Two-time defending IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti claimed the pole for Sunday’s Milwaukee 225 with a blistering two-lap average of 170.841 m.p.h. in qualifying at The Milwaukee Mile.
Franchitti was the only driver who topped the 170 m.p.h. mark in Saturday’s qualifying at the flat one-mile oval. He also led the way in the second and third practice sessions.
Franchitti is hoping to bounce back after a seventh-place finish in the second race of last Saturday’s Twin 275s at Texas Motor Speedway, which put him 21 points behind leader Will Power. Franchitti had to start 28th after selecting that position for the final event during a random drawing. Power won his first race on an oval at Texas. MiamiHerald.com
“It was a combination of the car and the setup was really close to being perfect and I just hung on to it,” said Franchitti, whose lap times were 21.3826 seconds and 21.3940 seconds. “There was lot of oversteer in Turn 3, but the upside to that was it was good everywhere else.
“I am glad to be back at the Milwaukee Mile and this is a great place to start from for tomorrow’s race. It is going to be a tough day because it is like a one-lane track out there with the marbles on side and the black asphalt lane. I think the double-file restarts will work well here at the Milwaukee Mile and the fans are in for a hell of a show.”
Castroneves, a three-time pole sitter but never a winner at Milwaukee, recorded his highest qualifying spot of the season (previous best was fourth at Barber Motorsports Park in mid-April) to challenge for the victory that would extend his streak to 12 seasons with at least one.
“After a good result in Texas (fourth in Race 2), things started turning around for us and this is what we needed,” he said. “Yes, I would like a pole position, but at the end of the day I will take second place right now. It is a good position to start the race from and my team strategy is right on this weekend.
“This track is challenging and you are going to see people take chances here. When the team has the car dialed in, it is going to be awesome. I got my first victory in Detroit in 2000 on Father’s Day so I am hoping for another win tomorrow.” IndyCar.com
Franchitti’s teammate, Scott Dixon, who won the last race at Milwaukee in 2009, qualified third. Tony Kanaan, a two-time Milwaukee winner, took the fourth spot, and Takuma Sato completed the top-five.
It was another tough day for Switzerland’s De Silvestro, who was hospitalised after crashing on her qualifying run.
An IndyCar series spokesperson said De Silvestro was awake and alert, but was taken to hospital for further evaluation.
She spun and slammed the wall hard, her car then sliding backwards into the inside wall. AFP
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IZOD IndyCar Series: The Milwaukee 225 at Milwaukee Mile - Race Line-Up
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