Qualifying for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is off to a rainy start, and IndyCar officials called off the planned practice session on Saturday morning. There was lightning as well, so IMS cleared the grandstands of fans. While that storm has moved through, the threat of inclement weather remains.
Saturday sets the grid for positions 16-33, with the fastest 15 advancing into the 'Final 15' tomorrow, and the fastest nine automatically locking themselves into the 'Top 12' round tomorrow. A full rundown of the 2026 qualifying format can be found HERE. There will be no bumping and all drivers entered will start the race next Sunday.
Fans in wet weather
Fans in wet weather
With the threat of more rain throughout the day, if IndyCar cannot give all 33 entries an opportunity to make at least one qualifying attempt, than those who did go out on track will have to re-run in an altered Sunday schedule. They will need about a three-hour window in order to allow all cars to complete a four-lap qualifying run.
Five-time Indy 500 pole-sitter Scott Dixon, who is hoping to match Rick Mears with a record sixth this weekend, will be the first car out on track. He will be followed by Christian Lundgaard, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter, Rinus VeeKay, and Scott McLaughlin.
Defending winner Alex Palou, Jacob Abel, and Katherine Legge will be the final three drivers to go out on track. Legge is attempting to become just the sixth driver to ever run the Indy 500/Coke 600 Double this year.
Felix Rosenqvist holds the quickest lap of the week with a 233.372mph run on Fast Friday, while 2024 Indy 500 pole-sitter McLaughlin holds the fastest no-tow speed at 232.674mph
More to follow…
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