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List of American Championship car racing points scoring systems

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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.

Inaugural points scoring system

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AAA Championship 1905

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  • Barney Oldfield was the points champion of the inaugural American Automobile Association (AAA) sanctioned season in 1905, organized by the AAA Racing Board. Following the 1905 season, the AAA sanctioned no further races until 1909, by which time the Racing Board had been reorganized by the AAA into the Contest Board.[1]
  • 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

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AAA Championship 1916

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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Ranking points

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  • 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 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

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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

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Indy qualifying and other qualifying races

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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.
  • In 2023 the double points were dropped.[3]
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
Double points events 100 80 70 64 60 56 52 48 44 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 5

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Capps, H. Donald (February–March 2010). "John Glenn Printz and the Struggle for the Past: The A.A.A. Catastrophe - Arthur Means, Val Haresnape, Russ Catlin, and Bob Russo" (PDF). Rear View Mirror. 7 (6): 21–38.
  2. ^ Pruett, Marshall (2 February 2023). "IndyCar drops double points for Indy 500". RACER. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  3. ^ IndyCar eliminates double points system for Indianapolis 500
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