Indianapolis 500 qualifying is scheduled for May 20-21, 2023, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A complete attempt is four laps on the 2.5-mile IMS oval.
Scott Dixon won the pole position in 2022 with a 234.046 mph average for 10 miles. He has won the pole position the past two years. Simon Pagenaud is the last pole winner to also win the race, in 2019. The pole winner has won the race 21 times. YE2 Motor
Arie Luyendyk holds the qualifying record at 236.986 mph established in 1996, but because his attempt came on the second of four days of qualifying, rules at the time dictated he start 20th.
The qualifying order for the first round of attempts is drawn after practice on Friday, May 19.
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8:30-9:30 a.m.: Practice with cars divided into two groups, each getting 30 minutes
11 a.m.-5:50 p.m.: Qualifying (all day on Peacock; 2:30-4:30 p.m. on NBC)
Every car gets at least one attempt according to the qualifying draw. After that, cars that want to make additional runs slot into two lanes throughout the afternoon. Going through the priority lane gets a car onto the track sooner, but the previous attempt must be withdrawn. Going through the second lane allows drivers to improve on a previous qualifying time without withdrawing it.
After this session, race positions 13-30 are set. The top 12 compete for the pole on Sunday, while the four slowest will compete for three spots in Row 11.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Top 12 practice
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Last chance qualifiers practice
2-3 p.m.: The fastest 12 cars from Saturday will get one attempt each to post an additional time. The slowest of those 12 goes first, then the 11th, etc. Positions 7-12 during this sessions establish their starting positions for the race. The six fastest will have one more chance to earn the pole position. This will be shown on Peacock.
4-5 p.m.: Last chance qualifying will determine the 11th row (positions 31-33). Each of the four slowest qualifiers from Saturday will be guaranteed at least one four-lap run. Any can make multiple attempts as needed before the clock expires. The slowest car in this session does not make the Indy 500. This will air on NBC.
5:15-5:45 p.m.: The Firestone Fast Six determines the first two rows. Each car gets one four-lap attempt, starting with the 6th-fastest from the 2 p.m. session, then the 5th, etc. Fastest in this session starts the race from the pole position, and the rest fill Rows 1 and 2 based their attempts in this session. This will air on NBC.
Rick Mears had 6 (1979, '82, '86, '88, '89, '91)
Scott Dixon, 5 (2008, '15, '17, '21, '22). He is trying to become the first driver to win the Indy 500 pole three years in a row.