The driver with the fastest lap time in qualifying starts in the best position on a unique three-wide ten-row grid at the Indy 500. Starting in the first row is an advantage.
Polesitters have won 21 Indy 500 races. Drivers in the 2nd position have 11 wins and those in the 3rd position in the grid have 12. That means close to half the Indy 500 races have been won by drivers from the first row.