Ryan Briscoe returned to Chicagoland Speedway in style, winning the pole for the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 in his first visit to the 1.5-mile oval since a spectacular crash at the circuit in 2005.
Briscoe recorded a four-lap qualifying effort of 1 minute, 41.4190 mph, 215.818 mph as the last driver to go out, stealing the pole out of the hands of IndyCar Series points leader Scott Dixon, who had set the mark at 1:41.5435, 215.553 mph 15 drivers earlier.
Dixon will start on the outside of Row 1 and will have a large advantage in his bid for a second career championship after his rival Helio Castroneves was penalized for driving under the white line. Castroneves will start at the back of the 28-car field.
Dixon holds a 30-point lead and can clinch the title by finishing eighth or better.
Andretti Green Racing teammates Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti qualified, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
| 
|