engine

1
23
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Dreyer & Reinbold
Chevrolet

2
26
Colton Herta
Andretti
Honda

3
12
Will Energy
Penske
Chevrolet

4
06
Helio Castroneves
Meyer Shank
Honda

5
98
Marco Andretti
Andretti
Honda

6
8
Marcus Ericsson
Ganassi
Honda

7
45
Christian Lundgaard
RLL
Honda

8
7
Alexander Rossi
McLaren
Chevrolet

9
9
Scott Dixon
Ganassi
Honda

10
60
Simon Pagenaud
Meyer Shank
Honda

11
55
Benjamin Pedersen
Foyt
Chevrolet

12
51
Sting Ray Robb
Coyne/RWR
Honda

13
6
Felix Rosenqvist
McLaren
Chevrolet

14
66
Tony Kanaan
McLaren
Chevrolet

15
33
Ed Carpenter
Carpenter
Chevrolet

16
50
RC Enerson
Abel
Chevrolet

17
30
Jack Harvey
RLL
Honda

18
20
Conor Daly
Carpenter
Chevrolet

19
29
Devlin DeFrancesco
Andretti
Honda

20
15
Graham Rahal
RLL
Honda

21
21
Rinus VeeKay
Carpenter
Chevrolet

22
5
Pato O’Ward
McLaren
Chevrolet

23
77
Callum Ilott
Juncos Hollinger
Chevrolet

24
24
Stefan Wilson
DRR/Cusick
Chevrolet

25
11
Takuma Sato
Ganassi
Honda

26
18
David Malukas
Coyne/HMD
Honda

27
14
Santino Ferrucci
Foyt
Chevrolet

28
10
Alex Palou
Ganassi
Honda

29
28
Romain Grosjean
Andretti
Honda

30
27
Kyle Kirkwood
Andretti
Honda

31
44
Katherine Legge
RLL
Honda

32
3
Scott McLaughlin
Penske
Chevrolet

33
78
Agustin Canapino
Juncos Hollinger
Chevrolet

34
2
Josef Newgarden
Penske
Chevrolet

This may proceed till each automotive has been given a minimum of one probability to qualify.

Afterwards, automobiles could make one other qualification try. However to take action, they need to get into certainly one of two queues. Vehicles that queue up in Lane 1, in any other case generally known as the precedence lane or “quick lane”, get precedence entry to the observe forward of automobiles which can be in Lane 2 (aka the “gradual lane”). However any automotive that enters the observe from Lane 1 should withdraw its qualifying time and velocity for the privilege of precedence entry.

Any automotive that’s relegated exterior the highest 30 could have its qualification velocity voided, however they will make as many makes an attempt to bump their manner again into the highest 30 as potential throughout the remaining time.

The 4 drivers that didn’t make it into the highest 30 must wait till the following day to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

Sunday

Starting at 11:30 native time/16:30 BST, there might be two 60-minute apply classes held consecutively. The primary is for the 12 quickest qualifiers from Saturday, and the second is for the 4 drivers who should participate in Final Likelihood Qualifying.

High 12 Qualifying (14:00 native time/19:00 BST)

The twelve quickest qualifiers from Saturday will make one other four-lap run, so as from slowest to quickest. In contrast to Saturday’s full-field qualifying, each driver might be assured one – and just one – try and qualify.

On the finish of the session, positions 7-12 might be locked in, and the remaining six drivers will proceed to a pole shootout later within the night.

Final Likelihood Qualifying (18:05 native time/23:05 BST)

4 drivers will contest the remaining three grid positions in a one-hour timed session. Each automotive is assured a minimal of 1 try and should make a number of makes an attempt till time expires.

Vehicles might be allowed a further “cool-down lap” following every qualifying try to be able to expedite engine cooling for an additional run, however solely till there are ten minutes left within the session.

Every automotive’s most up-to-date qualifying velocity will stay eligible for the beginning lineup till the time is withdrawn (i.e. by way of getting into the precedence lane for an additional try) or till the tip of the session.

The newest Final Likelihood Qualifying session was held in 2021, when two-time and reigning IndyCar Collection champion Will Energy escaped humiliation and certified for the race alongside Sage Karam and Simona de Silvestro, whereas Charlie Kimball and RC Enerson did not qualify.

In 2019, six automobiles and drivers contested the remaining three grid slots. A dramatic remaining run by Juncos Racing driver Kyle Kaiser bumped two-time Formulation 1 world champion Fernando Alonso and McLaren from the sector. Kaiser joined Karam and James Hinchcliffe on the ultimate row, whereas Pato O’Ward and Max Chilton did not qualify together with Alonso.

Quick Six Qualifying (19:20 native time/24:20 BST)

The six quickest drivers from High 12 qualifying will make a remaining qualifying run, so as from slowest to quickest from the previous session.

The quickest driver will earn pole place and 12 IndyCar Collection championship factors, whereas the remainder of the highest 12 qualifiers will even earn championship factors.

Whereas the format of Indy 500 qualifying is considerably advanced to elucidate in phrases, in comparison with a single session or knockout qualifying format, most will discover it intuitive to observe because it performs out in actual time – and it does lend itself to real intrigue and pressure over the times to return.

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