IndyCar has unveiled a new qualifying structure for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, set for May 2026. The format will feature 33 cars on the grid with no bumping—marking the first time in four years that all entries are guaranteed a spot.
Qualifying kicks off on Saturday, May 16, with an open session from 11 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. ET, locking in positions 16 through 33. The nine fastest drivers from that day will automatically secure a spot in the top 12 for Sunday’s action, with a chance to advance to the Firestone Fast Six and compete for pole.
Drivers who finish between 10th and 15th on Saturday will enter the Final 15 round on Sunday, battling for three remaining spots inside the top 12. Each driver gets one attempt to post a four-lap average, and the three quickest join the rest of the top 12. This round starts at 4 p.m. ET.
At approximately 5 p.m. ET, the Top 12 qualifying round begins, with the fastest six advancing to the Firestone Fast Six. As in previous years, the Fast Six—scheduled for around 6:35 p.m. ET—will decide the pole position, awarding a $100,000 prize and a front-row starting spot for IndyCar’s crown jewel event. Drivers in the Final 15, Top 12, and Fast Six rounds will run in order from slowest to fastest for their four-lap attempts.
“We have streamlined the process to maintain excitement while giving every driver a clear path to the front,” an IndyCar spokesperson said.
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
Photo by: Penske Entertainment