2021 INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUALIFYING FORMAT
POSITIONS 1-9 DETERMINED
(Including Pole Position)
FAST NINE SHOOTOUT
Order based on Saturday times, slowest to fastest.
SUNDAY, MAY 23
Positions 10-30 set.
Will not re-qualify on Sunday.
Full-field qualifying
QUALIFICATIONS
SATURDAY, MAY 22
Thirty-five cars will attempt to qualify for a starting position either from one of two lanes (see Quick Qual Facts below) with positions 10-30 locked in on Saturday. The Fast Nine Shootout (positions 1-9) and Last Chance Qualifying (positions 31-33) will be determined on Sunday, May 23.
Each entry is guaranteed one attempt.
The fastest drivers of the Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying will be awarded the top nine starting spots in the field, but only one driver with the perfect lap will go down in history as the 2021 Indianapolis 500 NTT P1 Award winner.
12 - 6 pm ET
2 - 3 pm ET
3 - 6 PM ET
NORMAL LANE
FAST LANE
Quick Quals Facts
All entered cars are guaranteed one four-lap qualifying attempt, and once those have been completed the team can elect to make another qualifying run – but there’s a twist. The team must choose between one of two different ‘lanes’ – either the normal lane or the fast lane.
Teams that put cars in the normal lane may attempt to improve their qualifying time without withdrawing their established time.
Choosing the fast lane means getting priority ahead of cars in the normal lane. The fast lane is primarily for cars without a qualifying time. However, a car in this lane with an established time must withdraw the time before making the next four-lap run – and obviously that comes with some risk. Sometimes the reward pays off, sometimes
it doesn’t.
Each driver in Sunday’s Fast Nine Shootout will receive one (1) set of Firestone tires to be utilized during the pre-Qualification practice, and one (1) additional set for their Qualification attempt. Both sets of tires must be returned to Firestone at the conclusion of each session.
For all qualifying attempts, cars must add a minimum of three (3) gallons of fuel from the qualifications fuel tank located in pit lane.
TUNE IN ON
/
2:30 - 4:30 pm ET
4:30 - 7 PM ET (PRACTICE)
(Including Pole Position)
Each entry is guaranteed one attempt and can make multiple attempts until time expires. If multiple attempts are made, previous times are withdrawn and most recent time remains eligible.
POSITIONS 31-33 DETERMINED
last CHANCE QUALIFYING
BUMPED
OUT
(1:15 - 2:30 PM)
(3 - 3:45 PM)
1 - 2:30 pm ET /
The fastest two days on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule are here - the Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying weekend. Over two days, 35 drivers and teams will fight for one of the 33 positions in the starting field for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Drivers will take 16 corners at speeds of 230+ mph hoping to put together four perfect laps to secure a spot and fight for a chance to etch their name in history as the next Indianapolis 500 champion.
All entered cars are guaranteed one four-lap qualifying attempt, and once those have been completed the team can elect to make another qualifying run – but there’s a twist. The team must choose between one of two different ‘lanes’ – either the normal lane or the fast lane.
Teams that put cars in the normal lane may attempt to improve their qualifying time without withdrawing their established time.
Choosing the fast lane means getting priority ahead of cars in the normal lane. The fast lane is primarily for cars without a qualifying time. However, a car in this lane with an established time must withdraw the time before making the next four-lap run – and obviously that comes with some risk. Sometimes the reward pays off, sometimes
it doesn’t.