Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 is getting overhauled once again.
The new format, which will debut next month for the 94th running of the world’s greatest race, will feature a 90-minute battle for the pole amongst the nine fastest drivers, plus $175,000 going to the pole winner and IZOD IndyCar Series championship points being doled out to all 33 starters.
On Pole Day, May 22, the first 24 spots on the grid will be up for grabs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, with each car having up to three, four-lap qualifying attempts during that period. At 4 p.m. ET, the times of the nine fastest drivers will be erased and they will engage in a shootout from 4:30-6 p.m. ET. Each of the “Fast Nine” must make at least one four-lap qualifying attempt in that time frame, and will have one additional attempt if time permits. Their positions in the first three rows will be determined by their times in the 90-minute session.
Bump Day, May 23, will fill the final nine starting positions through regular four-lap qualifying from Noon-6 p.m. ET, with bumping beginning once all 33 spots have been filled.
Perhaps most intriguing is the allotment of championship points, which will make a good qualifying run at Indy very critical for drivers in the thick of the IZOD IndyCar Series title chase. In addition to the aforementioned $175,000 bounty, the pole winner will also earn 15 points (at all other series events, the pole winner gets just one point). Second and third place starters will get 13 and 12 points, respectively. From there, drivers in the second and third rows shall receive between 11 and six points in descending order. Drivers in positions 10-24 get four points and everyone from 25th on back will get three points.
“The rewards of the qualifying format help to make the Indianapolis 500 the most important race on the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule,” said IRL president of competition Brian Barnhart in a press release. “Teams and drivers in the shootout will have to make a decision after their initial run in the ‘Fast Nine’ segment whether they want to attempt to move up on the grid with a final attempt. Not only would they potentially have a higher starting position, but they would accumulate more bonus points that could come into play later in the season in the driver championship.”
In addition to the pole winner, the other front row starters will get some good money as well. Second place will net $75,000 and third place is worth $50,000.
