Qualifying will take a new shape in the upcoming 2026 IndyCar race in Arlington, set to take place in the weekend. In fact, a new format will decide how the top six drivers will begin their Sunday outing.
The first two sections of Qualifying will remain unchanged: the drivers will split into two groups, divided by championship points, with the top six of both groups battling in another segment. Then the Fast 12 takes place.
However, here will being the transformation. The Fast 6 session will have a redesigned look, with drivers undertaking the challenge posed by the Streets of Arlington one by one, no longer all at the same time.
The change will definitely allow for less impeding during the final, decisive moments of the session. Just like it happened the past weekend in Phoenix, and just like it happens for oval racing overall, the drivers will manage to focus on their own laps with no outside distractions from their colleagues.
A new Qualifying era?
The times set during the previous IndyCar qualifying segment in Arlington will determine the starting order of the one by one segment, which will also increase the adrenaline allowing the broadcast to shine its spotlight on every single driver taking part in the Fast 6. The six colleagues will take the track in reverse order, with the benchmark setting driver reserving the final spot for himself to take advantage of track evolution and its perks.
If the Arlington qualifying has a positive outcome, IndyCar will assess the eventuality of implementing this new format throughout the rest of the 2026 season
INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles saluted positively the announcement, highlighting the new chance to focus on every single pole contender taking the track rather than paying attention to all of them at once.
“I am excited about this opportunity to put more focus on individual teams and drivers and appreciate FOX Sports providing INDYCAR with an expanded broadcast window to accommodate this change.
“This format will allow the competitors and sponsors who earned spots in the Firestone Fast Six the full attention of the broadcast during its qualifying attempt. It also allows for viewers at home to see just what makes qualifying in INDYCAR so competitive and the perfection that it takes to sit atop the grid and earn the right to lead the field to the green flag on race day.”
More alone screen time for all parts involved
Broadcasting Resposible. holding the role of FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer, Eric Shanks shined a light on the innovation behind the new qualifying format set to debut in Arlington for the IndyCar race.
“We continue to search for new, unique and innovative ways to tell the stories of the remarkable competition in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and appreciate INDYCAR’s willingness and partnership to do the same. This updated qualifying format will be an exciting way to showcase the stars of the series and dig deeper into what it truly takes to drive on the razor’s edge. I cannot wait to see how it plays out.”
