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sports13h ago
Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Weekend Explained: How Will the Grid Be Set in 2026?
- The 2026 Indy 500 qualifying adds a Sunday elimination round to determine the top positions.
- Fast Friday on May 15 gives teams one last chance to dial in qualifying pace with boosted speeds.
- Saturday’s four-lap averages determine most starting positions, with lane choices affecting risk and pace.
- Saturdays positions 16-33 are set, while top-9 are guaranteed a place in Sundays Top 12 after the final rounds.
- The Final 15 determines three of the last Top 12 spots, adding strategic tension to the race for the front row.
- The fastest four-lap average wins the NTT P1 Award and secures the pole position for the race.
- Sunday runs from 4 PM to 7 PM ET, continuing the multi-session format to decide the top grid positions.
- The new format replaces traditional bump-day drama with a structured elimination approach across two days.
- IndyCar maintains a four-lap average format for each qualifying attempt to determine pace and consistency.
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