Editing Indianapolis 500 (section)

==Race specifics==
[[File:Indianapolis-motor-speedway-1848561.jpg|thumb|The [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]]]]

The Indianapolis 500 is held annually at the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]], a {{convert|2.5|mi|0|adj=mid}} [[Oval track racing|oval circuit]]. The track is a rounded rectangle, with four distinct turns of identical dimensions, connected by four straightaways (two long straightaways and two "short chutes"). [[Indianapolis 500 traditions|Traditionally]], the field consists of 33 starters, aligned in a starting grid of eleven rows of three cars apiece. Drivers race 200 laps, counter-clockwise around the circuit, for a distance of {{convert|500|mi}}. Since its inception in [[1911 Indianapolis 500|1911]], the race has always been scheduled on or around [[Memorial Day]]. Since [[1974 Indianapolis 500|1974]], the race has been specifically scheduled for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend is widely considered one of the most important days on the motorsports calendar, as it is the day of the Indianapolis 500, the [[Coca-Cola 600]], and (usually) the [[Monaco Grand Prix]]. Practice and time trials are held in the two weeks leading up to the race, while miscellaneous preliminary testing is held as early as April.

The race is the most prestigious event of the [[IndyCar Series|IndyCar]] calendar, and one of the oldest and [[Triple Crown of Motorsport|most important]] automobile races. It has been reported to be the largest single-day sporting event in the world. Likewise, the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] itself is regarded as the world's [[List of sports venues by capacity|largest sporting facility]] in terms of capacity.<ref>{{cite web |last=Indianapolis Motor Speedway |date=August 3, 2018 |title=USA Today Readers Name Indianapolis 500 As World's Best Motorsports Race In Poll |url=https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2018/08/03/usa-today-readers-name-indy-500-worlds-best-motorsports-race-2018 |website=IndianapolisMotorSpeedway}}</ref> The total purse exceeded [[United States dollar|$]]13 million in [[2011 Indianapolis 500|2011]], with over $2.5 million awarded to the winner, making it one of the richest cash prize funds in sports.

Similar to [[NASCAR]]'s [[Daytona 500]], the Indianapolis 500 is typically held early in the [[IndyCar Series]] season. That is unique to most sports where major events are usually at the end of the respective season. Currently, the Indy 500 is the sixth event of the 17-race IndyCar schedule. From the 1970s to the 1990s, Indianapolis was often the second or third race of the season, and as late as the 1950s, it was sometimes the first championship event of the year. Due to the high prestige of the Indianapolis 500—rivaling or even surpassing the season championship—it is not uncommon for some teams and drivers to focus heavily on preparing for that race during the early part of the season, and not focus fully on the championship battle until after Indy.

Due to safety issues such as [[aquaplaning]], the race is not held in wet conditions. In the event of a [[Rainout (sports)|rain delay]], the race will be postponed until rain showers cease, and the track is sufficiently dried. If rain falls during the race itself, officials will halt the race (red flag) and await safe conditions. The officials can end the race and declare the results official if more than half of the scheduled distance (i.e., 101 laps) has been completed. If less than half the distance has been completed, the race must be resumed and achieve at least the 101-lap distance in order to be official. A primary limiting factor is available daylight, as the track does not have lighting. If the race is halted and cannot be resumed before sunset, the resumption will be scheduled for the next possible day.

The Indianapolis 500, as well as other IndyCar Series races, does not utilize the [[green–white–checker finish]] in case of a late-race yellow. The race can be (and has at times) finished under caution. However, officials may call for a late-race red flag (in lieu of a lengthy yellow) to provide an opportunity for a green-flag finish, an option that was used in [[2014 Indianapolis 500|2014]], [[2019 Indianapolis 500|2019]], [[2022 Indianapolis 500|2022]], and [[2023 Indianapolis 500|2023]]. The circuit lacks lights, therefore lateness can become a factor in the cases of lengthy delays.

