Day 1 qualifying order and confusing procedures for Indy 500 (Update)

UPDATE
Indianapolis 500 DAY 1 Qualifying PROCEDURE

First-day qualifying determines the 33 provisional positions in the field based on the fastest four-lap aggregate times. All cars are guaranteed one four-lap opportunity to qualify, provided the car is properly presented in the initial qualifying line. Proper presentation for the guaranteed opportunity consists of four steps: 1) having the car in the qualifying line at the designated time; 2) passing technical inspection; 3) remaining in the qualifying line from tech inspection to pit lane (no changes can be made to the car following tech inspection other than tire pressure and/or front/rear wing adjustments); 4) leaving pit lane to begin the qualifying attempt when instructed by Race Control.

Qualifying Attempt – An official attempt consists of four consecutive timed laps, with the aggregate time recorded as the official qualifying time for the car. Each car is permitted two warmup laps prior to the timed qualification attempt, though the Race Director may permit three warmup laps if deemed necessary.

Guaranteed Qualifying Opportunity: The guaranteed opportunity for qualifying is complete after going one time through the official qualifying order, established in the blind qualifying draw May 15. If an entry does not make a qualifying attempt at its designated spot in the qualifying order, it forfeits its guaranteed opportunity. Additional qualifying opportunities, while not guaranteed, will be available as time and track conditions permit.

Cars are permitted to make multiple qualifying attempts, with or without withdrawing a previous qualifying time. Once the original qualifying line has been completed, or “breaks," two qualifying lanes will be formed:

• Fuzzy’s Fast Lane: The priority lane for cars that have not qualified or have withdrawn previous qualifying times. The withdrawal of a previous qualifying time takes place upon entry into this lane.
• Lane 2: This lane is for cars that have posted a qualifying time, do not wish to withdraw it, but wish to qualify again. Cars in Lane 2 may make qualifying attempts once there is a break in the Fuzzy’s Fast Lane. If a car making an attempt from this lane does not improve its qualifying time, the original qualifying time remains as the official attempt.

If a car is bumped from the top 33 positions or has its qualifying time voided, it may make subsequent qualifications attempts. There is no limit on the number of qualifying attempts a car may make.

At the end of Saturday, May 16 qualifying, the top nine qualifiers are locked into the “Fast Nine Shootout" held on Sunday, May 17 to determine the first nine race starting positions. Those cars finishing first-day qualifying in the 10th through 30th positions are locked into the race field and advance to Group 1 second-day qualifying to set the final grid order of positions 10-30. Cars finishing 31st through 33rd in first-day qualifying advance to Group 2 second-day qualifying along with any unqualified cars, to set the final grid order of positions 31-33.

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Verizon IndyCar Series season championship points are available today to all drivers/entrants that qualify in the provisional field of 33, as follows:

1^st – 33 points

2^nd – 32 points

3^rd – 31 points

4^th – 30 points

5^th – 29 points

6^th – 28 points

7^th – 27 points

8^th – 26 points

9^th – 25 points

10^th – 24 points

11^th – 23 points

12^th – 22 points

13^th – 21 points

14^th – 20 points

15^th – 19 points

16^th – 18 points

17^th – 17 points

18^th – 16 points

19^th – 15 points

20^th – 14 points

21^st – 13 points

22^nd – 12 points

23^rd – 11 points

24^th – 10 points

25^th – 9 points

26^th – 8 points

27^th – 7 points

28^th – 6 points

29^th – 5 points

30^th – 4 points

31^st – 3 points

32^nd – 2 points

33^rd – 1 point

Those who qualify today for the Fast Nine Shootout on Sunday, May 17 are eligible to receive additional driver/entrant points based on the results of the shootout, as follows: 1^st: 9 points; 2^nd: 8 points; 3^rd: 7 points; 4^th: 6 points; 5^th: 5 points; 6^th: 4 points; 7^th: 3 points; 8^th: 2 points; 9^th; 1 point.

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Per INDYCAR regulations, engine turbocharger boost for both manufacturers was increased from 130 kPa to 140kPa for practice Friday, May 15 and remains in effect for qualifying today and Sunday, May 17. The boost level will return to 130 kPa for practices Monday, May 18 and Friday, May 22, and for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 24.

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Activities were delayed this morning due to wet track conditions, with Race Control announcing the following schedule revision:

10-10:30 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 practice, Group 1 (first half of qualifying draw)*

10:30-11 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 practice, Group 2 (second half of qualifying draw)*

11:15 a.m. – Group 1 in qualifying line

11:45 a.m. – Group 2 in qualifying line

11:45 a.m. – First-day qualifying begins

*-There is no guaranteed amount of green-flag track time, but each group will receive an equal amount.

5/15/15

Qualifying order for Day 1 of qualifying for the 99th running of the Indy 500.

The order really is meaningless because a driver has many chances to set a time before qualifying is over and if they don't like their time they can try again, a and again, and again and again.

Carlos Huertas, in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda, drew the first qualifying spot in the blind draw following practice. Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 champion in the No. 28 DHL Andretti Autosport Honda, was second. Backup cars were included in the draw, though some teams don't have them and most don't plan to use them.

Fast man Friday – Simon Pagenaud – drew the 52nd overall spot (23rd among primary cars), Dixon fourth (third among primary cars) and reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Power 26th overall (14th among primary cars).

Qualifying Order

Draw#	Car#	Draw#	Car#	Draw#	Car#
1	18	28	28T	55	98T
2	28	29	22T	56	26T
3	20T	30	63	57	41
4	9	31	3T	58	3
5	27T	32	8T	59	48
6	43T	33	18T	60	2
7	29T	34	4T	61	24
8	20	35	10	62	5
9	10T	36	32	63	98
10	15	37	17T	64	19
11	91T	38	88T	65	27
12	7	39	7T	66	8
12A	15T	40	19T	67	21T
14	17	41	6T	68	41T
15	43	42	83T
16	88	43	11T
17	2T	44	25
18	25T	45	91
19	6	46	5T
20	29	47	83
21	4	48	24T
22	14T	49	9T
23	32T	50	11
24	1T	51	26
25	14	52	22
26	1	53	21
27	48T	54	63T

05/15/15

Complicated Qualifying