Ron McQueeney/IMS
Scott Dixon will start on the pole for Saturday’s Indy Japan 300 after topping the qualifying charts at Twin Ring Motegi.
Dixon, the last driver to qualify on the 1.5-mile oval, recorded a four-lap average of 202.031 m.p.h. for his first IndyCar Series pole of the season. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver also earned a bonus point, as he attempts to defend his series title with just two races to go in the season.
“It’s definitely all out for me,” Dixon said. “We’ve got to try to gain obviously the pole point. It’s only one, but it definitely helps. It’s also good for the ego coming into the race, maybe confidence over some of the others.”
Dixon is now 32 points behind leader Ryan Briscoe, who qualified on the outside of row two. Miamiherald.com
Dixon, who has three wins this season for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, has never won in Motegi but the 2008 champion finished third last year and fourth in 2007.
IndyCar Series: Indy Japan 300 - Race Line-Up
Briscoe could clinch his first series championship with a first or second-place finish in Saturday’s race but needs Dixon and Franchitti to finish well off the lead.
“I left a lot on the table today but the car has been good in practice,” Briscoe said. “It’s gonna be a tough race but hopefully we can take some points.”
The 27-year-old Australian has three victories this season for Team Penske, including the previous race at Chicagoland.
Danica Patrick, who won here last year to become the first woman to win a major open-wheel race, qualified sixth, a place behind Graham Rahal. USA Today
Former Motegi winner Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan will start the race from the back of the pack. Castroneves made heavy contact with SAFER Barrier exiting Turn 4 on his third qualifying lap while Kanaan, who qualified 14th (198.560), was sent to the rear of the grid after the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car failed post-qualifying technical inspection. Andretti Green Racing driver Hideki Mutoh also will start toward the rear after the No. 27 Formula Dream car made contact with the Turn 3 SAFER Barrier on his second qualifying lap.
