Kanaan wins pole for Michigan 400
Competitive racing is likely despite slower speeds.
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- Tony Kanaan won the pole Saturday for the Michigan Indy 400 with a fast lap of 215.871 mph at the D-shaped, two-mile oval at Michigan International Speedway.
It was the first pole of the season for Kanaan, who has finished in the top 10 in all nine races, the top five eight times and won three times.
He leads the points standings with 357. Buddy Rice, who will start sixth today, is second with 293.
"We had a good run, no doubt about it," Kanaan said of his qualifying drive. "This pole feels good for now ... but I need to start thinking about the race."
Kosuke Matsuura will start alongside Kanaan in the front row after a lap of 214.718.
"We put everything together, and everything is going well," said Matsuura, an Indy car rookie.
Helio Castroneves had qualified second at 214.925, but he was moved to the back of the 22-car field because he will replace his Toyota engine for the race.
Scott Dixon will start third after running 214.328 mph. Sam Hornish Jr. starts fourth at 214.179.
Good qualifying run
"We had a pretty good qualifying run, but we're not where we need to be yet," Hornish said.
Hornish lost last year's race by about three feet to Alex Barron, who will start today's race from the 14th position.
Michigan is one of the IndyCar circuit's fastest tracks. But speeds on the asphalt track have been slower this year because of new safety requirements, which include lower horsepower levels.
Tomas Scheckter won last year's pole at 222.45. The fastest open-wheel pole at Michigan was 234.949 by Paul Tracy in 2000.
Despite the slower speeds, drivers expect one of the season's most competitive races.
Cars sometimes line up three wide on Michigan's broad asphalt surface.
"It will be three and four wide and lots of passing," Rice said. "This is one of the tracks where it doesn't really matter where you qualify. You are going to be spending your day in traffic."
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