Improvement points add an element to the game that rewards drivers for performing well above their average. Players often ask how we calculate these values at the start of a season.

For INDYCAR and Formula 1, because Improvement Points are based on an 8-race rolling average finish position, at the start of a season, we take the driver's season start ranking and backfill eight events for each driver. After the first race is completed, the formula will begin to fluctuate.

Example:

A driver has an initial season ranking of 15th on GridRival. For the first race, their incoming rolling average finish position will be 15th using the formula (15+15+15+15+15+15+15+15) / 8.

Assuming the driver finishes the first race in p7, their incoming rolling average for the second race will be 14th using the formula (15+15+15+15+15+15+15+7) / 8.

After each additional race, the substituted values will disappear and be replaced with real race data until the season's eighth race.

Since NASCAR improvement points are based on a driver's race finish position relative to their current Owner's Championship Position, we do not need to sub in any previous data. However, for the first five races of the season, we will use their season starting rank on GridRival to determine improvement points.

Example:

A driver has an initial season ranking of 12th on GridRival. For their first five races, we will use 12th place as their starting point for earning improvement points, meaning finishing 11th or better will qualify them to earn Improvement Points.

Starting at the 6th race of the season, we will compare their finish position relative to their Owner's Championship Position. For example, if they are ranked 9th in the Owner's Championship and finish a race in 6th, they would receive improvement points for finishing 3 positions above their championship ranking.