Updated

The start of Indianapolis 500 qualifying is being delayed by rain.

Steady showers soaked the track Saturday morning. When the rain stopped at about 11:30 a.m., track officials sent trucks onto the 2.5-mile oval to dry it. Normally, it takes about two hours to get the oval dry, but the sun peeking through the clouds could speed up the process.

Qualifying was scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a 90-minute, nine-car shootout for the 500 pole scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. The shootout is still scheduled to begin on time.

Thirty-three driver-car combinations are expected to make qualifying attempts to fill the first 24 starting spots in the 33-car field. The other nine spots will be filled Sunday.