New feature announced by Indy is a process with the pace-car to help cool the engines during the interval between Fast 12 and Fast 6. Format debuts in 2022
The 2022 Indy 500 will have a major change to this year's qualifying format. As announced in April, seven rows will be set on Saturday, while 12 drivers will advance to Sunday for pole position, instead of nine as in previous years. Indy detailed how the new procedure will work.
Now, on Sunday, the 12 cars will go through aerodynamic adjustments before going out on track in a single attempt, in order from slowest to fastest through Saturday's qualifying.
After the 12th car returns to the pit-lane, the teams will be allowed to work on the cars for five minutes before Fast 6, with the drivers advancing to the pole-position race.
With the concern for the short time between Fast 12 and Fast 6, and the fear of heat interfering with engine performance, electronic coolers may be used at all times. Once the five-minute break period is over, the cars will run two laps behind the pace car in order to bring more air into the radiators.
Once the exhibition laps are completed, the teams will be able to tinker with the cars again, adding more fuel and new tires for the final attempt that will crown the pole-position of the Indianapolis 500.
Qualifying for the 2022 Indianapolis 500 will begin on Saturday (21st) at 1 pm (ET).