For the NTT IndyCar Series, the last couple of weekends of May are the most important weekends of the entire year. This weekend is qualifying for the Indy 500, while the big race is next weekend.
Indianapolis 500 Qualifying TV Schedule
- NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Part No. 1: 11 a.m. ET Saturday on FS1
- NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Part No. 2: 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FS2
- NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Part No. 3: 4 p.m. ET on FOX
- NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Part No. 4: 4 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX
- NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Part No. 5: 5:10 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX
- NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Part No. 6: 6:15 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX
This weekend, NTT IndyCar Series teams will qualify for the 109th Indianapolis 500. As in the past few years, qualifying will take place over two days.
With the new TV deal for 2025, all of qualifying will air on cable at minimum, as opposed to on a streaming service. Coverage will start on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET until coverage of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Window World 250 from North Wilkesboro begins.
At 1:30 p.m. ET, coverage from Indianapolis shifts to FS2. Traditionally, this has been one of the quieter periods of the day, but with everyone having to set a time Saturday, that isn’t so much the case any more.
The coverage moves to FOX at 4 p.m. ET, when conditions will start to improve. The quickest four-lap averages of the day will likely be in the final hour.
Sunday at Indianapolis will start with Practice No. 7 at 1 p.m. ET on FS2. That session will be split into two separate sessions.
The first half of the session is dedicated to those who made it into the top 12 on Saturday. The second half will be comprised of those in the Last Chance qualifying.
Coverage of Day No. 2 of qualifying will begin at 4 p.m. ET on FOX. This session will be split into three segments.
Segment No. 1 will see the top 12 drivers from Saturday fight it out in a one-hour session to determine who will make the Firestone Fast Six. Segment No. 2 is the Last Chance session that will determine the final row of the grid. Finally, Segment No. 3 is the Firestone Fast Six session that will determine the front two rows of the grid.
Monday is a little quieter, but there is still Practice No. 8. That will air at 1 p.m. ET on FS1. Afterwards, the 33 drivers will fan out across the country to promote the race on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Teams will have one more chance to shake down there cars Friday at 11 a.m. ET as part of Carburetor Day. That will air live on FS1.
The annual Pit Stop Competition is also on Friday. That will air live at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
What’s the Weather Look Like?
For this upcoming weekend, things are looking good. Saturday’s forecast is for sunny skies and a high around 70° with no chance of rain. Pretty much perfect.
Sunday will be similar. The high is forecast to be 73° with sunny skies and almost no chance of rain.
Monday will be a little cloudier. Temperatures will remain around 70°, but there is a chance of showers.
Phil Allaway has three primary roles at Frontstretch. He's the manager of the site's FREE e-mail newsletter that publishes Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. He keeps TV broadcasters honest with weekly editions of Couch Potato Tuesday and serves as the site's Sports Car racing editor.
Outside of Frontstretch, Phil is the press officer for Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. He covers all the action on the high-banked dirt track from regular DIRTcar Modified racing to occasional visits from touring series such as the Super DIRTcar Series.