Patrick on front row for today’s IndyCar race

Associated Press

NEWTON, IOW

Takuma Sato and Danica Patrick will form an unlikely duo on the front row for today’s IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway.

Sato, a former Formula One driver, is chasing his first podium finish in the open-wheel series. Patrick, the series’ biggest star, is looking for her first win on American soil.

Sato earned his first pole in the IndyCar series Friday, turning in a two-lap average of 180.375 mph on the 0.875-mile oval to finish just ahead of a surging Patrick. It’s the best start of the year for Patrick, whose lone win came in Japan in 2008.

Though Patrick’s initial reaction after averaging 180.210 was to wonder what else she could have done to grab her first pole since 2005, she was more than pleased that strong practice runs led to an even stronger qualifying session.

“It is what it is, and front row is still very good,” Patrick said. “I feel confident that we’ve done some good things in practice so far with the car. I felt good out there, so it’s nice to get back on the front row. It’s been a long time.”

Defending champion Tony Kanaan will start third. JR Hildebrand will be fourth.

Series co-points leaders Will Power and Dario Franchitti will start fifth and sixth, respectively.

Sato, recorded just one top-10 finish as a rookie last year. This season he has fifth-place finishes in St. Petersburg and Texas.