Knockout qualifying returns to Firestone Indy Lights at GP3R

For the second consecutive season, the starting field for the Firestone Indy Lights race at the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres will be decided using a knockout qualifying system similar to the one used by the IZOD IndyCar Series.

INDYCAR, sanctioning body for the Firestone Indy Lights, announced July 27 that the field for the street race in Trois Rivieres, Quebec would be set using a two-stage qualifying procedure.

The first round of qualifying on Aug. 4 will be a 30-minute session open to all cars with the field being ranked by lap time at the end of the session. The top-six cars will move on to the second round, while the remaining cars will be ranked by their standing in the session.

Following a five-minute break, the remaining six cars will battle for the $5,000 Sunoco Pole Award in a 10-minute shootout with the fastest car turning a lap in the session being awarded the pole position.

"Using this system last year proved to be very entertaining for the fans at Trois Rivieres and a challenge to our teams and drivers," said Tony George Jr., director of Firestone Indy Lights. "With our field as competitive as it is, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top this year."