The Indy 500 Qualifying Procedure in 2025
During the Indy 500, everything is different, and that also applies to qualifying. It is the most important race of the IndyCar season, which is why the event even features a full qualifying weekend.
At the end of Fast Friday, the public draw for the qualifying order takes place, which — like most other aspects surrounding the Indy 500 — is considered a standalone event.
Unlike all other oval races, a qualifying attempt for the Indy 500 consists of four qualifying laps. The total time a driver records over these four laps determines their classification.
Because there are no more than 33 entries in 2026, there will be no bumping. As a result, there will also be no Last Chance Qualifying session for a spot on the final row of the grid.
During Saturday qualifying, every driver is guaranteed one qualifying attempt, but multiple attempts are also permitted. There are two qualifying lanes for this purpose: one lane where drivers do not have to withdraw their previously recorded time and one lane where they do. Naturally, the first lane is expected to be busier, but if a driver is outside the top 30 near the end of the day, the second lane allows them to move ahead in the queue.
Drivers who finish Saturday in positions 16 through 33 are immediately done with qualifying after this segment. These drivers will start the race from the positions in which they finished on Saturday.
Sunday qualifying begins with a new session for 2026: the Final 15 Qualifying session. In this segment, drivers compete for the final three spots in the Top 12 Qualifying session. Each driver gets one qualifying run, after which the three fastest drivers advance to the Fast 12. The three slowest drivers in this session will start from positions 13 through 15.
In the Top 12 Qualifying session, the top nine drivers from Saturday, joined by the three fastest drivers from the Final 15 session, make qualifying attempts in reverse order to qualify for the Fast Six. Drivers who finish seventh through twelfth will also start the race from those positions.
The qualifying weekend concludes with the Firestone Fast Six. In this session, the fastest drivers from the second qualifying segment battle for pole position. They run in reverse order of the results from the previous segment, meaning the fastest driver from that segment will be the last to take to the track.
Under normal circumstances, one point is awarded during an IndyCar qualifying session, which naturally goes to the fastest driver. The Indy 500 qualifying format is an exception to that rule, as the pole-winning driver receives 12 points. Second place earns 11 points, third place earns 10 points, continuing down to one point for the driver who qualifies twelfth.
Extra Turbo Boost During Qualifying Weekend
The qualifying weekend actually begins on Friday with Fast Friday, which is considered the warm-up practice day for qualifying. During Fast Friday and the qualifying weekend, the engines are allowed to run with additional turbo boost, resulting in more power and therefore faster lap times.At the end of Fast Friday, the public draw for the qualifying order takes place, which — like most other aspects surrounding the Indy 500 — is considered a standalone event.
Four-Lap Qualifying Attempt
Unlike all other oval races, a qualifying attempt for the Indy 500 consists of four qualifying laps. The total time a driver records over these four laps determines their classification.
Saturday Qualifying
Since 2022, Indy 500 qualifying has closely resembled the qualifying format used on permanent road courses and street circuits, with Saturday essentially serving as the first qualifying segment. Here too, the focus is on finishing inside the top 15, as those positions remain eligible to compete for the prestigious pole position.Because there are no more than 33 entries in 2026, there will be no bumping. As a result, there will also be no Last Chance Qualifying session for a spot on the final row of the grid.
During Saturday qualifying, every driver is guaranteed one qualifying attempt, but multiple attempts are also permitted. There are two qualifying lanes for this purpose: one lane where drivers do not have to withdraw their previously recorded time and one lane where they do. Naturally, the first lane is expected to be busier, but if a driver is outside the top 30 near the end of the day, the second lane allows them to move ahead in the queue.
Drivers who finish Saturday in positions 16 through 33 are immediately done with qualifying after this segment. These drivers will start the race from the positions in which they finished on Saturday.
Sunday Qualifying
At the start of Sunday qualifying, fifteen drivers remain with a chance to claim pole position.Sunday qualifying begins with a new session for 2026: the Final 15 Qualifying session. In this segment, drivers compete for the final three spots in the Top 12 Qualifying session. Each driver gets one qualifying run, after which the three fastest drivers advance to the Fast 12. The three slowest drivers in this session will start from positions 13 through 15.
In the Top 12 Qualifying session, the top nine drivers from Saturday, joined by the three fastest drivers from the Final 15 session, make qualifying attempts in reverse order to qualify for the Fast Six. Drivers who finish seventh through twelfth will also start the race from those positions.
The qualifying weekend concludes with the Firestone Fast Six. In this session, the fastest drivers from the second qualifying segment battle for pole position. They run in reverse order of the results from the previous segment, meaning the fastest driver from that segment will be the last to take to the track.
Qualifying Points System
Under normal circumstances, one point is awarded during an IndyCar qualifying session, which naturally goes to the fastest driver. The Indy 500 qualifying format is an exception to that rule, as the pole-winning driver receives 12 points. Second place earns 11 points, third place earns 10 points, continuing down to one point for the driver who qualifies twelfth.