{"id":33749,"date":"2025-05-13T18:14:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T22:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=33749"},"modified":"2025-05-13T18:14:39","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T22:14:39","slug":"indycar-101-breaking-down-indy-500-qualifying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/05\/13\/indycar-101-breaking-down-indy-500-qualifying\/","title":{"rendered":"IndyCar 101: Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re less than two weeks away from IndyCar\u2019s biggest event<\/a> of the season: the Indianapolis 500.<\/a> While there are other races during the month of May, the shining star of the year has always been the 500. <\/span>There are some differences in the Indianapolis 500, one of those being qualifying. <\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Last Word on Motorsport breaks down the Indy 500’s qualifying<\/a> procedure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IndyCar 101: How To Qualify for the Indianapolis 500<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"Scott
Scott McLaughlin poses with the Indianapolis 500 Pole Award. May 20th. 2024. By Chris Owens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Normally, IndyCar qualifies like most motorsports series around the world. If racing on an oval, single-car runs are made, and the fastest earns the pole. On street and road courses, two groups determine the even and the odd positions, with the fastest six racing for the pole award.<\/p>\n

All that changes when the IndyCar grid heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Qualifying takes multiple days, and everyone faces the possibility of missing the big show. This is Indianapolis 500 Qualifying.,<\/p>\n

Day One: Thirteenth Thru Thirty<\/b><\/h3>\n

Qualifying order will be decided by a blind draw on the day before qualifying starts. On day one, all teams and drivers will make a qualifying attempt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A successful qualifying attempt is completed once a driver has an average time made up of four laps around the track.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Positions 13-30 are locked in by the end of the day; anyone who qualifies in one of these positions isn’t permitted to participate in qualifying during day two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Indy 500, the starting grid is allowed to be made up of up to 33 cars. Any car that qualifies outside of the top 30 will have a second chance at qualifying during day two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n