Rain cancels Saturday qualifying at the 110th Indianapolis 500; organizers to reschedule

Indianapolis Motor Speedway scrapped Saturday qualifying for the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 16 after rain washed out track activity, and INDYCAR shifted the entire qualifying program to Sunday. The revised plan keeps the expanded 2026 format, including the Final 15, Top 12 and Firestone Fast Six rounds, according to INDYCAR and IMS. The change came one day before the field is due to be set for the May 24 race in Indianapolis. With 33 entries for 33 starting spots, all cars that complete qualifying are expected to make the field. ### Why was Saturday qualifying canceled instead of delayed? Rain at Indianapolis Motor Speedway forced officials to call off all qualifying activity scheduled for Saturday, May 16, according to IMS. The speedway said Saturday tickets and paid parking would be honored on Sunday, while suite and hospitality tickets from Saturday would convert to general admission access only. (indycar.com) The IMS event schedule now lists Sunday, May 17, as the day for the full qualifying program. That means the opening full-field session that normally would have set positions 16-33 on Saturday will instead begin on Sunday before the later knockout rounds. (indycar.com) ### What exactly moved to Sunday? Sunday’s revised order keeps the same basic structure INDYCAR announced earlier this week for the 2026 race. A full-field session will first establish the initial order, with the fastest nine cars locking directly into the Top 12 round and cars ranked 10th through 15th advancing to a Final 15 session. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) The Final 15 round will then give six drivers one attempt each to fight for the last three places in the Top 12, according to INDYCAR’s qualifying procedure. After that, the Top 12 session will decide positions seven through 12 and send the fastest six cars into the Firestone Fast Six shootout for pole. ### How are points being handled under the revised format? (indycar.com) INDYCAR said the rainout did not change the new championship-points element tied to Indianapolis 500 qualifying. The series said drivers who reach the Top 12 qualifying session will receive bonus points, with 12 points to the pole winner, 11 to second and descending by one point to one point for 12th. (indycar.com) That points structure is new for the 2026 event. INDYCAR detailed the system when it unveiled the expanded qualifying procedure on May 11, tying championship stakes to the Sunday elimination rounds rather than only the pole position. ### Is there any bumping this year? The 110th Indianapolis 500 has 33 entries for 33 starting spots, eliminating the traditional bumping fight at the back of the field. (indycar.com) Motorsport.com reported on May 11 that the official entry list confirmed all 33 drivers and teams, meaning no one would be knocked out of the race if every car completes qualifying. (indycar.com) INDYCAR’s format change reflects that math. Instead of a last-row shootout to remove cars from the field, the series added the intermediate Final 15 round to create another battle higher up the order before the Top 12 and Fast Six sessions. ### What should fans watch for on Sunday? Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will now carry the full weight of setting the grid, from the first full-field runs through the pole shootout. (motorsport.com) IMS said military personnel with valid ID will receive free entry, and the speedway’s qualifying ticket page lists Sunday, May 17, as the active day for PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. (indycar.com) The next fixed date is Sunday, May 24, when the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. INDYCAR’s event page lists the race as the next step after qualifying weekend, with the 33-car starting order to be finalized from Sunday’s sessions. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com 1) (indianapolismotorspeedway.com 2)