Rahal captures pole for Champ Car race

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) -- Graham Rahal, the son of former Indianapolis 500 and Indy Car champion Bobby Rahal, won the pole Saturday for Sunday's Champ Car Atlantic Championship race.
Rahal, making just his third start in the developmental series formerly known as the Toyota-Atlantic, turned a lap at 91.020 mph, finishing in 1 minute, 23.217 seconds -- 0.187 seconds ahead of fellow series rookie Simon Pagenaud.
"We've been quick all weekend," Rahal said. "Yesterday, at qualifying, we had an issue with a flap on the wing that fell apart. We struggled with that yesterday and today we were strong, so here we are."
Hometown favorite David Martinez, was third, maneuvering around the slick, 2.104-mile road course in a top time of 1:23.500 and clocking an average speed of 90.711 mph.
A beaming elder Rahal was among those who watched his son's run to the pole. Asked if racing success runs in his genes, he said, "I guess some, maybe, although I think [Graham is] so far ahead of where I was."
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.