The new qualifying format for the Indianapolis 500 will include three rounds over two days, with the pole-winner emerging from a "Fast Nine Shootout" on what used to be Bump Day. Jean Beliveau Jersey . IndyCar officials also said Friday there will be points incentives that have yet to be announced. Qualifying for the Indy 500 this year will begin on May 17 when the fastest 33 cars are locked into the field. All entries will be guaranteed at least one four-lap attempt to qualify, and the fastest nine drivers will move into the shootout. On Sunday, the previous days times will be erased and entries 10 through 33 will complete another four-lap qualifying attempt to determine their starting position. The fastest nine drivers from Saturday will then make one four-lap attempt to determine the prestigious pole winner and starting front row. The Indy 500 has had four-lap qualifying runs since 1939. The Fast Nine pole shootout was introduced in 2010, but was on Saturday. The change comes as IndyCar struggles to fill the 33-car field, making the once tension-filled Bump Day drama-free the last two years. Without additional entrants on hand trying to make the race, Sunday had become a glorified practice session. By making qualifying stretch over two days, Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has become relevant again. "We have a desire to give fans more opportunities to see IndyCar drivers on the track when theres a lot at stake, not just with practice, but where they are out there with putting it on the line in a way that matters," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman Motorsports. "I think in the last many years, Saturday has been the day in qualifying, but theres been an opportunity to add more compelling content on Sunday, and thats what were trying to do here." IndyCar driver Graham Rahal called the new format "intriguing" and praised it for adding fan appeal. "The most important thing to realize here is we have to give our fans a better product both on TV and at track," Rahal said. "As we know Sunday in the past has been a moot point. Now I think theres going to be quite a bit of buildup Saturday, see who the 33 will be, then go into Sunday and wait till the very end to see who the pole winner is going to be. "Im pretty excited for the changes that are ahead. Of course, I am a traditionalist, but Im always one thats open for change as well." The format will make life a little more difficult for NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who will attempt to become the first driver in 10 years to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Busch will now have to qualify in Indianapolis on Saturday, fly to Charlotte, N.C., for NASCARs All-Star race that evening, then return to Indianapolis to determine his starting spot in Sundays qualifying session. Under the old format, had Busch locked himself into the field on Saturday, he would not have necessarily have needed to return to Indianapolis following the All-Star race unless he was in danger of being bumped out. ABC will broadcast the final two hours of Saturdays qualifications and three hours on Sunday. Additional hours of qualifying will be carried on ESPN3, the network said. "Down through history, qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 has made for many dramatic and compelling television moments, and were confident that the leadership of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar will continue that tradition with this new format," said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice-president, motorsports, production. Brendan Gallagher Jersey .5 forward somersault dive may have fallen a little short on Sunday, but the two-time Olympic silver medallist says he feels encouraged by his performance at the Montreal Canada Cup. Daniel Briere Canadiens Jersey . Tuesday nights 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox fit that category perfectly. Michael Bourns two-run double in the seventh inning snapped a 3-all tie and extended Clevelands winning streak to a season-high five straight games.LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Florida had the same plan when it was trailing and when it pulled ahead. The third-ranked Gators just wanted to maintain their composure. That steady approach turned into a big win at one of college basketballs most hostile venues. Scottie Wilbekin scored 23 points, including five critical free throws down the stretch, and Florida rallied for a tense 69-59 victory over No. 14 Kentucky on Saturday night in a matchup of the Southeastern Conferences top teams. "It was just one of those games where you have to kind of stay the course," Gators coach Billy Donovan said. Casey Prather had 24 points on f-9 shooting as Florida tied a school record with its 17th straight win. Trailing 45-38 with 11:12 remaining, the veteran Gators (23-2, 12-0) turned to their best players down the stretch of their first victory at Rupp Arena since 2007. Wilbekin went 11 of 12 at the line, including two free throws after Kentucky coach John Calipari was whistled for a technical with 8:14 left. "I feel like Im always confident," said Wilbekin, who was 5 of 10 from the field. "When the balls in my hands, I feel like I have to make a play. I try to get to the basket or get the best shot for our team." Patric Young added 10 points, including two three-point plays during a 13-3 spurt that put the Gators ahead for good. Florida shot 60 per cent in the second half and 44 per cent (22 of 50) overall while controlling every major statistic except rebounding. Calipari said he didnt know what he said to draw a technical foul, but suggested Wilbekins free throws "could have" swung the game. "I dont know what he heard me say with my back to him, so you have to ask him," Calipari said. Andrew Harrison scored 20 points for Kentucky (19-6, 9-3), which had won 22 consecutive home games. Prathers three-point play with 38 seeconds remaining helped complete Floridas rare road sweep of Kentucky and Tennessee in the same week. Brandon Prust Canadiens Jersey. Kentucky outrebounded Florida 31-28 but couldnt grab an errant shot at the biggest moments, especially on the offensive end. The Gators took advantage for a 12-8 edge in second-chance points and basically controlled the paint, outscoring the Wildcats 34-22. James Young added 19 points for the Wildcats, who shot 48 per cent but didnt score in the final 1:55. Julius Randle had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Florida will host Kentucky in the rematch on March 8, but the victory puts the Gators in firm control of the conference race. It also strengthened their resume for a possible No. 1 seed in next months NCAA tournament. Floridas experience and poise -- especially before a loud, partisan crowd and a prime-time audience -- proved to be the difference against Kentuckys youth, especially in pressure moments throughout the second half. The Gators improved to 3-2 against ranked teams. "We were just trying to stay in the moment," Patric Young said. "We knew that they were going to throw punches and we were going to do the same thing. There was a lot of time left in the game. Our main focus was to stay with our principles and stay together." The first half certainly lived up to the hype with seven ties, six lead changes. Kentucky held the largest edge at just seven points, which Florida whittled to 31-28 at the break. Randle had 10 points at halftime. The game remained close until Patric Young began the pivotal run with the first of two big three-point plays at the 10:41 mark. Wilbekin helped with floor leadership in which he forced the action and drew fouls or found open teammates. Once ahead, the Gators limited the Wildcats opportunities, particularly in the final minutes when Kentucky was forced to take long shots. cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
f-9 shooting as Florida tied a school record with its 17th straight win. Trailing 45-38 with 11:12 remaining, the veteran Gators (23-2, 12-0) turned to their best players down the stretch of their first victory at Rupp Arena since 2007. Wilbekin went 11 of 12 at the line, including two free throws after Kentucky coach John Calipari was whistled for a technical with 8:14 left. "I feel like Im always confident," said Wilbekin, who was 5 of 10 from the field. "When the balls in my hands, I feel like I have to make a play. I try to get to the basket or get the best shot for our team." Patric Young added 10 points, including two three-point plays during a 13-3 spurt that put the Gators ahead for good. Florida shot 60 per cent in the second half and 44 per cent (22 of 50) overall while controlling every major statistic except rebounding. Calipari said he didnt know what he said to draw a technical foul, but suggested Wilbekins free throws "could have" swung the game. "I dont know what he heard me say with my back to him, so you have to ask him," Calipari said. Andrew Harrison scored 20 points for Kentucky (19-6, 9-3), which had won 22 consecutive home games. Prathers three-point play with 38 seeconds remaining helped complete Floridas rare road sweep of Kentucky and Tennessee in the same week. 