2024 Indy 500 Qualifying Format

Saturday, May 25th

Qualifying Round 1

The goal of Saturday's qualifying is twofold: 1) to be one of the 30 fastest cars and lock up a spot in the Top 12 Qualifying on Sunday, and 2) to earn one of the nine guaranteed spots in the Indianapolis 500 starting grid.

Top 12 Qualifying

From 2:00 to 3:00pm, the Top 12 Qualifying session will determine the pole position and starting order for the first three rows of the Indianapolis 500. The 12 fastest drivers from Saturday's qualifying will compete for the coveted pole position.

Sunday, May 26th

Qualifying Round 2: Last Row Shootout

If the rain continues, IndyCar will make a call depending on the context of the situation rather than it being a hard and fast deadline. The Last Row Shootout will determine the starting positions for the final three rows of the Indianapolis 500 grid. The 31st to 33rd fastest cars from Saturday's qualifying will compete for the final three spots in the race.

Unlike any other race on the IndyCar schedule, Indy 500 qualifying is based on a driver's four-lap average speed. This unique format creates a thrilling and unpredictable qualifying weekend, as drivers push their cars to the limit in pursuit of a spot in the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."