Print

Mail

wiki links

Helio Castroneves claims fifth IRL pole of the season

IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves prepares for his qualifying run at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Helio Castroneves claimed pole position for a series-high fifth time this season at Firestone Indy 400 qualifying on Saturday.

The Brazilian driver posted a lap of 348.794kph and was joined on the front row for yesterday's Indy Racing League event by Marlboro Team Penske teammate Sam Hornish Jr.

Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan will start third, and Ed Carpenter of Vision Racing qualified a career-best fourth.

After Penske's fourth 1-2 start this season, Castroneves wouldn't mind if he and Hornish turned out to be just as dominant when it counts.

"I hope it's a boring race," Castroneves said. "But IndyCar racing is never like that."

That's especially true at Michigan International Speedway, where the IndyCar series has its longest race other than the Indianapolis 500.

The past four IRL events at Brooklyn have featured an average of 18.5 lead changes -- more than any current track on the circuit since 2002 -- with thrilling, three and four-wide racing on the high-banked, 3.2km oval.

Castroneves likes the way his car is handling, a key factor when all cars have the same Honda engine, but knows he can't get cocky at a track where he finished 21st, 10th and 17th over the past three years.

"A lot can go wrong with your car when it takes 400 miles and almost three hours to finish a race," Castroneves said. "The only time you can relax a little is if you have a big lead. Otherwise, you are intensely concentrating because of the side-by-side racing with cars in front and behind you, too."
This story has been viewed 1398 times.