The 2012 Indy 500 isn't until next Sunday, May 27, but the race's pole positions will be set at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with the winner taking home a cool $100,000 along with the top pole position in Sunday's race.
The pole races start at 10 a.m. CT, with the winer ultimately being decided somewhere around 5 p.m. CT. Here SB Nation's Bill Potter on how things will play out today:
Qualifications start at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, with the top 24 spots in the field of 33 being filled by 4 p.m. ET. At 4:30, the top nine speeds will compete for the pole. By 6, the pole will be won; the prediction here is that Castroneves will once again be the driver sitting on the inside of Row 1 by the end of the day.
Qualifying date/time: Saturday, May 19, 11 a.m. CT
Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: NBC Sports Network
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the 2012 Indy 500, head over to Indy racing blog Pop Off Valve.