Team Penske's Helio Castroneves took his first fully-fledged pole of the season in Nashville today with a comfortable margin due in part to the cooling temperatures as the session progress.
The Brazilian has not won a race since St Petersburg last year, but remains second in the championship.
Danica Patrick was on provisional pole before Castroneves did his run almost at the end of the session. She finally had to settle for second ahead of her Andretti Green teammate Hideki Mutoh.
Watkins Glen winner Ryan Hunter-Reay was fourth just in front of the series leader Scott Dixon who had previously dominated the free practice.
Qualifying Results:
Pos Driver Team Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 204.519
2. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 203.335
3. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 203.316
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay Rahal Letterman 203.306
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 203.233
6. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 203.077
7. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 202.818
8. Ed Carpenter Vision 202.735
9. Ryan Briscoe Penske 202.690
10. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 202.561
11. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 202.220
12. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 202.196
13. Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan 201.997
14. Will Power KV 201.887
15. Vitor Meira Panther 201.661
16. Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold 201.564
17. Oriol Servia KV 201.446
18. Darren Manning Foyt 201.173
19. Enrique Bernoldi Conquest 201.153
20. Mario Moraes Dale Coyne 200.026
21. Marty Roth Roth 200.017
22. AJ Foyt IV Vision 199.841
23. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 199.658
24. Jaime Camara Conquest 199.164
The Brazilian has not won a race since St Petersburg last year, but remains second in the championship.
Danica Patrick was on provisional pole before Castroneves did his run almost at the end of the session. She finally had to settle for second ahead of her Andretti Green teammate Hideki Mutoh.
Watkins Glen winner Ryan Hunter-Reay was fourth just in front of the series leader Scott Dixon who had previously dominated the free practice.
Qualifying Results:
Pos Driver Team Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 204.519
2. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 203.335
3. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 203.316
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay Rahal Letterman 203.306
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 203.233
6. Dan Wheldon Ganassi 203.077
7. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 202.818
8. Ed Carpenter Vision 202.735
9. Ryan Briscoe Penske 202.690
10. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 202.561
11. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 202.220
12. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold 202.196
13. Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan 201.997
14. Will Power KV 201.887
15. Vitor Meira Panther 201.661
16. Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold 201.564
17. Oriol Servia KV 201.446
18. Darren Manning Foyt 201.173
19. Enrique Bernoldi Conquest 201.153
20. Mario Moraes Dale Coyne 200.026
21. Marty Roth Roth 200.017
22. AJ Foyt IV Vision 199.841
23. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 199.658
24. Jaime Camara Conquest 199.164