Time to Modify the New Qualifications at Indy?

[rebelman2006]

I for one am not pleased with the 11 car only rule for each day at Indy. I think most teams will simply wait for day 2 and Pole day will not regain it's magic. The 3 strikes for each car, per day is a good idea and long overdue.

[jdessar]

I like the 3 tries per car per day rule.

But they could drop the "only 11 cars can qualify per day" rule.

That would make me happy.

[jkg]

Fans sure seemed to like the pole battle last year. The 2nd day should be fun too, as with potentially more competitive entries, nobody is going to want to wait until the next weekend to qualify.

I'd keep it as is.

[ruggy]

i agree keep it as it is atleast for this year and see how it goes.

The way I see it, its like have 3 pole days...
Day1- the fast
day2- the up and coming
day3- the "we will all be lapped by lap 30" .....just a joke

works for me
Ruggy

[mp_0610]

I wouldn't mind seeing them keep it as is this year, and then switching back to the old format next year. I kinda liked seeing the teams forced to choose between taking the run or waving it off...it added a whole different aspect to the strategy.


But, who knows - this format could be even better with the increased car count as it was last year...we just need help from mother nature (like we got last year).

[crispy]

The three tries per tub is required due to the low tub availability, so it has to stay.

However, the 11 per day I hate.

We'll see how it goes the next time pole day is bright and sunny and day two is a washout.

Cars 12-22 are going to love running their unqualified cars all week...

[Mario4ever]

I wouldn't mind seeing them keep it as is this year, and then switching back to the old format next year. I kinda liked seeing the teams forced to choose between taking the run or waving it off...it added a whole different aspect to the strategy.


But, who knows - this format could be even better with the increased car count as it was last year...we just need help from mother nature (like we got last year).

I like the old rule. 3 strikes for the entire month. No limit to the number of qualifiers per day. This requires more thoughtful strategy and more month-long drama. The new rules are geared (pun?) for instant gratification, I think. I prefer the drama of the entire month instead of day to day. Just my preference.

[11pm]

I liked the multiple attempts allowed per day.....it sure keeps who the pole winner up the air for awhile.

I kinda like the sounds of dropping the 11 spots only per day, but do they have the 11 spots filled per day just to make sure that folks are trying to qualify on days 2, 3, and 4? I guess if you took 30 cars on day one....we wouldn't have nearly as much action on the rest of the qualifying days.

[captmrwill]

I like the shoot out on the first day. I don't want the end of the day to be people who aren't going to even have a shot at the pole, while a legitimate contender for pole sits in line and doesn't get a shot.

However, the second and third 11 I could do without. Do 11 the first day, then 22 under the old rules from then on out.

[Rosco]

Now that the racing will be like 1995, what's wrong with using the 1995 qualifying format, this format did keep teams on their toes

[jkg]

Now that the racing will be like 1995, what's wrong with using the 1995 qualifying format, this format did keep teams on their toes

The classic system had its definite merits, but this system guarantees that there will be a pretty good amount of action on all 4 days. I think the 2nd day of quals sees the biggest uptick in activity compared to the old system.

If 4 days of quals are going to be kept, the change I'd like to see made is the times where qual runs are allowed. Condense things to perhaps 12-2, and 4:30 - 6 (with obvious allowances made for weather). Having a 6 hour window is too difficult for TV to cover, and much too long for the attention span of today's casual fan.

[WolfGangVonT]

WHOA!

I need a re-education here:

Let me make sure I've got this straight -

On the "FIRST" Qualification day "POLE DAY" only the fastest 11 are put on the grid, and you get 3 attempts (on this day) to make your speed case.

On the "SECOND" Qualification day, the fastest 11 (of this day's times), (are put on the grid "in the 12th to 22nd position?"), and you get 3 additional attempts (on this day) to make your speed case.

On the "THIRD" Qualification day, the fastest 11 (of this day's times), (are put on the grid "in the 23rd to 33rd position?"), and you get 3 additional attempts (on this day) to make your speed case.

At this point we have then filled the field with 33 starters.

On the "FOURTH" Qualification day, "BUMP DAY" - The slowest of the 33 Qualified cars get bumped out of the field "IF" a faster time then his/hers is turned this day.
And you get 3 additional attempts (on this day) to make your speed case.

Is this Accurate? - I guess I can accept this format, but what happens if the bumped driver has no attempts to re-qualify, are they just SOL.-They should add a 1 Qualification attempt to the bumped driver if this case ever occurs.

[SactoIndyFan]

I like the current format and JKG added a great point about the TV time...especially since ABC/ESPN breaks it up anyways.

[jkg]

On the "FOURTH" Qualification day, "BUMP DAY" - The slowest of the 33 Qualified cars get bumped out of the field "IF" a faster time then his/hers is turned this day.
And you get 3 additional attempts (on this day) to make your speed case.

Is this Accurate? - I guess I can accept this format, but what happens if the bumped driver has no attempts to re-qualify, are they just SOL.-They should add a 1 Qualification attempt to the bumped driver if this case ever occurs.

Accurate summation I believe. The driver would be SOL if he had to expend all 3 qualification runs on the final day, and was subsequently bumped. Pretty unlikely, but it would be exciting to see.

[Tim Northcutt]

Keep it as it is now...

In the past under the old format, Day 2 and, in most cases, Day 3 were extremely slow days when it came to qualifiers.

In fact, years ago under the old system, on various occasions the slowest qualifier on Pole Day would be the first person bumped, because others who fought their way in had an extra week to find speed.

If you look back as recently as 2002, Team Green withdrew their cars and times set on Pole Day and requalified on Bump Day, because the conditions were ideal and their speeds in their primary cars would not have held up.

At least this new format was more exciting and entertaining...every day had meaning.