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IMS Announces New 500 Qualifying Rules

Written by Scott Keller · September 15, 2004

Radical changes to the qualifying rules are implemented in hopes of renewing the lost interest in the Indianapolis 500.


It is no secret that the Indy 500 has lost its place as America’s greatest race to the Daytona 500. Even the Brickyard 400 has more drama and excitement, and possibly even more ticket demand.

IMS is doing whatever it can to try to bring back the excitement to Indy, especially the qualifications.

IMS announced new rules and hours for qualifying and the race in 2005. Here’s a breakdown of what they are:

  • Only 11 starting positions will be contested per qualifying day, and teams will be able to use the same car to make multiple attempts.
  • An additional qualifying day, which restores the four-day format.
  • Fewer practice hours (a cost-saving 20 less for the month, with each day noon to 6 p.m.)
  • A later (noon) starting time for the 500 on May 29.
  • A different position for Carburetion Day (Friday before the race, with the Menards Infiniti Pro Series race added and Indy-car practice cut to one hour).
  • A different position for Carburetion Day (Friday before the race, with the Menards Infiniti Pro Series race added and Indy-car practice cut to one hour
  • A different position for Carburetion Day (Friday before the race, with the Menards Infiniti Pro Series race added and Indy-car practice cut to one hour).
  • A new home for the rookie orientation program (set to open track activities May 8-9).

The biggest of these changes is the new 11-position per qualifying day rule. According to the speedway, this rule is designed to increase bumping.

“Bumping is what the fans want to see more of,” George said at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “That’s what we’ll focus on.”

He’s right, we want to see bumping, but not on day one. We want to see 40 or 50 cars attempting to make the show, and see bumping going on during the final day of qualifications, like it was meant to be.

This is obviously a reaction to the fact that there just haven’t been enough entries in the Indy 500 to have any significant bubble-day bumping. The spin on this rule is that it was conceived in the 80’s, so it wasn’t a reaction to the fact that there may be less than 33 cars in the field this year. I’m not buying it.

Here’s my guess about how this will negatively impact “pole day” at Indy. If you only can fill 11 spots on day one, then why would any of the cars with practice times slower than the top 11 even attempt to qualify?

I think Pole Day is going to see some bumping, but probably not see as many drivers making attempts overall. You are probably going to see the big money teams shooting it out at the top on Saturday, and the rest of the field will just sit around and wait for Sunday.

I mean, why risk crashing your car or getting bumped for posting a 16th fastest time on Pole Day if you have to go and do it again on Sunday because it doesn’t count? Isn’t this going to cost the smaller teams more money to have to come back the next day, practice and setup the car for the new conditions and qualify again?

Not only that, but some of the drama of qualifying was whether or not a team would accept or “waive off” a run, depending on whether they thought it would be fast enough to make it in the race. With the new rules, you just accept it. And if you get bumped, just bring the same car back tomorrow and try again.

Is this really a good move by IMS? In my extremely humble option, I think not.

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Comments

4 Responses to “IMS Announces New 500 Qualifying Rules”

  1. bill Collister on September 15th, 2004 10:04 pm

    I lost repect for the 500 in 1997. Wake me up when Tony retires.

  2. Jeff Kohler on September 16th, 2004 10:52 am

    I take exception to your statement that the Brickyard 400 is more exciting than the Indy 500. Do you watch these races? NASCAR may have more & better marketing, however they don’t have better racing. The fan interest in NASCAR over IRL is simply marketing. NASCAR has something on TV almost 24/7, the IRL has its race on about every other week. Simple marketing repetition is what has brought NASCAR to its present popularity, not side by side racing action which is almost non existent in NASCAR races. I feel if the so-called reporters would report the positives of the IRL instead of rehashing the old rhetoric about the open wheel split maybe people would take more interest in the IRL. However, I guess bad news sells and positive news doesn’t. The only reason the reporters don’t blast NASCAR about their problems is they’re scared NASCAR will pull their press credentials. Give the IRL its due, its the best side by side series in all of racing!

  3. Kelly on September 17th, 2004 6:48 pm

    I agree with you if you were talking about IRL prior to this year, but the new engine package makes for some rather dull battles up front. The horsepower is low that the the cars look like they’re dragging an anchor behind them when they pull out to pass.

    I’ve loved the IRL formula up until this season, but it seems like the racing is all about track position and momentum rather than handling and horsepower this year, and I don’t find it as compelling as a result.

    I would like to see them come up with a formula that would keep the cars from elevating at high speeds, yet would afford racers the hp to pull out of the draft and actually complete a pass rather than being stuck side by side with the rev limiter pegged for a few laps until one of them catches a slight, random drafting advantage and is able to pull ahead.

  4. Larry on September 19th, 2004 8:15 pm

    Would someone please share with me how stall assignments are made for each race? Qualifying times? points?

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