RACER: Indy 500 Qualifying Explained (badly)

RACER's Marshall Pruett and Robin Miller attempt to explain the crazy qualifying procedure for the Indy 500 and fail, miserably, along the way.

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[cvillalobos]

I come every year to watch it as a tradition. Laugh every time

[kathylebro]

Thank you guys, I now have a headache.

[jesshahn]

Why the change from 6:00 PM closing to 5:50 PM??

[RGSkadberg]

This is confusing to start. Add to it, watching on Saturday with all the references to "tomorrow" which means "today" i.e., Saturday. Totally lost me on the "fast line" and "really fast line." I understand there is need to try to make a couple days of qualifying interesting. How close is IMS to doing heat races?

[CPD]

Indy Car needs to go back to the way they used to qualify for the 500 for years...

[raymond]

So, it's obvious. To insure you don't get sent home Saturday, you should crash on the 1st lap qualifying Saturday.

That guarantees you make the field regardless how slow you go Sunday. There's only 33 cars Saturday.

[michaelhogg]

You have me cracking up to the point of tears!

[mikeavette]

Thanks. I think. Indy really needs to simply qualifying 🤪 [ps - you two rock!]

[HODIUSDUDE]

This new qualifying format is so jacked up.

[zigwald]

What did Tony George start? Heaven help us

[Secretarian]

The eventual pole sitter gets a big cash prize plus whatever else. Does the driver who leads Fast 9 on Saturday get any prizes. And what is with Bump Day coming before Pole Day? Huh?

[rcsouth]

Dont kid yourself. We love you guys. Behind Donald Davidson you are an Indy tradition Miller. Thank you for the memories.

[AlonsoRules]

do the qualifying order like the 1911 race, where the order of entries was the grid hahahahahaha

[jamiedoellinger]

So you dislike the idea that those who qualify on Saturday for the Fast 9 have to come back and run again on Sunday for the Pole.
Do you feel the same way about Knockout Qualifying on the Street/Road Courses when the Fastest times from the 1st Round should be enough?
Uhh, probably not.

[rajivodhavji]

Guys after about 6 minutes I was just having a nosebleed. Indy makes F1 look simple!

[ceed]

Ring back the 60's qualifying format where it was possible for the slowest car in the field to win the Pole.

[aguirreignacio]

I hadn't been thinking about this, but... Come on, this system is ridiculous. You guys nailed it again!

[countryfan]

Confusing back to basics next year 4 days of qualifying pole day pole front row set like old days 1-12 then 12-22 on Sunday 22-33 next Saturday then bump day Sunday very confused as to why bump day isn’t Sunday this year traditionally pole day is Saturday

[projectkhan]

Where to watch Qualifying outside the US in Europe?

[fletcherwulff]

If you fail to complete your attempt on Saturday, and you complete a fast run Sunday to bump into the field, does the driver that was bumped get another attempt? What if the track is significantly faster on Sunday?
Does that make sense? Haha
Thanks for the coverage!