The Indy 500 Qualifying Procedure in 2025
During the Indy 500, everything is different, and so is the qualifying process. It’s the most important race of the IndyCar season, and as such, there’s an entire weekend dedicated to qualifying for this race.
The qualifying weekend actually starts on Friday, known as 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 extra turbo boost, providing more power and thus faster lap times.
At the end of Fast Friday, the public drawing for the qualifying order takes place, which, like most other aspects of the Indy 500, is treated as a standalone event.
Unlike all other oval races, a qualifying attempt for the Indy 500 consists of four timed laps. The combined time over these four laps determines a driver’s position.
Starting in 2022, the qualifying format for the Indy 500 closely resembles the qualifying format on permanent and street circuits, where Saturday essentially serves as the first segment. Here, the goal is to finish within the top twelve, as these positions remain in contention for the prestigious pole position.
If there are more than 33 entries, as a driver, you definitely don't want to finish worse than 30th, as only the top 30 automatically qualify for the race on Saturday. Drivers who finish 31st or worse will need to qualify for the race on Sunday in the ‘Last Chance’ qualifying session.
During Saturday’s qualifying, every driver is guaranteed one qualifying attempt, but multiple attempts are allowed. There are two lines: one where drivers don’t have to give up their previous time and one where they do. Naturally, the first line is usually busier, but if you’re outside the top 30 at the end of the day, you can jump ahead via the second line.
Drivers who finish Saturday in positions 13 through 30 are done with qualifying and will start the race in the positions where they finished on Saturday.
Before the start of Sunday’s qualifying, twelve drivers still have a shot at pole position, while those outside the top 30 are still on edge (if there are more than 33 entries).
Sunday qualifying begins with the second qualifying segment: the top twelve from Saturday get to make a qualifying attempt in reverse order to qualify for the Fast Six. Drivers who finish between seventh and twelfth will also start the race from those positions.
Immediately following the second qualifying segment is the ‘Last Chance Qualifying’ session, where drivers who finished 31st or worse on Saturday will compete for the final three spots on the grid. Each driver is guaranteed one qualifying attempt, but after these attempts, additional attempts can be made until the hour is up.
The qualifying weekend ends with the Firestone Fast Six. Here, the fastest drivers from the second qualifying segment compete for pole position. They do this in reverse order of the second segment results, with the fastest driver from the second segment going out last.
Typically, only one point is awarded in an IndyCar qualifying session, which goes to the fastest driver. However, there is an exception for the Indy 500: the driver on pole position earns 12 points. The second-place driver earns 11 points, the third place 10 points, and so on, down to one point for the driver who qualifies twelfth.
?Extra Turbo Boost During Qualifying Weekend
The qualifying weekend actually starts on Friday, known as 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 extra turbo boost, providing more power and thus faster lap times.
At the end of Fast Friday, the public drawing for the qualifying order takes place, which, like most other aspects of the Indy 500, is treated as a standalone event.
Four-Lap Qualifying Attempt
Unlike all other oval races, a qualifying attempt for the Indy 500 consists of four timed laps. The combined time over these four laps determines a driver’s position.
Saturday Qualifying
Starting in 2022, the qualifying format for the Indy 500 closely resembles the qualifying format on permanent and street circuits, where Saturday essentially serves as the first segment. Here, the goal is to finish within the top twelve, as these positions remain in contention for the prestigious pole position.
If there are more than 33 entries, as a driver, you definitely don't want to finish worse than 30th, as only the top 30 automatically qualify for the race on Saturday. Drivers who finish 31st or worse will need to qualify for the race on Sunday in the ‘Last Chance’ qualifying session.
During Saturday’s qualifying, every driver is guaranteed one qualifying attempt, but multiple attempts are allowed. There are two lines: one where drivers don’t have to give up their previous time and one where they do. Naturally, the first line is usually busier, but if you’re outside the top 30 at the end of the day, you can jump ahead via the second line.
Drivers who finish Saturday in positions 13 through 30 are done with qualifying and will start the race in the positions where they finished on Saturday.
Sunday Qualifying
Before the start of Sunday’s qualifying, twelve drivers still have a shot at pole position, while those outside the top 30 are still on edge (if there are more than 33 entries).Sunday qualifying begins with the second qualifying segment: the top twelve from Saturday get to make a qualifying attempt in reverse order to qualify for the Fast Six. Drivers who finish between seventh and twelfth will also start the race from those positions.
Immediately following the second qualifying segment is the ‘Last Chance Qualifying’ session, where drivers who finished 31st or worse on Saturday will compete for the final three spots on the grid. Each driver is guaranteed one qualifying attempt, but after these attempts, additional attempts can be made until the hour is up.
The qualifying weekend ends with the Firestone Fast Six. Here, the fastest drivers from the second qualifying segment compete for pole position. They do this in reverse order of the second segment results, with the fastest driver from the second segment going out last.
Qualifying Points
Typically, only one point is awarded in an IndyCar qualifying session, which goes to the fastest driver. However, there is an exception for the Indy 500: the driver on pole position earns 12 points. The second-place driver earns 11 points, the third place 10 points, and so on, down to one point for the driver who qualifies twelfth.