> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.the-race.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # When is the Indy 500? Full schedule for the Month of May - URL: https://www.the-race.com/indycar/when-is-the-indy-500-full-schedule-for-month-of-may/ - Published: 2024-05-14T11:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2024-05-14T11:21:21.000Z - Description: Here's a full breakdown of the timetable of the Indy 500 for 2024 - Author: The Race Team - Tags: IndyCar The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 is just around the corner. It might not quite be the 'Month of May' any more - in so far as its schedule has condensed closer to two weeks than a full four over the years - but there's still plenty of on-track action to whet your appetite at the biggest single-day sporting event in the world based on attendance. Below we've outlined the major on-track events of the Indy 500 with some extra detail to help explain some of those things further. All times listed here are local, Eastern Time. If you're in the UK, just add five hours to the times below to get the start time. ### Tuesday May 14 0900-1100 - practice 1300-1800 - practice ### Wednesday May 15 1200-1800 - practice ### Thursday May 16 1200-1800 - practice ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dd/af/ddafbd99-2ccd-468c-b622-4b3cccf80b49/content/images/2024/05/Callum-Ilott---Indianapolis-500-Practice---By_-Chris-Jones_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m79835.jpg) The first three practices of the week are open to the teams. They can prioritise race running, qualifying tweaking, and a mix of both which is usually the case. Crucially, the Indy 500 open test in April was rained off, so there will be teams who will still be working through tweaks they’ve made off the back of last year’s race. And as [Callum Ilott and Juncos experienced last year](https://www.the-race.com/indycar/callum-ilott-mclaren-indycar-stand-in-drive/), there’s almost always one team that has to debate swapping to a back-up car if there’s something wrong with the primary option. The smallest of issues with a chassis, floor or aero components can cost you qualifying for the race. Crashes are also an absolute must to avoid. ### Friday May 17 (Fast Friday) 1200-1800 - practice 1815-1900 - qualifying draw ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dd/af/ddafbd99-2ccd-468c-b622-4b3cccf80b49/content/images/2024/05/Will-Power-and-his-son_-Beau_-draw-their-qualification-order---Indianapolis-500-Practice---By_-Tim-Holle_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m80536.jpg) Fast Friday is when teams get to run the extra turbo boost for qualifying. So there’s six hours of running higher boost to prepare for the laps that count the next day. The qualifying draw afterwards (pictured above) is always a lot of fun. Some drivers are extremely superstitious about who makes the draw because it’s worked - or hasn't - for them in the past. Each driver or a representative of a driver - it's often family members, team personnel or even sponsors - draws a number, which decides when they will go out to qualify. If you draw number 1, you’re first in line for qualifying. If you’re last, you go 34th. ### Saturday May 18 0830-0930 - practice 1100-1750 - qualifying ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dd/af/ddafbd99-2ccd-468c-b622-4b3cccf80b49/content/images/2024/05/Alex-Palou---PPG-Presents-Armed-Forces-Qualifying---By_-Doug-Mathews_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m81498.jpg) Saturday sets the grid from 13th to 29th, the rest go on to Sunday. The Top 12 will be whittled down to a Fast Six and go for pole on Sunday, whereas 30th-34th go to Last Chance qualifying, where this year one team will be bumped out of the Indy 500. After each driver has set a four-lap qualifying run in the order they were drawn at random on Friday, there is a chance to go again and this is governed by the queue system. The right hand queue allows you to keep the time you have previously set, thus meaning you will still make the race even if you go slower when you get to go back on track. > 34 drivers going after a position in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". > > Here's everything you need to know ahead of [@PPG](https://twitter.com/PPG?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) Presents Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend. > > Tune in TODAY at 11 AM ET on Peacock.[#INDYCAR](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDYCAR?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) // [#Indy500](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) [pic.twitter.com/OW6oJfjxjB](https://t.co/OW6oJfjxjB?ref=the-race.com) > > — NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) [May 20, 2023](https://twitter.com/IndyCar/status/1659923179022831622?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) This lane becomes full quickly because there’s no risk associated here. That’s why there’s the left hand queue, too. If you take this route, you lose the time you’ve previously set, so if you go slower than the 33rd car or you crash or have a mechanical issue, it can cost you a place in the event. Because of the risk, this queue gets you out on track quicker and takes priority over the right lane. ### Sunday May 19 (Bump Day) 1200-1300 - practice, Top 12 1300-1400 - practice, Last Chance qualifiers 1505-1605 - Top 12 qualifying 1615-1715 - Last Chance qualifying 1725-1755 - Fast Six ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dd/af/ddafbd99-2ccd-468c-b622-4b3cccf80b49/content/images/2024/05/Alex-Palou---Indianapolis-500-Front-Row-Photoshoot---By_-Chris-Owens_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m81767.jpg) In the Top 12 and Fast Six, drivers get one four-lap run to set their time for the Indy 500\. In the Last Chance group, the teams use the queue system as on Saturday, until the session time runs out. Jack Harvey bumped team-mate Graham Rahal out of the race on his last run of the Last Chance event last year. Alex Palou took pole position. > “We weren’t good enough.” > > Graham Rahal was overcome with emotion after being bumped by Jack Harvey. [#INDY500](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDY500?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) [pic.twitter.com/FJeeTjcOUx](https://t.co/FJeeTjcOUx?ref=the-race.com) > > — INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) [May 21, 2023](https://twitter.com/IndyCaronNBC/status/1660394116906188800?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) This day is called Bump Day because it's when one or more cars are 'bumped' out of the starting line-up. ### Monday May 20 1300-1500 - practice This allows teams to change their set-ups back from qualifying to race trim and make sure that is all done correctly. ### Friday May 24 (Carb Day) 1100-1300 - practice 1430-1600 - pitstop challenge ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dd/af/ddafbd99-2ccd-468c-b622-4b3cccf80b49/content/images/2024/05/Will-Power---Miller-Lite-Carb-Day-Pit-Stop-Challenge---By_-Doug-Mathews_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m82347.jpg) Carb Day is a hangover from the 1960s when teams and drivers would use this final practice to tweak their carburettors for race day. Now it is just the final practice before the Indy 500. The golden rule here? Don't crash. The pitstop competition is also a massive deal in the paddock. These teams make hundreds of stops in May and need five-plus perfect ones in the race itself if their driver is to win. The winning crew is even given its own press conference. ### Saturday May 25 (Legends Day) 0900-1000 - full field autograph session 1030-1100 - public drivers meeting ### Sunday May 26 1030 - cars to grid 1147 - driver introductions 1217 - invocation and national anthem/music package 1228 - drivers to cars 1245 - green flag for the Indy 500 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dd/af/ddafbd99-2ccd-468c-b622-4b3cccf80b49/content/images/2024/05/Start-of-the-107th-Indianapolis-500---107th-Running-of-the-Indianapolis-500-Presented-By-Gainbridge---By_-John-Cote_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m82693-1.jpg) Tune in a little earlier than the green flag wherever you are watching for the pomp and ceremony of the Indy 500, which is like no other. A literal cannon is fired at 6am to open the gates to spectators and from thereon in it’s a mad rush of events before the race itself, with singing, fighter jet flyovers, A-list celebrities and of course, driver introductions.