This is a list of points scoring systems used to determine the outcome of
American Championship car racing (often referred to colloquially as Indy car racing) championships in 1905, 1916, and from 1920 onwards. The championships were awarded each year to the driver who accumulated the most championship points during the course of a championship season.
Despite the resumption of sanctioned racing, the Contest Board and did not award points towards a championship again until 1916.[1]
Mileage based points scoring systems
AAA Championship 1916
Dario Resta was the champion of the
1916 season, during which the Contest Board awarded championship points to the first ten drivers in each race. There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The points system was based in general on race distance but not on mileage factor.
Drivers had to be running at the finish in order to score points. Points were moved to the next eligible driver if a finisher completed fewer laps than a non-finisher. Points scored by drivers sharing a car were split according to the respective percentage of the race those drivers had driven. Drivers who started a race were not allowed to score points as relief drivers; a race-starter finishing a race driving a different car from that in which they had started would accumulate no points, even if they had driven the latter car to what would normally have been a points-paying finish.
While the Contest Board continued sanctioning Championship car races after 1916, they did not award points towards another championship until 1920.[1]
Race distance
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
100 miles
500
260
140
80
50
30
15
10
0
0
150 miles
600
320
170
90
55
35
20
15
0
0
200 miles
700
360
190
100
60
40
25
20
10
0
250 miles
800
420
220
120
70
45
30
25
15
10
300 miles
900
470
240
130
80
50
40
30
25
20
350 miles or higher
1000
520
270
140
90
60
50
40
30
25
AAA Championships 1920–1929
From 1920 through 1929, championship points were awarded to the first ten drivers. There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The points system was based on mileage factor. The winner received 2 points per mile.
Drivers had to be running at the finish to score points. Points scored by drivers sharing a ride were split according to percentage of race driven. Starters were not allowed to score points as relief drivers (except 1920), if a race starter finished the race in another car in a points-scoring position those points were not awarded.
Race distance
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
40 miles
80
45
25
15
10
0
0
0
0
0
50 miles
100
55
30
20
10
5
0
0
0
0
60 miles
120
65
35
25
15
0
0
0
0
0
80 miles
160
80
45
30
20
0
0
0
0
0
100 miles
200
110
60
35
20
15
10
5
0
0
150 miles
300
160
90
50
30
20
15
10
0
0
200 miles
400
210
110
60
40
25
15
10
0
0
250 miles
500
260
140
80
50
35
25
15
10
5
300 miles
600
420
220
120
70
45
35
25
15
10
400 miles
800
420
220
120
70
45
35
25
15
10
500 miles
1000
520
270
140
90
60
50
40
35
30
AAA Championships 1930–1936
Between 1930 and 1936, the Championship points were awarded to the first ten drivers. There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The points system was based on mileage factor. The winner receive 1.2 points per mile. The points gaps between the ranks were also changed from a relatively arbitrary scheme to a uniform allocation.
Drivers had to be running at the finish to score points. Points scored by drivers sharing a ride were split according to percentage of race driven. Starters were not allowed to score points as relief drivers, if a race starter finished the race in another car in a points-scoring position those points were not awarded.
Race distance
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
25 miles
30
22.5
20
17.5
15
12.5
10
7.5
5
2.5
100 miles
120
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
150 miles
180
135
120
105
90
75
60
45
30
15
200 miles
240
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
300 miles
360
270
240
210
180
150
120
90
60
30
500 miles
600
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
AAA Championships 1937–1941
Between 1937 and 1941, the Championship points were awarded to the first twelve drivers. There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The points system was based on mileage factor. The winner received 2 points per mile.
Drivers had to complete 50% of the race distance to score points. Points scored by drivers sharing a ride were split according to percentage of race driven. Starters were not allowed to score points as relief drivers, if a race starter finished the race in another car in a points-scoring position those points were not awarded.
Race distance
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
100 miles
200
165
135
110
90
75
65
55
45
35
25
15
300 miles
600
495
405
330
270
225
195
165
135
105
75
45
500 miles
1000
825
675
550
450
375
325
275
225
175
125
75
AAA Championships 1946–1955 and USAC Championships 1956–1977
Between 1946 and 1977, AAA and
USAC awarded the Championship points to the first twelve drivers. There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The points system was based on mileage factor. The winner received 2 points per mile. This is the most common points system in IndyCar, used over 3 decades of racing.
