Ganassi's Dario Franchitti, who won the Milwaukee Mile event last year, took pole for the 2012 edition of the famed oval IndyCar race that will be presented this Saturday.
The Scottish driver seemed surprised himself by his pole after having quite a bit of difficulty in finding the good settings during the early practice sessions.
Texas race-winner Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) came in second with an average speed of 168.287 mph but will have to start from 12th after having been penalized for an unauthorized engine change.
Therefore, Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay will start alongside Franchitti on the front row.
KV Racing's Rubens Barrichello, also benefiting from a similar penalty to Penske's Will Power is third followed by Power's teammate Helio Castroneves.
Besides Power, who is now 14th, Scott Dixon (Ganassi) was also penalized and will line up five places behind him.
Qualifying results* – IndyCar (Milwaukee)
1. Dario Franchitti (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 168.737 mph (271.556 kmh)
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 167.911
3. Rubens Barrichello (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 166.899
4. Helio Castroneves (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 166.763
5. EJ Viso (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 166.066
6. Tony Kanaan (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 165.915
7. Simon Pagenaud (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 165.369
8. James Hinchcliffe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 165.312
9. Marco Andretti (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 164.893
10. JR Hildebrand (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Panther - 164.321
11. Graham Rahal (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 164.198
12. Justin Wilson (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 168.287**
13. Alex Tagliani (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Herta - 163.866
14. Will Power (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 167.361**
15. Katherine Legge (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 163.516
16. James Jakes (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 162.020
17. Josef Newgarden (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Fisher - 166.699**
18. Charlie Kimball (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 161.079
19. Ryan Briscoe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 166.031**
20. Oriol Servia (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - D&R - 160.375
21. Scott Dixon (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 165.726**
22. Ed Carpenter (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Carpenter - 160.308
23. Simona de Silvestro (Dallara DW12-Lotus) - HVM - 160.115
24. Takuma Sato (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 165.285**
25. Mike Conway (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Foyt - 159.794**
*Unofficial timing
**10-place grid penalty for engine change
The Scottish driver seemed surprised himself by his pole after having quite a bit of difficulty in finding the good settings during the early practice sessions.
Texas race-winner Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) came in second with an average speed of 168.287 mph but will have to start from 12th after having been penalized for an unauthorized engine change.
Therefore, Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay will start alongside Franchitti on the front row.
KV Racing's Rubens Barrichello, also benefiting from a similar penalty to Penske's Will Power is third followed by Power's teammate Helio Castroneves.
Besides Power, who is now 14th, Scott Dixon (Ganassi) was also penalized and will line up five places behind him.
Qualifying results* – IndyCar (Milwaukee)
1. Dario Franchitti (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 168.737 mph (271.556 kmh)
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 167.911
3. Rubens Barrichello (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 166.899
4. Helio Castroneves (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 166.763
5. EJ Viso (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 166.066
6. Tony Kanaan (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 165.915
7. Simon Pagenaud (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 165.369
8. James Hinchcliffe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 165.312
9. Marco Andretti (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 164.893
10. JR Hildebrand (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Panther - 164.321
11. Graham Rahal (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 164.198
12. Justin Wilson (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 168.287**
13. Alex Tagliani (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Herta - 163.866
14. Will Power (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 167.361**
15. Katherine Legge (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 163.516
16. James Jakes (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 162.020
17. Josef Newgarden (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Fisher - 166.699**
18. Charlie Kimball (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 161.079
19. Ryan Briscoe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 166.031**
20. Oriol Servia (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - D&R - 160.375
21. Scott Dixon (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 165.726**
22. Ed Carpenter (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Carpenter - 160.308
23. Simona de Silvestro (Dallara DW12-Lotus) - HVM - 160.115
24. Takuma Sato (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 165.285**
25. Mike Conway (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Foyt - 159.794**
*Unofficial timing
**10-place grid penalty for engine change