Roger Penske has tweaked qualifying for subsequent month’s Indianapolis 500 so as to add a shootout that can decide the primary 4 beginning rows for “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing.”
Penske informed The Related Press the tweaks will create a high-pressure environment on the second day of qualifying.
“We will have all 33 qualify on Saturday after which come again on Sunday, and take two hours at the perfect time of the day and ship the highest 12 out after which the highest six,” Penske informed AP earlier than Tuesday’s announcement. “I actually wish to do that, we already do it at different races.
“To have Joe Blow, who’s thirty third, get beat by Julian Blow — if you concentrate on it, doing it this manner, we’re actually going to have the ability to put it on the market and it may be a really tense two hours.”
IndyCar most not too long ago has used a “Quick 9” format on the Indy 500 to find out the primary three beginning rows. The brand new format will set positions 13-33 on Could 21, the primary day of qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The second day will function the quickest 12 drivers all posting a four-lap common for the pole. The sector will likely be lower to 6 for a “Quick Six” that can decide the primary two rows and the final word pole winner. It can air stay on NBC.
The pole-sitter will obtain $100,000 and 12 factors within the IndyCar standings. Factors will likely be awarded in reducing one-point increments for the highest 12.
“We have now an extremely deep discipline heading into this 12 months’s Indianapolis 500,” IndyCar president Jay Frye stated in a press release. “The timing is correct to implement a brand new and dramatic solution to develop one of the crucial intense weekends on our calendar. Profitable pole place for the ‘500’ is an unbelievable feat, and with this new format, it will likely be much more difficult.”
Solely 32 groups have at the moment introduced their intent to run the Indy 500, with the ultimate thirty third entry an unknown a month out from the race. Ought to there be greater than 33 entries, IndyCar will nonetheless maintain “Final Likelihood Qualifying” on Could 22.