IndyCar has released the qualifying plan for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500, which includes rules dictating who gets to race and who goes home.
The bumping process is necessary because 34 drivers will be attempting to qualify for 33 positions, leading to extra drama for qualifying weekend.
The plan resembles qualifying procedures for previous Indy 500s, but has been tweaked to maximize excitement and drama for fans.
On Saturday, May 20, a seven-hour long marathon qualifying session will take place. All 34 drivers will be allowed to take part, and will be allowed to make multiple attempts if they feel they can improve upon their initial time.
Each attempt will consist of four consecutive flying laps, with each driver having the 2.5-mile oval completely to themselves.
At the end of the day, positions 13-30 will be locked in. Any driver in the top 12 or bottom four positions will return to the track on Sunday to finalize their qualifying position.
A short session Sunday afternoon for the fastest group of drivers will then lock in positions 7-12, whittling the drivers available to take pole down to six.
The final positions will be decided before the top spot, however, with a one hour timeslot dedicated to having four drivers battle for the final three positions on the grid.
Drivers will be allowed to make multiple attempts until time expires, setting up the possibility of a last-minute upset.
One driver and team will be disappointed when it is all said and done, and there are no guarantees in place for any of the series’ competitors, no matter their position in the standings.
Once the battle for the final row is complete, the top six drivers will head back on track for a single four-lap attempt to decide the pole winner for the Indy 500.
In all, the schedule dictates an action-packed weekend, with the race itself taking place seven days after the final field is decided.
The first practice session for this year’s Indy 500 takes place on Tuesday, May 16, leading into qualifying which wraps up Sunday, May 21.
