Getting into Indy
 

Do you have to have 3 or 7 grade points or is it a qualified field, send in you entry and try to make the field.

Re: Getting into Indy
 

It is a qualified field and if you wait until the week before, you will probably be able to get in with 1 grading point.

Re: Getting into Indy
 

One grade point will get you in if the quota has not been met. Sometimes on Monday of the week of the race it will open back up so be ready. One thing that’s different it’s not an all run field. It use to be class winners and the remaining spots were filled by the fastest qualifiers. Now it’s the 128 quickest cars off of index that get to race.

If NHRA wants the AHFS to work at Indy, go back to class winners and fastest qualifiers. Every run will be fast. The lower classes inclusion will put more pressure on the higher populated classes to run quick enough to get in.

To be a class winner you have to run on or quicker than the class index.

Bring some gaskets just in case you get an invitation to the party.

Re: Getting into Indy
 

Just be aware that unless you can run significantly under your index you’ll get your qualifying runs plus first round of class [unless of course bad weather prevents class from happening (knock on wood because Indy Class is the best there is)] and then you’ll be spectating from that point. You can search history but there have been some very fast spectators because they had a issue during one of the “good” sessions. If they should shelve AHFS for Indy again then you better bring a one second under car. Nothing wrong with going with a slower car for the experience, just saying.

Re: Getting into Indy
 

The great part of the class winner format, a racer can make the show even with an index runner. Many times a slower car wins class by outstanding driving or by poor driving in the other lane. James Perrone can testify to that happening at Indy.

I believe fans like to see the big handicaps in eliminations.

We have 19 classes that sticks and automatics run together, 23 traditional stick classes and 23 traditional automatic classes. That is a total of 65 potential class winners leaving only 63 spots left to bump in from qualifying.

So if NHRA takes 180 entries for a 128 qualified field and 65 spots are used for class winners, that leaves 115 cars trying to get the 63 remaining spots. I believe it will be a performance dog fight to get one of those spots so one can make "The Show"

I believe the AHFS will have the best chance to work as intended if Indy uses the class winner format.

The number one qualifier will still be the racer further under their Class Index, this will add an additional layer to the playing the ladder game.

Re: Getting into Indy
 

I'M also looking to run Indy this year, last years qualifiers # 134 was .20 under index

Re: Getting into Indy
 

Prior to Covid, in 2019, it took .88 under to get in the field. 2020 we got hit with the world being shut down, and even though the AFHS wasn't in effect, it took .22 under with only 130 something cars. Last year it was .55 under. I think over 20 cars pulled out at the last minute..so I believe the low car count was a combination of the AFHS and Covid.

I think their will be more cars this year short of another covid " wave" even if the AFHS is in effect. If for some reason the AFHS gets lifted, it will probably be back to having to go almost .90 under to get into Stock.