=== Car ===
The event is contested by [[American Championship car racing|"Indy cars"]], a [[Formula racing|formula]] of [[Professional sports|professional]]-level, single-seat, open [[cockpit]], [[Open-wheel car|open-wheel]], purpose-built race cars. As of [[2020 IndyCar Series season|2020]], all entrants utilize 2.2[[Litre|L]] [[V6 engine|V6]], twin-[[Turbocharger|turbocharged]] engines, tuned to produce a range of {{convert|550|-|750|hp}}. [[Chevrolet]] and [[Honda Performance Development|Honda]] are the current engine manufacturers involved in the sport. [[Dallara]] is at present the sole chassis supplier to the series. [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]], which has a deep history in the sport, dating back to the first 500, is currently the exclusive tire provider.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 NTT IndyCar Series Car Specifications |url=https://www.indycar.com/Fan-Info/INDYCAR-101/The-Car-Dallara/IndyCar-Series-Chassis-Specifications |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |access-date=21 March 2021 |website=[[IndyCar]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725080159/https://www.indycar.com/Fan-Info/INDYCAR-101/The-Car-Dallara/IndyCar-Series-Chassis-Specifications }}</ref>

=== Field ===
The traditional 33-car starting field at Indianapolis is larger than the fields at the other IndyCar races. The field at Indy typically consists of all of the full-time IndyCar Series entries (roughly 20–22 cars), along with roughly 10–15 part-time or "Indy-only" entries. The "Indy-only" entries, also known as "One-offs", may be an extra car added to an existing full-time team, or a part-time team altogether that does not enter any of the other races, or enters only a few selected races. The "Indy-only" drivers may come from a wide range of pedigrees but are usually experienced Indy car competitors who either lack a full-time ride, are former full-time drivers who have elected to drop down to part-time status, or occasional one-off drivers from other racing disciplines. It is not uncommon for some drivers (particularly former Indy 500 winners) to quit full-time driving during the season, but race solely at Indy for numerous years afterward before entering full retirement.

===Technical regulations===
[[File:PenskePC23.jpg|thumb|[[Penske PC-23]] [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]], [[1994 Indianapolis 500|1994]] winning car]]

Technical specifications for the Indianapolis 500 are currently written by [[IndyCar]]. Rules are generally the same as every other IndyCar race. In the past, particularly during the era in which USAC sanctioned the Indy 500 (but CART sanctioned the other Indy car races), rules at Indy slightly differed at times. The result, for example, would be a particular chassis or engine configuration being legal at Indy, but not so at the CART-sanctioned events. This was rather commonplace in the 1980s and early 1990s, when "stock-block" engines (namely the V-6 Buick) were allotted an increased level of turbocharger boost by USAC at Indy, compared to the purpose-built V-8 quad-cam engines. While the "stock block" engines were technically legal in CART competition, they were not given the increased boost advantage, which effectively rendered them uncompetitive, and precluded their use by teams. The most famous manifestation of the USAC rules disparity was the [[Ilmor]]-built [[Ilmor#Racing in the USA|Mercedes-Benz 500I]] engine fielded by [[Roger Penske]] in [[1994 Indianapolis 500|1994]].<ref name="INDY31">{{cite news|title=The Penske-Mercedes PC23-500I|publisher=forix.autosport.com|url=http://forix.autosport.com/8w/penske-mercedes-pc23.html|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=September 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922091434/http://forix.autosport.com/8w/penske-mercedes-pc23.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Teams may enter up to two machines under a given car number—the "primary" car and a "backup" car. The backup car is identified by the letter "T". For example, the two cars for the #2 team would be numbered #2 and #2T. Both cars may be practiced during the month, but due to engine lease rules, they must share the same engine. It is not uncommon for teams to prefer their backup car, if it is deemed faster, or for other strategic reasons. Additionally, as the month wears on, a "T car" may be split off into a separate entry, and reassigned a new number, or be sold to another team.

All cars must pass a rigorous technical inspection before receiving a sticker signifying that the car is eligible to practice. Various criteria include minimum weight, dimensions, and approved parts, particularly safety equipment. Before and after qualification attempts, cars must pass another inspection. The pre-qualifying inspection is focused on safety aspects and is done on the pit lane qualifying queue. It is relatively brief, due to the time constraints of the qualifying procedure. The post-qualifying inspection is much more stringent and lengthy, taking place in the garage area. It is to detect deviations from the performance guidelines set forth by the league, and cars can and have been fined or outright disqualified if they fail inspection.

