IndyCar keeps single-car Fast Six qualifying for street races with one important change

Q: What is the new qualifying format for IndyCar street races?

IndyCar has implemented a single-car Fast Six qualifying format where each car makes a lap individually to determine starting positions.

Q: Why did IndyCar change the qualifying format for street races?

The change was made to enhance the excitement and competitiveness of qualifying, following positive feedback from the Grand Prix of Arlington.

Q: Which races will feature the single-car Fast Six qualifying format in 2023?

The single-car Fast Six qualifying format will be used for the Grand Prix of Long Beach and the remaining three street courses in the 2023 season.

Q: How does the single-car Fast Six qualifying differ from the previous format?

Previously, qualifying involved splitting the field into two groups, while the new format allows each driver to qualify individually, enhancing the focus on individual performance.

IndyCar keeps single-car Fast Six qualifying for street races with one important change

After debuting a single-car Fast Six qualifying format for the Grand Prix of Arlington in March, IndyCar is keeping the new qualifying format for the rest of its street races this year, the series announced Monday.

On street and road courses, IndyCar typically splits the field into two groups for 10-minute qualifying sessions, with the fastest six drivers from each group advancing to Fast 12 qualifying. Those 12 drivers then have another 10-minute qualifying session, with the top half advancing to the Fast Six. The Fast Six typically follows the first two qualifying segments with a third and final six-minute session determining the pole sitter and front three rows.

For this week's Grand Prix of Long Beach and the remaining three street courses this year, IndyCar will return to what it did in Arlington, with cars making the Fast Six doing a lap at a time around the courses to determine starting positions at the front of the grid.

IndyCar has made two alterations to the new format since Arlington. In Arlington, the slowest fast 12 driver to advance to the Fast Six did their lap first, as the faster drivers went later. Now, whichever driver has the fastest Fast Six lap gets to choose which position in the Fast Six they run their lap in, and each subsequent fastest driver chooses their position based on their order within the Fast 12.

This change helps limit any advantage the first Fast Six driver may have due to tire and brake temperatures being higher the sooner they go. In Arlington, Marcus Ericsson, who had the slowest lap to make the Fast Six, won the pole for the race.

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard (7) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ed Carpenter Racing driver Christian Rasmussen (21) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Caio Collet (4) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Team Penske driver David Malukas (12) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian driver Marcus Armstrong (66) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mar 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Graham Rahal (15) drives by Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during practice for the 2026 Streets of Arlington IndyCar race. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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IndyCar will also now make drivers line up at pit out after declaring which tires they will use for the Fast Six round. This change is meant to save time on the length of qualifying and equalize the Fast Six laps, as tires will have already been on the cars as they exit pit lane.

"The debut of single-car Firestone Fast Six qualifying in Arlington was extremely popular and well received," IndyCar President Doug Boles said in a news release. "Following the event, we reached out to stakeholders to help evaluate the format and look into ways to improve an already exciting session. This slight update will provide the fastest from the Top 12 an earned advantage of choosing when they would like their run in the Fast Six, while tire selection before lining up at pit out will save time and more closely equalize the session.

"With continued input from teams, drivers and our partners at Fox Sports, we believe these updates will further highlight the close competition and perfection it takes to start at the front of the grid."

This format will be used at IndyCar's remaining street races in Long Beach, Detroit, Markham, Ontario and Washington, D.C. IndyCar aims to make for a more entertaining qualifying format with the change.

Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Single-car Fast Six qualifying for street races with continue for IndyCar with one change