Speeds were recorded by the front wheels of cars travelling over a wire stretched across the circuit at the start/finish line an inch from the ground to activate the mechanism to record a lap time on a paper card before switching to using an
electric eye in 1946. All drivers have been permitted two warm-up laps since
1982, down from three between
1946 and
1981. A qualifying attempt begins when a team representative waves a
green flag. If they wave the
yellow flag, the attempt will not count, and the driver must return to the
pit lane. If the team did not display a green flag, a vehicle may leave the pit lane as many times as it wanted. Teams are allowed to modify certain parts or electronics on their cars in their pit box following the completion of their qualifying run. Since
1965, a blind draw conducted by a selected representative from each team (a driver, family member or team representative) has been held the night before qualifying to decide the qualifying order in order to reduce congestion or misunderstandings. Previously, the qualifying order was set by teams presenting their cars in a queue that began in the garage area. The quickest qualifier on the first day or the top qualifier following a single trip through the original timing line took pole position, whichever came last. All cars were given three attempts to qualify and its speed was made official after completing four-laps () and cannot re-qualify. The driver could requalify in another vehicle if it did not qualify or withdrew. After 33 cars qualified, the slowest qualifier, regardless of position in the provisional starting order, could be demoted by a faster car. All successful qualifiers were assured participation in the race based on their qualifying time and speed. In
1996 and
1997, the top 25 cars in the
Indy Racing League (IRL) points standings were guaranteed a starting position in the race with the final eight spots open for all other entries. Bumping would be widespread throughout the starting order under this format, rather than being restricted to the slowest vehicles. All cars, backup or primary, were given three attempts each day or twelve over all four days to qualify for the race. The format gradually decreased the field to determine the pole position starter. The first six-hour qualifying day filled the top 24 spots. All cars had three tries to set a qualifying speed, and positions 10 through 24 were set after the session. The demoted entrant was withdrawn from the field but granted three attempts to return to the grid, time permitting, and the car that demoted it was put at the back of the starting grid. On the first day, the top 33 entries completed the provisional starting grid, and each car had at least one qualifying attempt. The fastest nine entrants qualified for the following day's Fast Nine Shootout. If more than 33 vehicles were entered, a driver who was not among the top 33 qualifiers did not advance to the second day's session. In
2016, this was changed to qualifying's second day, with the pole sitter collecting 42 points down to the 33rd-placed qualifier earning one point. The qualifying points format was significantly revised in
2018, with the pole sitter receiving nine points, down to one point for the ninth-placed qualifier.
2019–present Following debate when driver
James Hinchcliffe failed to qualify in 2018, a modified version of the two-day format intended to be more exciting was used from
2019. Every driver had one qualifying run to claim a top 30 starting position on the first day, but more attempts could be made time and weather permitting until the track was closed. Positions 10 to 30 were claimed and did not re-qualify the following day. The second day included a one-hour Last Row Shootout for the slowest three qualifiers, as well as the Fast Nine Shootout. IndyCar modified the format again in
2022 to more closely resemble its qualifying procedure on road and street circuits. Following the first day of qualifying to determine positions 13 to 30 through drivers' speeds, If a driver makes multiple tries, all of their other times are deleted, and the top non-qualified entry takes 33rd place. The top 12 qualifiers compete in the second round of qualifying, with the fastest six advancing to the ensuing Fast Six Shootout to determine pole position to sixth place based on their final performance. Points are currently granted to the first 12 qualifiers, with the pole position starter earning 12 points and the driver starting in 12th place earning one. == By year ==