The Indy 500 qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500, held on May 17-18, 2025, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), set the stage for a thrilling race on May 25. With two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden predicted to claim pole, the Indy 500 qualifying sessions delivered high speeds, a dramatic crash, and intense competition among 34 drivers vying for 33 grid spots.
This article recaps the Indy 500 qualifying action, key performers, and what fans can expect, offering a detailed look at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Background: A Sold-Out Indy 500 and Qualifying Stakes
The Indy 500 qualifying is a two-day gauntlet determining the starting grid for the 200-lap, 500-mile race, with all 250,000 grandstand seats sold out for the first time since 2016, per The Drive. The field, featuring 34 entries, faces a unique format:
Saturday’s runs set positions 13-30, while Sunday’s Fast 12, Last Chance Qualifying, and Firestone Fast Six finalize the top 12, the bumped driver, and pole position, per RacingNews365. The Indy 500 qualifying carries added weight with nearly 350,000 fans expected, and the local TV blackout lifted, per IndyStar.
The tone was set by rain-soaked and crash-plagued practice sessions. According to IndyStar, Chip Ganassi Racing had to use its backup vehicle after Kyle Simpson’s horrific Turn 4 collision on Fast Friday. According to FOX Sports, practice speeds were highest for reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who had four victories in 2025, and Newgarden, who was attempting to win the Indianapolis 500 for the third time in a row.
According to Motorsport Wire, Kyle Larson’s attempt at “The Double” with NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 adds drama, but his NASCAR All-Star Race may pull him from Sunday’s Fast Six.
Qualifying Day 1: Speed and Drama
The Indy 500 qualifying began Saturday with drivers aiming for the highest four-lap average speed. Newgarden, in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, posted a 226.971 mph practice lap, signaling pole potential, per NASCAR.com.
Will Power, his teammate and 2018 Indy 500 winner, hit 227.026 mph, making Penske a favorite, per Yardbarker. Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, and Felix Rosenqvist advanced to Round 2 from Group 1, per @IndyCar, but debris and Simpson’s crash recovery added tension, per IndyStar.
Marco Andretti aborted a qualifying sim due to track debris, while Simpson, despite his wreck, secured a spot in Round 2, per @IndyCar. The Indy 500 qualifying format, with Lane 1 offering priority but requiring withdrawn times, saw strategic gambles, per FOX Sports.
According to Motorsport.com, Colton Herta, hurt by a bad road course race, tried to get back on track, but Andretti Global’s qualifying problems continued. The Saturday qualifying order was posted in posts on X, such as @bobpockrass, emphasizing the tension.
Day 2 Outlook and Key Contenders
Sunday’s Indy 500 qualifying features the Fast 12, Last Chance Qualifying, and Fast Six, broadcast on FOX from 4 p.m. ET, per Sporting News. Newgarden, predicted to win pole, leverages his practice speed, per Motorsport Wire. Palou, at 5/1 odds, and Scott Dixon, a 2008 Indy 500 winner, are threats, per FOX Sports.
According to Motorsport Wire, Larson, at 10/1, might settle for sixth if he places in the Top 12 and runs the danger of missing the Fast Six because of NASCAR obligations. Per Motorsport Wire, Robert Shwartzman, who is having trouble with Prema Racing, could be bumped.
Helio Castroneves, a four-time Indy 500 champion, aims for a strong grid spot with his commemorative Indy-Daytona helmet, per @IMS. The Indy 500 qualifying’s Last Chance session, where the 34th driver is eliminated, adds pressure, with Shwartzman and Callum Ilott vulnerable, per The Race. Weather concerns, prompting a virtual Qualifying Draw on YouTube, could impact Sunday’s runs, per @IMS.
Why Indy 500 Qualifying Matters
The Indy 500 qualifying sets the tone for a sold-out race, blending veterans like Newgarden with rookies like Louis Foster, who seeks a breakout, per The Race. For fans, it’s a high-stakes prelude, with speeds exceeding 227 mph and the threat of bumping creating drama.
The Indy 500 qualifying not only shapes the grid but also fuels narratives, from Larson’s “Double” bid to Newgarden’s quest for history, making it a cornerstone of Indy’s Month of May. Read more.
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