During the race, work on the car is permitted, but it is usually limited to routine pit stop work (changing tires and refueling) and minor adjustments (wing angles, etc.) Pit stop activity is rigorously rehearsed by the crews and in modern times, routine pits stops are regularly completed in under ten seconds. Other more involved work, such as replacing damaged bodywork (wings, nose cones, etc.), can also be completed quickly by the crews. More lengthy repairs are allowed, and since 1998 teams are permitted to return to the garage area to make heavy repairs. However, there are limitations to the extent of repair work allowed and the practicality of such work. Teams are not allowed to change engines, and since 1933<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Talk of Gasoline Alley|series-link=Donald Davidson (historian)|station=[[WFNI]]|airdate=August 5, 2020}}</ref> a rule has been in place where teams are not allowed to add [[Motor oil|oil]] once the race has begun. In addition, the officials designate a certain lap after which off-track cars being serviced/repaired are no longer permitted to return to the race.

===Qualifying procedure===
{{Further|List of Indianapolis 500 pole-sitters}}
[[File:Dixon Pole 20080510.jpg|thumb|[[Scott Dixon]] makes his pole-winning qualification run for the [[2008 Indianapolis 500]]]]

Throughout the years, the race has used several different qualifying procedures. The current four-lap (ten-mile) qualifying distance was first introduced in 1920 and has been used every year since 1939.<ref name="Evolved">Mittman, Dick. [http://www.indy500.com/news/story.php?story_id=3569 Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Has Evolved Over The Years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306064131/http://www.indy500.com/news/story.php?story_id=3569 |date=2008-03-06 }}, Indy500.com, September 22, 2004</ref>

Presently, qualifying occurs on over two days. On Day 1, positions 13–30 (or 13–33 if there are only 33 entries) have their position set with all other positions set on Day 2. Following Fast Friday practice, all cars are entered into a blind draw for the qualifying order.

*Saturday: All entries are guaranteed at least one attempt to qualify and can make additional attempts if time permits. At the end of the session, the fastest twelve drivers advance to a "shootout" session held on the next day to determine pole position and the first four rows of the grid. As mentioned above, drivers who qualify 10th–30th have their spots locked in and will not re-qualify. Drivers who qualify 31st and lower advance to a separate "shootout" session also held on the next day to determine the final three spots on the grid. For re-attempts, there are two lanes: Lane 2 is known as the "no risk lane" and drivers can keep their previous time if their second (or subsequent) run is slower. Lane 1 is known as the "priority lane", and no cars from lane 2 are allowed on track unless lane 1 is empty. However, to re-qualify in lane 1 you must withdraw any previous times, regardless if the attempt is slower than a previous one.
*Sunday: The drivers who qualified 31st and lower from Saturday have their original times erased. There is one 75 minute session. Each driver gets one guaranteed attempt and can make additional attempts if time permits. Drivers who qualify 31st–33rd have their positions locked in. Drivers who finish 34th and lower fail to qualify. The fastest twelve drivers from Saturday take part in a second round of qualifying, with the top six advancing to the Firestone Fast Six. The qualifying order is based on the times from Saturday's session from slowest to fastest. Once again, the times from Saturday are erased and each driver is given only one attempt, locking in positions 7–12. Following a cool down period, including all cars taking slow cool down laps on track behind the pace/safety car, the remaining six drivers get one final attempt. The fastest driver wins the highly coveted pole position and the remaining five drivers have their positions locked in based on their times.

For each attempt, cars are allowed two warm-up laps. At that time, a member of the team is stationed at the north end of the main stretch. He or she must wave a green flag, signaling an attempt, or else the car will be waved off. The attempt can be waved off during any of the four laps by the team, driver, or race officials. (The series will wave off the run if it is obvious the run will not be fast enough to qualify and it is getting late in the day.) If an attempt is waved off after the run starts, the attempt counts and the previous time is still forfeited unless race officials waved off the attempt because of weather. Weather can and often does affect qualifying and can result in last-minute format changes.