The drivers of the Star Mazda Championship put on a record-setting performance in this morning's qualifying session for Friday's Round 11 at Road Atlanta and the Petit Le Mans. Unsurprisingly, Irishman Peter Dempsey , who set the pace in practice yesterday, took the pole position with a lap of 1:18.328 (116.740 mph) under near-perfect conditions, cool and dry with not a breath of wind. Dempsey has won four of the last five races and currently leads the championship battle, but this is only his second time starting from the pole (he was on the pole at Trois-Rivières also). Starting next to Dempsey on the outside of the front row will be American Joel Miller who turned a lap of 1:18.328 (116.416 mph). Miller is currently second in the championship battle. The top-qualifying Expert Series (ages 30 to 44) driver was Vancouver native Chris Cumming, who has already clinched the Expert Championship with seven class wins. Round 11 of the 2008 Star Mazda Championship will take place at the ALMS Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta at 4:30 Friday afternoon.
Star Mazda: Peter Dempsey gets Road Atlanta pole