Qualifying weekend primer: TV, timing and much more

Gil de Ferran, the 2003 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winner, will join NBC Sports Network as an analyst during its coverage of Pole Day and Bump Day qualifying this weekend.

He'll join chief announcer Leigh Diffey and analyst Jon Beekhuis in the broadcast booth for live coverage of Pole Day on May 18 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. (ET). NBC Sports Network's broadcast on May 19 is noon-6:30 p.m.

"I'm looking forward to returning to the booth for Indy 500 qualifying, especially this year, the 10th anniversary of my Indy win,"  de Ferran said.  "I remember qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 as one of the most challenging, intense, terrifying and dramatic days for any race car driver. There is absolutely no room for error and total disaster is a close companion to the ultimate glory.

"Hopefully, my experience in qualifying will give our audience some first-hand insight into the fascinating world of the driver's mind and teams' strategies as they wait their turn to qualify. Qualifying in Indy is always one of my favorite events on the racing calendar and this year, it has all the ingredients to make it even more memorable for me."

Click it: Indianapolis 500 Qualification Order 

Will Buxton will join Kevin Lee, Marty Snider and Robin Miller on pit lane. NBC Sports Network analyst Townsend Bell, who will attempt to qualify for the May 26 race in the No. 60 Sunoco "Turbo" car for Panther Racing, took Buxton for a ride in the Indy Racing Experience two-seater on the 2.5-mile oval. The filmed segment will be included in the Bump Day broadcast.

NBC Sports Network also will broadcast final Indianapolis 500 practice, the Firestone Freedom 100 and the Pit Stop Competition on May 24. Bob Jenkins will be the host.

Qualifying weekend schedule

May 18 -- Practice 8-10 a.m. followed by Pole Day qualifying 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
May 19 -- Practice 9-10 a.m. followed by Old National Armed Forces Bump Day qualifying noon-6 p.m.

Pole Day qualifying format

Twenty-four positions will be filled, with a qualification attempt consisting of four consecutive timed laps. Positions 1-24 will be based on the fastest four-lap averages. The nine entries posting the fastest speeds will return for knockout qualifying to determine the Verizon P1 Award winner and set the first three rows for the 200-lap race. The pole winner will receive a $100,000 bonus. Bonus points of 15-1 are awarded through the 33-car field. Each entrant is allowed three qualifying attempts in the first segment.

Bump Day qualifying format

Positions 25-33 will be determined based on the day's fastest four-lap averages. Once the field is filled, any qualifying attempt that is faster than a qualified entrant in the field will bump the slowest qualifier regardless of the day of qualification. The "bumping" entrant is placed at the rear of the field, while the "bumped" entrant is removed from the field, but has the opportunity to bumps its way back into the field as time allows. Each entrant is allowed three qualifying attempts.

NBC Sports Network (11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. ET) May 18; (noon-6:30 p.m. ET) May 19; (11 a.m.-4 p.m. ET) May 24 ... (Verizon FiOS 90/590, DirecTV 220, DISH 159 and AT&T UVerse 640). Check local listings for other cable/satellite outlets.

Timing & Scoring with integrated IMS Radio Network broadcasts: www.indycar.com, INDYCAR 13 app starting at 8 a.m. both days
      ... Chief announcer: Mike King

Twitter: @IndyCar (#indycar), #Indy500orBust

2012 pole sitter: Ryan Briscoe (226.484 mph four-lap average)

Rookies: AJ Allmendinger (Team Penske), Conor Daly (A.J. Foyt Racing), Carlos Munoz (Andretti Autosport), Tristan Vautier (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports)

Engines and turbo boost: Consumer-relevant 2.2-liter turbo-charged V-6 from Chevrolet (twin-turbo) and Honda (single turbo) fueled by E85. The boost level will be upped from 130 kPa to 140 kPa through qualifications for about a 40 horsepower boost