IRL expands qualifying procedure to 4 laps for all oval races

[The General]

The Indy Racing League will use a four-lap qualifying procedure similar to the Indianapolis 500 at all its oval-track races this season.

The pole winner and lineup at those events will be determined by the overall times for all four laps, rather than the fastest of two qualifying laps as in the past. The format for road and street courses will remain unchanged, with single-lap qualifying for all cars followed by a 10-minute group session with the six fastest qualifiers to determine the pole position.

``Qualifying is one of the most nerve-racking experiences for an IndyCar Series driver,'' IRL president Brian Barnhart said Tuesday. ``At Indianapolis, that has meant 10 miles of error-free driving at 225-plus miles per hour. We're going to take that kind of intensity and drama to every other oval on our schedule.''

The IRL's 16-race IndyCar Series schedule this season includes races on 10 other oval tracks besides Indianapolis, along with three permanent road courses and two temporary street courses. The league's developmental Indy Pro Series will also change its oval-track qualifying to two-lap attempts.

The new format will be used for the first time at the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 29.

``It's a new challenge,'' former Indy and series champion Helio Castroneves said. ``That's the way they do it at Indianapolis, so it's great to have it at other race tracks. It should be fun and exciting. It will be tight, that's for sure.''

IRL expands qualifying procedure to 4 laps for all oval races - IRL - Yahoo! Sports

[Brock]

Seems like there second lap after there warm up lap is the fastest.
Times may get slower each lap. We will see. I am getting ready for
some racing General.