Points scored by drivers sharing a ride were split according to percentage of race driven. Drivers who started in one car were allowed to score points in another as a relief driver.
Race distance
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
50 miles
100
80
70
60
50
40
30
25
20
15
10
5
100 miles
200
160
140
120
100
80
60
50
40
30
20
10
150 miles
300
240
210
180
150
120
90
75
60
45
30
15
200 miles
400
320
280
240
200
160
120
100
80
60
40
20
250 miles
500
400
350
300
250
200
150
125
100
75
50
25
300 miles
600
480
420
360
300
240
180
150
120
90
60
30
400 miles
800
640
560
480
400
320
240
200
160
120
80
40
500 miles
1000
800
700
600
500
400
300
250
200
150
100
50
USAC/CART Championships 1978–1980
One year before the split with
CART, the USAC extended their points scoring system to award points to all race entries. CART continued to use this modified USAC points scoring system in the following seasons (1979 and 1980).
There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The points system based on a mileage factor, the winner receiving 2 points per mile.
Points scored by drivers sharing a ride were split according to percentage of race driven. Drivers who started in one car were allowed to score points in another as a relief driver.
Race distance
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th–16th
17th–20th
21st–24th
25th–28th
29th+
100 miles
200
160
140
120
100
80
60
50
40
30
20
10
5
4
3
2
1
150 miles
300
240
210
180
150
120
90
75
60
45
30
15
8
6
5
3
2
200 miles
400
320
280
240
200
160
120
100
80
60
40
20
10
8
6
4
2
250 miles
500
400
350
300
250
200
150
125
100
75
50
25
12
10
8
5
3
300 miles
600
480
420
360
300
240
180
150
120
90
60
30
15
12
9
6
3
400 miles
800
640
560
480
400
320
240
200
160
120
80
40
20
16
12
8
4
500 miles
1000
800
700
600
500
400
300
250
200
150
100
50
25
20
15
10
5
USAC Gold Crown Championship 1981–1995
After split with CART, the USAC continued to use their points system to award championship points for their own championship named the "Gold Crown". They used the 200-mile points scheme for 100-mile dirt races and the 500-mile points scheme for the Indianapolis 500.
Kind of race
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th–16th
17th–20th
21st–24th
25th–28th
29th+
Dirt race
400
320
280
240
200
160
120
100
80
60
40
20
10
8
6
4
2
Indy 500
1000
800
700
600
500
400
300
250
200
150
100
50
25
20
15
10
5
CART Championships 1981 and 1982
For the seasons 1981 and 1982 CART continued to use the USAC points scoring system. But they divided the points values by 10, so the winner received only 0.2 points per mile.
For the first time, there were bonus points. The driver with the fastest qualifying lap, usually on pole position, and the driver with the most laps led received additional to their rank points a bonus. Bonus points multiplied by mileage factor the same as race points.
In 1982, CART awarded 300 mile points also for 400- and 500-mile races and didn't use the 400- and 500-mile pattern.
Race distance
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th–20th
Most laps led
Pole position
100 miles
20
16
14
12
10
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
200 miles
40
32
28
24
20
16
12
10
8
6
4
2
2
2
300 miles
60
48
42
36
30
24
18
15
12
9
6
3
3
3
400 miles
80
64
56
48
40
32
24
20
16
12
8
4
4
4
500 miles
100
80
70
60
50
40
30
25
20
15
10
5
5
5
Equal points per race
Ranking points
Beginning with 1983, CART used their own scoring system. As previously, only the first twelve ranks got points. All races got the same number of points, based on the 100 mile points scheme from USAC with the points values divided by 10.
After the CART has been converted in 2004 into the new
Champ Car World Series, a new points system was also introduced. The first 20 ranks were given points. The points scoring system is similar to the original CART points scoring system.
