List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

This is a list of points scoring systems used to determine the outcome of the ACCR Championships since 1909. The Championships are awarded each year to the driver who accumulate the most championship points over the course of the Championship season.

AAA Championships 1909–1929

  • Between 1909 and 1929, the Championship points were awarded to the first ten drivers. There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The point system based on mileage factor. The winner received 2 points per mile. The points system from 1920 was retroactively applied to the past season from 1909–1919 with exception of 1916.
  • 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 Championship 1916

  • This is the first points system used since first running of the Indianapolis 500. The Championship points were awarded to the first ten drivers. There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The point system based in general on race distance but not on mileage factor.
  • Drivers had to be running at the finish to score points. Points were moved to the next eligible driver is a finisher completed fewer laps than a nonfinisher. 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
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 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 point system 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 point system 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 point system 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 point scoring system in the following seasons 1979 and 1980.
  • There were only points for ranks in races, no bonus points. The point 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 Golden 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 "Golden Crown". They used the 200 mile points scheme for 100 mile dirt races and the 500 mile points scheme for Indy500.
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 point scoring system. But they divided the points 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 led laps 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+ Most Led Laps 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

CART Championships 1983–2003

  • 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 divided by 10.
Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th Most Led Laps First qualification Final qualification
1983 20 16 14 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 2 1 0 1
1984–2001 20 16 14 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 1
2002–2003 20 16 14 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 1

CCWS Championships 2004–2008

  • After the CART has been converted into the new Champ Car World Series, a new point system was also introduced here. The first 20 ranks were given points. The point scoring system is similar to the original CART point scoring system.
  • In addition, bonus points were also introduced for the fastest lap as well as for the driver who improve the most places in the race. If several drivers have gained the same number of positions, the highest ranked driver got this bonus.
Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th Leading a lap Fastest race lap Most positions improved First qualification Final qualification
2004–2006 31 27 25 23 21 19 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
2007–2008 31 27 25 23 21 19 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 1 1 1

IRL Championships 1996–1997

  • Although the Indy Racing League commissioned the USAC to perform the races, the old USAC point system was not reused. Instead the IRL used an own simple point scoring system for all races, despite 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 2 additional bonus points were awarded to the pole setter, while 1 bonus point got the driver with the most led laps. They also extended the entry list for the 1997 Indy500 to 35 drivers, so they awarded additional 1 point for ranks 34 and 35.
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 Most Led Laps Pole Position
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 1 2

IRL Championships 1998–2003

  • After taking over the driving operation from the USAC, the IRL also changed its point system. All participants of a race were eligle to get championship points, even nonstarters did receive points starting in 1999. The point scoring system applies to all races, regardless of their length or importance.
  • Between 1998 and 2000, the first three drivers from qualifying got bonus points (3, 2, 1) and the driver with most led laps got 2 bonus points instead of 1. From 2001 to 2003 no bonus points for the qualifying were awarded.
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+ Most Led Laps Pole Position Second starting position Third starting position
1998–2000 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 2 3 2 1
2001–2003 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 2 0 0 0

IRL/ICS Championships 2004–2012

  • In 2004, the IRL modified their point scoring system again. The ranks from 18 to 24 receive the same number of 12 points instead of a decreasing score, the ranks 25 to 33 receive 10 points.
  • The bonus for most led laps has been increased from 2 to 3 in 2004. In 2009 this bonus decreased to 2 again, with awarding a new bonus point for pole position.
  • Nonstarters did receive full race points in 2004 as 2005 and half race points beginning with 2006.
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+ Leading a lap Most Led Laps Pole Position
2004–2008 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 0 3 0
2009–2012 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 0 2 1

Indy Qualifying

  • Starting with the 2010 season, IndyCar introduced a point scoring system for the Indy 500 qualification. As a result, no additional bonus point for the pole position will be awarded during this race.
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
2010–2012 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

Special events

  • In 2011, the race on Texas Motor Speedway was divided into two short races. Special 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

ICS Championships 2013–present

  • In 2013, the ICS modified the points awarded to the ranks 19–25. It essentially corresponds to the decreasing points scheme of 2003. This system is still in use.
  • Bonus points are awarded for most led laps, for pole position and a single bonus point for every driver, who led a lap.
  • Nonstarters did receive half race 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+ Leading a lap Most Led Laps Pole Position
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 1 2 1

Indy Qualifying

  • Starting with the 2010 season, IndyCar introduced a point scoring system for the Indy 500 qualification. As a result, no additional bonus point for the pole position will be awarded during this race.
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
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
2014 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 "fast nine" 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
2015–2017 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 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

Special events

  • Since 2011 there have been a special award of championship points for some 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
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
2014 "Triple Crown" (500 mile races) 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
2015–present Season finale (Sonoma) and Indy 500 100 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

Notes

    References

    • "indycar.com – Fan-Info". Retrieved 2016-10-06.
    • "champcarstats.com – Results archive". Retrieved 2016-10-04.
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