Highlights of the new qualifying format to be used this year for the Indianapolis 500:
– Each car is permitted three qualifying attempts per day whether the attempt is completed or not, for a maximum of 12 attempts. In the past, cars were limited to three qualifying attempts.
– A team may withdraw a qualified car before it is bumped if, for example, it wishes to put the car back into the qualifying line to attempt to qualify faster. In the past, a withdrawn car was not eligible for further competition.
– The slowest qualifier from each day can be bumped in a subsequent session.
– Only the fastest 11 qualifiers Saturday are in the tentative lineup, with the top qualifier getting the pole position.
– The speeds of everyone else will be wiped out, and they’ll start again Sunday to fill spots 12-22. Positions 23-33 will be set on the third day, May 21.
– On the fourth qualifying day, May 22, the slowest car in the field–no matter what position it holds–can be bumped by someone posting a faster speed. A driver who bumps his way in takes the 33rd spot, and others move forward to take the place of the bumped driver.
