Indy 500 qualifying schedule altered with no bumping to occur at IMS
Zion Brown- IndyCar has changed the Indianapolis 500 qualifying schedule for 2026 due to no bumping occurring.
- Saturday's qualifying will determine positions 16-33 and lock the fastest nine cars into Sunday's Top 12 session.
- Sunday's sessions will include the Final 15, Top 12, and Fast Six to set the front rows and determine the pole winner.
With no bumping to occur ahead of the 2026 Indianapolis 500, IndyCar has modified the qualifying schedule for this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The first day of qualifying, set for Saturday (May 16), will run from 11 a.m. to 5:50 p.m., determining positions 16-33 for the race. The fastest nine cars from that session will be locked into the top-12 session on Sunday (May 17).
Cars ranked 10 to 15 on Saturday will advance to the Final 15, to begin at 4 p.m. Sunday. The top 12 round will then follow (approximately 5 p.m.), then the Fast Six to determine the front three rows at approximately 6:35. The fastest driver will earn pole position and the accompanying $100,000 prize.
Saturday's session will air on FS2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., FS1 from 2 to 4 p.m. and Fox from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday's sessions will all be on Fox, with practice being aired from 1 to 3 p.m. on FS2.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.