Although the
Indy Racing League commissioned the USAC to perform the races, the old USAC points system was not reused. Instead, the IRL used its own simple points scoring system for all races, regardless of their distance. The first 33 ranks in race got points, starting with 2 points for position 33. Between the winner and the second place was a 2-point gap, between all other ranks a 1-point gap.
In the 1996 season, there was a multiplier for awarding points in race two (Phoenix) and race three (Indianapolis). Drivers were credited with overall points multiplied by the number of races they had competed in. For example, Scott Sharp had scored a sum of 82 points in the first three race, so he got 246 championship points (82 multiplied with 3) at the end of season.
In the 1997 season, there wasn't a multiplier, but they awarded additional 1 point for ranks 34 and 35 because of the extended 1997 Indy 500 entry list.
After taking over the driving operation from USAC in 1998, the IRL also changed its points system. All participants of a race were eligible to get championship points, even non-starters received points starting in 1999. The points scoring system applies to all races, regardless of their length or importance.
In 2004, the IRL modified their points scoring system again. The ranks from 18 to 24 received the same number of 12 points instead of a decreasing score, the ranks 25 to 33 received 10 points. This is a consequence of the introduction of shorter twin races, in which only half the number of points was awarded and this point structure is easier to divide by 2 without getting 0.5 points.
Non-starters received full race points in 2004 and 2005, and half race points beginning with 2006.
In 2013, the ICS modified the points awarded to the ranks 19–25. It essentially corresponds to the decreasing points scheme of 2003, but with 5 points for all ranks beginning with 25th. This system is still in use.
Championship
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
24th
25th
26th
27th
28th
29th
30th
31st
32nd
33rd
34th
35th
CART 1983–2003
20
16
14
12
10
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
CCWS 2004–2007
31
27
25
23
21
19
17
15
13
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
IRL 1996–1997
35
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
IRL 1998–2003
50
40
35
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
ICS 2004–2012
50
40
35
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
ICS 2013–present
50
40
35
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Bonus points
Championship
Leading a lap
Most laps led
Fastest race lap
Most positions improved
Leading slowest qualifying group
Final qualification Pole Position
CART 1983–2001
0
1
0
0
0
1
CART 2002–2003
0
1
0
0
1
1
CCWS 2004–2006
1
0
1
1
1
1
CCWS 2007
0
0
1
1
1
1
IRL 1997
0
1
0
0
0
2
IRL 1998–2000
0
2
0
0
0
3 2 1
IRL 2001–2003
0
2
0
0
0
0
ICS 2004–2008
0
3
0
0
0
0
ICS 2009–2012
0
2
0
0
0
1
ICS 2013–present
1
2
0
0
0
1
Special Events
Indy qualifying and other qualifying races
Starting with the 2010 season, IndyCar introduced a points scoring system for the Indy 500 qualification. As a result, no additional bonus point for the pole position is awarded during this race.
In 2013, there was a qualifying race in Iowa instead of qualifying practice. For this race, they awarded nine points down to one point for the first twelve finishers.
In 2014 points were awarded on both Indy qualifying days: on Saturday points were awarded to all the 33 drivers, on Sunday only the Fast Nine Qualifiers got points.
In 2015 no points were awarded due to last minute changes on the qualifying rules.
In 2016 the separated points schemes from 2014 where added together and all drivers, who started the race, gets points after the last qualifying round.
Between 2018 and 2021 only points were awarded for the Fast Nine Qualifier.
Since 2022, the first twelve qualifying positions receive points.
Year
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
24th
25th
26th
27th
28th
29th
30th
31st
32nd
33rd
2010–2013
15
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2013 Iowa qualifying race
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2014 (Sat.)
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
2014 (Sun.)
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2016–2017
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28
26
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
2018–2021
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2022–present
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Twin races with half points 2011
In 2011, the race on Texas Motor Speedway was divided into two short races. Rounded half points were awarded for both races.
Event
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
24th
25th+
Non-starters
2011 Twin races in Texas
25
20
18
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
5
3
Double point events 2014–2022
From 2014–2022, double points were awarded for the Indianapolis 500.[2]
In 2014, double points were awarded for all 500-mile events — the Indianapolis 500, as well as events held at Pocono and Fontana.
From 2015–2019, double points were awarded for the season finale, regardless of race length or type of track.