Day 1 of 2025 Indianapolis 500 qualifying in the books; Starting grid beginning to take shape

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Day one of qualifying for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is officially in the books.

Thirty drivers secured spots on the starting grid for Indianapolis 500 on Saturday. Eighteen of the race’s 33 available spots were finalized.

Here’s how the starting grid will look in spots 13-30:

• 13. Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing (231.725)
• 14. Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing (231.701)
• 15. Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing (231.641)
• 16. Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing (231.633)
• 17. Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises (231.593)
• 18. Devlin DeFrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (231.575)
• 19. Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing (231.461)
• 20. Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing (231.438)
• 21. Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren (231.326)
• 22. Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (231.058)
• 23. Callum Ilott, Prema Racing (230.993)
• 24. Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing (230.978)
• 25. Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global (230.917)
• 26. Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren (230.571)
• 27. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (230.363)
• 28. Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (230.348)
• 29. Colton Herta, Andretti Global (230.192)
• 30. Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (229.863)

The top 12 positions and bottom three spots on the grid will be finalized on Sunday. The following drivers will be competing for pole position on Sunday:

• 1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing (233.043)
• 2. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske (233.013)
• 3. Josef Newgarden, Team Penske (233.004)
• 4. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren (232.820)
• 5. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing (232.659)
• 6. Robert Shwartzman, Prema Racing (232.584)
• 7. David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Enterprises (232.546)
• 8. Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing (232.449)
• 9. Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (232.415)
• 10. Will Power, Team Penske (232.144)
• 11. Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global (232.132)
• 12. Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren (231.809)

Palou — who has won four out of the first five races on the NTT IndyCar Series this season — posted the fastest four-lap average on Saturday at 233.043 mph. He was trailed closely by a pair of Team Penske drivers, McLaughlin (233.013 mph) and Newgarden (233.004).

Palou, who has won three NTT IndyCar Series titles in his career, has never won the Indianapolis 500. Newgarden has won the last two Indy 500s and is seeking an unprecedented third straight win this year.

The 12 drivers who posted the fastest times on Saturday will participate in Top 12 Qualifying on Sunday. The six drivers who post the best times during Top 12 Qualifying will advance to the Firestone Fast Six. The driver who posts the fastest time in the Firestone Fast Six will earn the No. 1 spot on the starting grid.

Last Chance Qualifying will also determine positions 31-33 on the starting grid on Sunday. Rinus Veekay, Marcus Armstrong, Jacob Abel and Marco Andretti will complete for the final three spots in this year’s Indianapolis 500. One of the four drivers will not qualify for the race.

Gates will open to fans at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Top 12 Qualifying will begin at 4:05 p.m. with Last Chance Qualifying and Firestone Fast Six Qualifying to follow at 5:15 p.m. and 6:25 p.m., respectively.

Sunday’s qualifying action will also air on FOX59 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.