Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesQualifying for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 started on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first of two days that will determine the order of the historic race on May 26.
Will Power finished with the top qualifying performance of the day, with the 2018 Indy 500 champion recording a four-lap average speed of 233.758 mph. Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden rounded out the top three by recording speeds of 233.332 mph and 233.293 mph, respectively.
It was a close finish to determine which drivers earned a place in the "Fast 12" ahead of Sunday, while four other drivers are now in danger of failing to secure one of the 33 spots available in the race.
Here's a quick overview of each driver's positioning after Saturday, via the IndyCar website.
Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Results
One of these drivers WILL BE ELIMINATED from making the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indy500</a> field.<br><br>Marcus Ericsson, Katherine Legge, Graham Rahal and Nolan Siegel will fight for the last three spots Sunday. <a href="https://t.co/DJZuxrTYJU">pic.twitter.com/DJZuxrTYJU</a>
The bottom four drivers from Saturday's qualifying session will race for the three remaining spots up for grabs on Sunday. It's surprising to see Marcus Ericsson in danger of failing to earn one of the 33 available spots after he previously won the Indy 500 in 2022.
Meanwhile, each of the positions from 13 through 30 are now set. The top 12 drivers will race for pole position on Sunday, as well as the order of positions from two through 12.
It was an extremely eventful day, as Rinus VeeKay bounced back from a crash on the opening lap during his first attempt. His crew was able to make repairs in time to give him another shot, recording a speed of 232.419 mph to secure the No. 11 spot and earn a chance to compete for the pole.
INDYCAR on NBC @IndyCaronNBCRINUS VEEKAY HAS DONE IT!<br><br>HE ADVANCES TO THE FAST 12 WITH THIS STELLAR QUALIFYING RUN RIGHT AT THE END! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indy500</a> <a href="https://t.co/j9tApmXLib">pic.twitter.com/j9tApmXLib</a>
"I'm not sure what a pole feels like, but this feels way better than a pole," VeeKay said afterward.
INDYCAR on NBC @IndyCaronNBCNO QUIT IN RINUS VEEKAY.<br><br>After crashing early in qualifying, he and the Ed Carpenter Racing crew made gutsy call and paced their way into the Fast 12! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indy500</a> <a href="https://t.co/qkRzEVixcb">pic.twitter.com/qkRzEVixcb</a>
Kyle Larson also secured a spot in the Fast 12, as the former NASCAR Cup Series champion is attempting to become the fifth driver in history to attempt to run the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
NBC Sports @NBCSportsTHE FULL QUALIFYING RUN for Kyle Larson.<br><br>The 2021 NASCAR champ puts himself in the provisional Fast 12 for his first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indy500</a>. <br><br>📺 : Peacock <a href="https://t.co/SEJ2GijPSA">pic.twitter.com/SEJ2GijPSA</a>
Larson, VeeKay, and Power will now attempt to compete for the pole as qualifying concludes during Sunday's session, which will begin at 3 p.m. ET.
ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaGlpYmaDcoGMoqWdsV1qfXF50K6YpaGWrravs4yrnKytnKnAbn6Pa2tmnpmjrq1506Kknqtdm7%2BwuYysmK2topmuur%2BMq5icnaM%3D