Qualifying for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will feature a new elimination filter because INDYCAR announced that on Saturday, May 16, only the nine fastest drivers will advance directly to the Top 12 on Sunday. Those positioned 10th through 15th will have to compete in the Final 15 round, a session in which each car will make one four-lap attempt to fight for the three remaining berths in the pole shootout. Series president J. Douglas Boles explained that the adjustment responds to the parity of the field and the fact that all 33 entrants have guaranteed race spots, which eliminated the traditional drama of Bump Day and forced the elimination pressure to shift to the battle for the first two rows.

Photo By Penske Entertainment

Saturday's objective changes

Under the 2025 system, the 12 best times on Saturday advanced directly to the Top 12, and simply being among the leaders was enough to stay alive in the fight for pole. The change reduces that safe zone to nine cars, meaning drivers who qualify between 10th and 15th retain the right to continue competing but must risk everything in a single four-lap timed session on Sunday at 4 p.m., with no margin for error. Falling outside the Top 9 forces the engine, gearbox, and suspension to be pushed hard in an extra round that could affect the rest of the day.

The Final 15 adds mechanical and human pressure

The new format brings a physical burden for the cars involved, because a team that finishes 10th on Saturday may be forced to complete up to three full sessions on Sunday: the Final 15 to advance, the Top 12 to fight for the Fast Six, and the pole shootout itself. Each four-lap attempt at Indianapolis requires sustained aerodynamic stability for more than two and a half minutes at the limit. Maintaining engine temperature and performance across three consecutive runs separated only by cooldown laps becomes a preparation challenge that only the protagonists of the Last Chance Qualifying used to face.

Championship points

INDYCAR confirmed that qualifiers for the Top 12 will earn championship points on a scale starting at 12 points for the pole position, 11 for second, and decreasing by one point down to 12th place. Teams that advance between rounds will have a break with laps behind the Pace Car at 100 mph to stabilize engine temperatures before the next attempt.

Photo By Penske Entertainment

Why qualifying changed

In 2025, with 34 cars for 33 spots, Last Chance Qualifying eliminated one driver from the grid, and that "bump" drama was one of the most tense moments of qualifying weekend. In 2026, the 33 entrants exactly fill the starting field, so the series decided to shift the elimination pressure to the fight for pole through the Final 15. This round does not decide who runs the race, but rather who competes for the $100,000 that accompanies pole position.