Indianapolis Motor Speedway has announced its timetable for the Month of May, with the major change being a shake up to the qualification format that is said to fit better with US television scheduling.
Qualification for the Indianapolis 500 will take place over the weekend starting Saturday May 19th, with 30 drivers guaranteeing themselves a race start and positions 10 through to 30 having their starting positions locked in at that stage.
Then on Sunday May 20th, drivers who finished the previous days running outside the top 30 have the chance to compete for the remaining three positions on the 33 car starting grid, in what IMS are deeming the ‘Last Row Shootout’.
With a field of more than 33 cars expected, the drama of who gets ‘bumped’ off the starting grid by failing to qualify is expected to bring a healthy television audience.
This will be immediately followed by the traditional ‘Fast Nine’ shootout where the top nine drivers from the previous day will attempt to set the fastest time and qualify on Pole Position for the race itself.
To add yet more Sunday entertainment, the open practice session for all qualified drivers has been moved to this Sunday too. This session, whilst not a competitive race, often generates considerable action as drivers have a chance to practice drafting, overtaking and experience their cars whilst travelling at speed in close proximity to their competitors.
Previously the open practice session has been held on a Monday, and so many spectators and the television audience has missed the chance to view it.
The rest of the schedule remains broadly as per previous years, with the Indy Grand Prix kicking off proceeding on the road course on Sunday May 11th.
The 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday May 26th.
