CONCORD, N.C. - Indianapolis 500 qualifying is vastly different than other forms or motorsports. Spanning across two days and featuring multiple qualifying sessions, the Indy 500 starting grid is not determined by lap times, but rather by average speed.
The first qualifying session takes place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. Drivers take turns completing a set of four laps. Once they finish, the average speed across the four laps determines what position the driver sits in.
After each team has had a chance to qualify, two lanes on pit road form for the final few hours of the session. Lane one has priority over lane two, but drivers in lane one have to sacrifice their initial average speed and whatever speed they set in their new run will count. Drivers in lane two have to wait for drivers in lane one to run their set of laps, but do not lose their qualifying spot, even if they set a slower average speed.
Last year, Kyle Larson's lap speeds where 232.951 mph, 232.796 mph, 232.395 mph and 232.114 mph with an average of 232.563 mph, good enough for fifth place and a spot in the Fast Twelve.
Positions 13-30 are locked for the 500, while the top 12 drivers battle in another session to enter the Firestone Fast Six, the final session that determines pole position.
On Sunday, May 18 at 4:05 p.m. the top 12 drivers will take turns setting the fastest average lap across four laps again. The top six in speed will advance to the last round.
Last year, Kyle Larson's lap times in the Fast 12 where 233.453 mph, 232.872 mph, 232.578 mph and 232.254 mph which totaled an average of 232.788 mph, putting him in fifth place.
Following that, the bottom four drivers fight for the final three spots in the 500-mile race. The slowest average driver of the four, will not be able to compete in the event.
Finally, the top six drivers will run four laps, the average of which determines their starting position. The driver with the fastest average speed will start at the front of the Indy 500.
Larson qualified fifth in his Indy 500 endeavor last year with lap speeds of 233.383 mph, 232.903 mph, 232.669 mph and 232.433 mph, giving him an average of 232.846 mph.
Indy 500 qualifying schedule
(All times listed in eastern time)
Saturday, May 17
- 11 - Qualifying day one, FS1
Sunday, May 18
- 4:05 - Top 12 qualifying, FOX
- 5:15 - Last chance qualifying, FOX
- 6:25 - Firestone Fast Six, FOX