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Indianapolis 500 practice officially began this week, with qualifying coming up this weekend.
However, how they will prepare the field for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is a little different than it has been in previous years.
The Indy 500 typically uses a different format than any other IndyCar race, and frankly, it’s my favorite format in all of motorsports.
Practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 began Tuesday, (© Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Each car completes a four-lap race, and the field is determined by the average speed over those four laps.
But after this first run, teams can queue up to race again and race as many times as possible before time runs out.
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Or, they can play by throwing away their previous time and skipping the queue.
It’s intense, especially as we approach the final minutes of the session.
Josef Newgarden of Team Penske gets into his car for the first day of practice before the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. (© Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
At the start of May, one of the main talking points was that the number of entries was stuck at 33. Sure, it’s a full field, but it robs us of the drama of hump day when more than 33 cars are trying to earn a spot on the grid.
But fortunately, some slight adjustments will fuel a little intensity during the second day of qualifying since there will be no bumps.
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Typically, the 12 fastest drivers race on Sunday to try to advance in the Firestone Fast Six and attempt to start from pole. This year, the nine fastest cars from the first day of qualifying will place in the Top 12, while the cars that finish the first day between 10 and 15 places will race again for the final three spots.
After the Top 12, qualifying will take place as usual.
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Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Conor Daly prepares for the opening day of the Indianapolis 500. (© Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
I’m as disappointed as anyone that we couldn’t at least get to 34 cars, but I think it’s going to be pretty cool because if you get a mediocre race on Saturday but you can still get into the top 15, you still have a chance to get the pole.
The first day of qualifying will begin on Saturday, May 16 at 11 a.m. ET and will move from FS2 to FS1 then finally to Fox throughout the day.
