IndyCar revamps Iowa heat race qualifying format

When the heat system was first used last year, drivers were split into three heat groups based on practice times.

A trio of 30-lap races then decided the order, with heats one and two sorting the grid from row five backwards, and heat three determining the top eight positions in the starting line-up.

This year the heats will each be 50 laps, and the top two finishers in the first two heats will progress to heat three and have a chance to join the pole race.

Single-car qualifying will be reinstated to set the heat fields. The top six will go straight into heat three, with the rest of the field divided for heats one and two.

Points will also be awarded for the top 12 on the final grid.

IndyCar race director Beaux Barfield said the 2012 Iowa heat format had always been a toe in the water experiment.

"We wanted to change things up a little with our oval qualifying format so we introduced heat races in 2012," Barfield explained.

"We did it in a way that was relatively conservative in terms of the onus that was put on teams by having to run in one heat race.

"Based on positive fan response and feedback, we decided to take it one step further to improve the show and put some value in it for the competitors with points."