INDY RACING LEAGUE Castroneves sets record in gaining Emerson pole

The top five drivers surpassed the previous track record.
MADISON, Ill. (AP) -- Helio Castroneves led a record-breaking qualifying session on Saturday at Gateway International Raceway, grabbing the pole for the Emerson Indy 250.
The Brazilian driver knocked former Indy Racing League champion Kenny Brack off the top qualifying spot with a lap of 175.965 mph on the 1.25-mile oval.
As fast as he was, the Indianapolis 500 pole-winner, wasn't sure how his speed was stacking up on his two-lap qualifying run because the readout in his Toyota-powered Dallara wasn't working right.
"I had no idea what the time I spent on the first lap," Castroneves said. "I looked at the Pagoda [where top qualifiers are shown] and I couldn't see my number, so I thought, 'I guess now I have to go for a big number.' I just tried to keep my focus."
Castroneves' fast lap was good enough for the third pole of his IRL career.
The top five drivers surpassed the previous track record of 175.120, set last summer by Castroneves' Marlboro Team Penske teammate Gil de Ferran, who went on to win the race.
Tony Kanaan, locked in a tight championship battle with series leader Scott Dixon and Indy 500 champion de Ferran, was the first to break the record with a lap of 175.574.
De Ferran came close at 175.586 before Castroneves jumped to the top. Dixon, who holds a one-point lead over Kanaan and three over de Ferran going into Sunday's race, also beat the record with a lap of 175.376, good for fifth on the 21-car grid.
Castroneves, who has not won since May 2002 in the Indy 500, would love to jump into the championship battle. He goes into today's 250-mile event fourth, trailing Dixon by just 23 points.
One thing that could work to his advantage, starting from the front, is that the Gateway track is one of most difficult on the IRL schedule on which to pass.
"I hope it's a boring race and I'm leading by 10 seconds all the way," Castroneves said, grinning. "But there's always a brave man who will show up in the second groove and try to pass.