Ganassi’s Scott Dixon has beaten Will Power (Penske) to earn pole position for the IndyCar Series' Motegi round. This marks only the second time this year that Power has been beaten to pole on a road course.
The Australian still got the edge over title rival Dario Franchitti as the Scot could only manage ninth.
Another good showing for Graham Rahal (Ganassi), who ended up third after having been quickest in both the group one and the top 12 segment.
All three Penske drivers made it to the final segment. Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves will line up fourth and sixth, sandwiching Newman/Haas' impressive rookie James Hinchcliffe.
Franchitti's ninth place is his worst qualifying result on a road course since Long Beach in April 2010.
A number of promising drivers who had some good runs in Friday’s practice session did not get the expected results, such as Newman/Haas' Oriol Servia, who flat-spotted his tyres on his best lap. He will start only 16th.
Same demise for local hero Hideki Mutoh (AFS/Sam Schmidt Motorsports), who could only managed 22nd, while Tony Kanaan (KV Racing) had brake problems to finally end up in 25th.
Canadian Alex Tagliani (Sam Schmidt Motorsports) will start alongside Oriol Servia on the 8th row.
Qualifying Results – IndyCar (Motegi)
1. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m38.3918s
2. Will Power Penske 1m38.4194s + 0.0276s
3. Graham Rahal Ganassi 1m38.5946s + 0.2028s
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m38.7082s + 0.3164s
5. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas 1m38.9226s + 0.5308s
6. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m38.9743s + 0.5825s
7. Charlie Kimball Ganassi 1m38.7911s Part 2
8. James Jakes Dale Coyne 1m38.8198s Part 2
9. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m38.8738s Part 2
10. Marco Andretti Andretti 1m38.9058s Part 2
11. Takuma Sato KV 1m38.9194s Part 2
12. Joao Paulo de Oliveira Conquest 1m39.0009s Part 2
13. EJ Viso KV 1m38.9562s Group 1
14. Sebastien Bourdais Dale Coyne 1m38.7495s Group 2
15. Alex Tagliani Sam Schmidt 1m39.0409s Group 1
16. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas 1m38.7719s Group 2
17. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 1m39.0750s Group 1
18. Giorgio Pantano Dreyer & Reinbold 1m38.8588s Group 2
19. JR Hildebrand Panther 1m39.2650s Group 1
20. Mike Conway Andretti 1m38.9371s Group 2
21. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 1m39.4724s Group 1
22. Hideki Mutoh AFS/Sam Schmidt 1m38.9407s Group 2
23. Danica Patrick Andretti 1m39.4789s Group 1
24. Vitor Meira Foyt 1m39.3269s Group 2
25. Tony Kanaan KV 1m39.5004s Group 1
26. Simona de Silvestro HVM 1m39.3440s Group 2
The Australian still got the edge over title rival Dario Franchitti as the Scot could only manage ninth.
Another good showing for Graham Rahal (Ganassi), who ended up third after having been quickest in both the group one and the top 12 segment.
All three Penske drivers made it to the final segment. Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves will line up fourth and sixth, sandwiching Newman/Haas' impressive rookie James Hinchcliffe.
Franchitti's ninth place is his worst qualifying result on a road course since Long Beach in April 2010.
A number of promising drivers who had some good runs in Friday’s practice session did not get the expected results, such as Newman/Haas' Oriol Servia, who flat-spotted his tyres on his best lap. He will start only 16th.
Same demise for local hero Hideki Mutoh (AFS/Sam Schmidt Motorsports), who could only managed 22nd, while Tony Kanaan (KV Racing) had brake problems to finally end up in 25th.
Canadian Alex Tagliani (Sam Schmidt Motorsports) will start alongside Oriol Servia on the 8th row.
Qualifying Results – IndyCar (Motegi)
1. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m38.3918s
2. Will Power Penske 1m38.4194s + 0.0276s
3. Graham Rahal Ganassi 1m38.5946s + 0.2028s
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m38.7082s + 0.3164s
5. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas 1m38.9226s + 0.5308s
6. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m38.9743s + 0.5825s
7. Charlie Kimball Ganassi 1m38.7911s Part 2
8. James Jakes Dale Coyne 1m38.8198s Part 2
9. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m38.8738s Part 2
10. Marco Andretti Andretti 1m38.9058s Part 2
11. Takuma Sato KV 1m38.9194s Part 2
12. Joao Paulo de Oliveira Conquest 1m39.0009s Part 2
13. EJ Viso KV 1m38.9562s Group 1
14. Sebastien Bourdais Dale Coyne 1m38.7495s Group 2
15. Alex Tagliani Sam Schmidt 1m39.0409s Group 1
16. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas 1m38.7719s Group 2
17. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 1m39.0750s Group 1
18. Giorgio Pantano Dreyer & Reinbold 1m38.8588s Group 2
19. JR Hildebrand Panther 1m39.2650s Group 1
20. Mike Conway Andretti 1m38.9371s Group 2
21. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 1m39.4724s Group 1
22. Hideki Mutoh AFS/Sam Schmidt 1m38.9407s Group 2
23. Danica Patrick Andretti 1m39.4789s Group 1
24. Vitor Meira Foyt 1m39.3269s Group 2
25. Tony Kanaan KV 1m39.5004s Group 1
26. Simona de Silvestro HVM 1m39.3440s Group 2