IndyCar Points System

In many racing series, the battle among lower-ranked drivers or teams isn't rewarded, as only the top ten finishers typically earn points for the championship. However, this is not the case in IndyCar: every position earns points, and it definitely matters whether you finish sixteenth or seventeenth. Only from 25th place onwards does the number of points remain constant at five, positions that are usually only occupied during the Indianapolis 500 and typically by drivers who have retired from the race.

Unlike previous seasons, there are no double-points races in 2025. From 2014 to 2022, double points were awarded in the Indianapolis 500, and the season finale also offered double points. Starting in 2023, this is no longer the case. However, this year there is one race that doesn’t award any points: the race at The Thermal Club.

Typically, during qualifying, only one point is awarded to the driver who qualifies on pole position. This is different during the Indianapolis 500 qualifying, where all drivers who qualify in the ‘Fast Twelve’ earn points for the championship.

The IndyCar Points System Based on Finishing Positions:

Position:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33
Races	50	40	35	32	30	28	26	24	22	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Indy 500 Qualifying	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Bonus Points

In addition to points based on finishing positions, drivers in the IndyCar Series can also earn bonus points. Drivers can score extra championship points in the following ways:
- Securing pole position – one point
- Leading a lap – one point
- Leading the most laps – two points