Segment 2 of IZOD IndyCar Series road/street course qualifications has been reduced from 15 to 10 minutes, effective with this weekend's race at Barber Motorsports Park. The segment winnows the 12 cars that advanced from Groups 1 and 2 in the first segment to six – based on quickest lap time – to compete in the Firestone Fast Six that determines the PEAK Performance Pole Award winner and sets the first three rows for the race.
"It's a combination of the new rule that allows one set of tires, either primaries or alternates, per segment and the 12 cars in Segment 2 that have clearly demonstrated the ability to be quick so they don't need the 15 minutes," said Brian Barnhart, IndyCar's president of competition and operations.
The revised schedule for each segment is as follows:
Segment 1
All cars shall participate in one of the two groups for 15 minutes per group inclusive of full-course yellow conditions, with six cars posting best lap times from each group advancing to Segment 2.
Cars not advancing to Segment 2 will fill positions 13 through the end of the starting field to be ranked in order of best lap time as follows: Group 1 shall occupy the odd-numbered positions beginning with 13 and Group 2 will occupy the even-numbered positions beginning with 14.
Cars are randomly assigned to Group 1 or 2 earlier in the day.
Segment 2
Shall consist of one 10-minute, 12-car qualifying group inclusive of full-course yellow conditions, with all times from Segment 1 having been voided. Six cars posting best lap times advance to Segment 3 (the Firestone Fast Six). Cars not advancing to Segment 3 will fill positions 7-12 to be ranked in order of time.
Segment 3 (Firestone Fast Six)
Consists of one 10-minute, six-car qualifying group, of which five minutes is guaranteed green condition time, with all times from Segment 2 voided. Session shall begin 10 minutes after checkered flag of Segment 2. Firestone Fast Six shall determine the PEAK Pole Award winner and the cars starting 2-6 on the grid based on fastest lap time.