Indy 500 Qualifying Begins: Key Races for Positions Ahead

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The battle for positions in the 2025 Indianapolis 500 heats up today as qualifying kicks off at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The focus today is on determining positions 13-30 for the May 25 race, while the top 12 spots and positions 31-33 will be on the line this Sunday.

With 34 entries, only 33 cars will make the race. Five-time pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin recorded the fastest four-lap qualifying simulation on Fast Friday with an average speed of 232.366 mph, closely followed by Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou at 232.307 mph. Last year’s pole-sitter, Will Power from Team Penske, had the best single lap, clocking in at 233.954 mph.

Every driver is guaranteed one four-lap qualifying attempt today. Qualifying began with favorable weather conditions, including 72 degrees with mostly cloudy skies and a sustained west wind of 20 mph, although the track temperature was 108 degrees.

The leaderboard remains fluid as the morning session unfolded. Notably, the No. 66 of Marcus Armstrong forfeited its place in the qualifying order after a crash on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, drivers such as Takuma Sato and Marco Andretti struggle to crack the top 30, with Andretti outside the cutoff.

IndyCar officials provided updates on the qualifying order, highlighting that some cars are experiencing faster speeds in later laps, likely due to the influence of hybrid power systems introduced recently.

As the clock ticks down on today’s qualifying attempts, fans can follow the action and keep up with qualifying results, crucial for determining which drivers will secure a spot in this year’s race.

“We’ll be running our best today,” said McLaughlin. As qualifying progresses, tensions will rise, and each driver must perform at their peak to secure their coveted place in the race.