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IRL, Indy 500: Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Procedures

22 May 1999

INDIANAPOLIS - Qualifications for the 83rd Indianapolis 500 start with Pole Day from 11-6 p.m. May 22. The final day of qualifications, Bubble Day, takes place from noon-6 p.m. May 23. A brief explanation of qualifying procedures:

1. Qualifying draw for positions in the initial qualifying line will take place at 6:15 p.m. today at the Tower Terrace. The order of the draw will be first come, first serve.

2. The fastest 33 qualifiers start the race, regardless of when or on which day they qualify.

3. The pole position is decided by the fastest qualifier on the first day, or the fastest qualifier after one trip through the original qualifying line, whichever comes LAST.

4. Each car can make three qualification attempts. When a car completes a four-lap, 10-mile qualification attempt, its speed becomes official. The car may not requalify. The driver, if the car is bumped or withdrawn, may qualify in another car.

5. When the field is full at 33 cars, the slowest, regardless of its position in the provisional lineup, is always "on the bubble" and may be bumped by a faster qualifier. A successful qualifier is always inserted into the field according to its speed ranking within the day on which it posted its official time and speed. This process continues until the allotted time for qualifications expires.

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