New qualifying for Indy 500
‘Intriguing’ format has three rounds over two days.
The new qualifying format for the Indianapolis 500 will include three rounds over two days, with the pole-winner emerging from a “Fast Nine Shootout” on what used to be Bump Day.
IndyCar officials also said Friday there also will be points incentives.
Qualifying for the Indy 500 this year will begin May 17 when the fastest 33 cars are locked into the field. All entries will be guaranteed at least one 4-lap attempt to qualify, and the fastest nine drivers will move into the shootout.
On Sunday, the previous days’ times will be erased and entries 10-33 will complete another 4-lap qualifying attempt to determine their starting position. The fastest nine drivers from Saturday will then make one 4-lap attempt to deter- mine the pole-winner and starting front row.
The Indy 500 has had 4-lap qualifying runs since 1939. The Fast Nine pole shootout was introduced in 2010, but was on Saturday.
The change comes as IndyCar struggles to fill the 33-car field, making the once tension-filled Bump Day drama-free the last two years. Without additional entrants trying to make the race, Sunday had become a glorified practice session.
By making qualifying stretch over two days, Sunday has become relevant again.
“I think in the last many years, Saturday has been the day in qualifying, but there’s been an opportunity to add more compelling content on Sunday, and that’s what we’re trying to do here,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman Motorsports.
IndyCar driver Graham Rahal called the format “intriguing” and praised it for adding fan appeal.
“The most important thing to realize here is we have to give our fans a better product both on TV and at track,” Rahal said.
The format will make life a little more difficult for NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who will attempt to become the first driver in 10 years to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Busch will now have to qualify in Indianapolis on Saturday, fly to Charlotte, N.C., for NASCAR’s AllStar race that evening, then return to Indianapolis to determine his starting spot in Sunday’s qualifying session.
Logano wins Vegas pole: Joey Logano won the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Kobalt 400 with a track record of 193.278 mph at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday.