Ambrose wins pole position for Montreal race

Associated Press

MONTREAL

Marcos Ambrose again took care of business in Nationwide qualifying at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. All he has to do now is finally take advantage of starting up front at the tricky 14-turn layout.

Ambrose turned a fast lap of 97.079 mph Saturday to edge Canadian star Jacques Villeneuve’s 96.924 mph and take the pole for today’s Nationwide Series race.

“I’ve led more laps here than anybody else and haven’t been to Victory Lane,” said Ambrose, who won the pole a year ago, led 60 of 76 laps over the 2.7-mile circuit, and was passed by Carl Edwards in the final turn. “The race tomorrow could go any way. This race is hard on equipment, hard on tempers.”

Joey Logano, who finished second to Ambrose at Watkins Glen three weeks ago, qualified third at 96.650 mph, while defending race winner Carl Edwards was fourth at 96.344 mph. Series points leader Brad Keselowski will start eighth.

Qualifying was divided into eight groups, with assignments based on practice times from the first session, which Villeneuve and Edwards topped with identical speeds. Villeneuve and Ambrose kept leapfrogging one another on each of their three laps before Ambrose finally won.

Villeneuve, who also qualified second at Road America in mid-June, thought he might have a shot at the top spot, and so did his fans, who cheered loudly before Ambrose spoiled the celebration.