Sat Jul 5 16:14:09 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Briscoe fastest in qualifying at Watkins Glen

---

Watkins Glen, NY (Sports Network) - Ryan Briscoe won the pole for Sunday's Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. The No.6 Team Penske driver rounded the 3.37-mile road course in one minute, 29.3456 seconds (135.787 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was Briscoe's first IndyCar Series pole of the season and the second of his IndyCar Series career. His first one came in August 2005 at Sonoma, CA.

Starting alongside Briscoe will be former Formula 1 driver Justin Wilson who recorded a speed of 135.734 m.p.h.

Ryan Hunter-Reay (135.348 m.p.h.) and Scott Dixon (135.285 m.p.h.) will start in row two.

Oriol Servia and Tony Kanaan were the other two drivers running in the final of the three-segment qualifying session at Watkins Glen. Servia and Kanaan will start fifth and sixth, respectively.

The 12 quickest drivers, the top-six from each of the first two qualifying groups, then competed for 15 minutes to eliminate six drivers for the final segment.

Briscoe gave Team Penske their fourth consecutive pole at The Glen. Helio Castroneves won the pole for Penske in the first three races there from 2005 to 2007. However, luck would not go Castroneves' way this year when his car suffered mechanical problems after the first segment of qualifying. He'll start from the rear of the 26-car field.

Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Marco Andretti (seventh), Dan Wheldon (ninth) and Danica Patrick (14th). Andretti missed the final segment by 0.002 seconds.

Dixon, the reigning Indianapolis 500 champion and series points leader, has won all three races at Watkins Glen.

Last year, the Chip Ganassi driver completed the three-peat at The Glen, as he cruised to a 6.2591 seconds win over Sam Hornish Jr. Castroneves led for the first 19 laps, but was forced out due to contact on Turn 11. Dixon inherited the lead and then traded the top spot with Vitor Meira, Dan Wheldon and Marco Andretti, before regaining the advantage on lap 43. Dixon led the final 18 laps for his seventh career IndyCar win and first of four 2007 titles.

The green flag is scheduled to drop on Sunday around 3:45 p.m. (et).