Indianapols / Hannover (15 NOV '10) - Since the introduction of the rule that allows only a maximum of 33 cars on the 2.5 mile long oval in 1915 the qualifications for the famous Indianapolis 500 mile race became to a special event. Actually it is the race before the race. Paul Tracy is the last victim from this year’s edition in a row of many others when he missed the grid. Just because he strokes his (safe) 4 lap average time in order to make another attempt to improve his times. But in the end he wasn’t able to do so and had to watch the race from the grand stands.

 
The upcoming iamINDY.de Indy 500 will use a system which is similar the real one: on next week’s Friday the qualifications will begin and end one day later which will be the “Bump-Day” – the last chance to make it into the field out of 33 cars lined up three wide in eleven rows. On both days every driver has two runs which consist of the pit out lap, one additional warm up lap and the so important four flying laps. The average speed of those four laps will be taken in order determine the ranking. But every driver has to be careful not to end up like Tracy: once the driver decides to improve his average four lap speed, the old record gets stoked and if he can’t improve the slower average will be noted one, with the danger to get bumped out of the field. Being in the top 33 – that’s the target!
 
As a reward for participation in previous iamINDY.de series events all drivers who raced at least half of the previous season (four races) or half of the current season so far (three races) will get into the top split: the first five rows build the top 15 reserved spots, the rest of the six rows (or 18 spots) is open for everybody, new or old members with less participation. These are the 21 drivers who are eligible for the top split:
Bill Krause, Yang Ou, Marty Sponsler, Joey Schmidt, Daniel Weimann, Richard Brose, Michael Cooper, Tim Doyle, Sean Graham, Andrew Aitken, Jeff York, Henrik Müller, David Spitler, Daniel Olszewski, Rich Mckinney, Richard Crozier, Don Hunter, Eric Potvin, Niles Anders, Daniel Ensch and Lee Walker.
Additional to that the drivers of the top grid will have one more advantage. When he driver gets bumped out of the first group he is still allowed to qualify in the second “open” group with his already driven time or with a new attempt.
 
After the fastest 33 drivers are locked in to the race on Saturday evening a mandatory 100 laps practice race will follow the next day in order to practice the three wide start, the cars handling as well as the endurance. One week later on race day the final starting grid will be determined in a usual iRacing four laps qualification shortly before the race.
 
Every driver who missed the top 33 still has a chance to race his own 500 mile race: one day before the “real virtual” iamINDY.de Indianapolis 500 (which will be broadcasted by Web Racing Network) a round of unranked races will be hosted. What do you wait for now and become a member as soon as possible!

All existing members have to sign up for the qualifications >>> here <<<.

iamINDY.de Indianapolis 500 Event Schedule

                                
4h Qualifications (Round One)
Friday, 26th November 2010   |   20:00 – 24:00 CET / 19:00 – 23:00 GMT / 2:00 – 6:00 PM EST

2h Qualifications (Round Two) – “Bump-Day”
Saturday, 27th November 2010   |   18:00 – 20:00 CET / 17:00 – 19:00 GMT / 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST

Practice Race ( -Mandatory- )
Sunday, 28th November 2010   |   18:00 – 20:30 CET / 17:00 – 19:30 GMT / 12:00 – 2:30 PM EST
 

 
Fun Indy 500 presented by iamINDY.de
Saturday, 4th December 2010   |   20:00 – 24:00 CET / 19:00 – 23:00 GMT / 2:00 – 6:00 PM EST

iamINDY.de Indianapolis 500 broadcasted by WRN (Web Racing Network)

Sunday, 5th December 2010   |   18:00 – 22:00 CET / 17:00 – 21:00 GMT / 12:00 – 4:00 PM EST