Will Power has unleashed a record qualifying lap to take pole for the opening race of the Detroit double-header meeting
Will Power has continued his purple patch of form by snaring pole position for the Grand Prix of Detroit at the Belle Isle street circuit.
Benefitting from fresh tyres, Power responded to pressure from his fellow Team Penske runners to top the Fast Six with a record qualifying lap of 1:16.09s.
Helio Castroneves was second in 1:16.12s with Indy 500 winner Juan Montoya claiming third with a 1:16.44s effort.
AJ Foyt driver and Belle Isle lap record holder Takuma Sato was fourth, denying Team Penske a sweep-out of the front two rows.
The fourth Team Penske entry of Simon Pagenaud was fifth ahead of Sebastien Bourdais.
Knowing Castroneves and Montoya were on strong runs Power was forced to respond, admitting he had made ‘a couple of mistakes’ as he took his 39th career pole.
“I had new tyres and I was pushing hard because they said Helio and Juan were pretty close,” Indy 500 runner-up and defending series champion Power said.
“I made a couple of mistakes and the car was getting a bit loose.”
Power is now firm favourite to defend his win in the opening 70-lap race tomorrow ahead of the second of the double-header races the following day.
Ganassi driver Scott Dixon was seventh ahead of rookie Stefano Coletti with Marco Andretti and James Jakes completing the top 10.
See below full qualifying results
Pos
Car
Driver
Manufacturer
Time
Speed
Round
1
1
Will Power
Chevrolet
1:16.0941
111.178
Firestone Fast Six
2
3
Helio Castroneves
Chevrolet
1:16.1200
111.140
Firestone Fast Six
3
2
Juan Pablo Montoya
Chevrolet
1:16.4428
110.671
Firestone Fast Six
4
14
Takuma Sato
Honda
1:16.5363
110.536
Firestone Fast Six
5
22
Simon Pagenaud
Chevrolet
1:16.6656
110.349
Firestone Fast Six
6
11
Sebastien Bourdais
Chevrolet
1:17.0406
109.812
Firestone Fast Six
7
9
Scott Dixon
Chevrolet
1:16.9768
109.903
Round 2 / Top 12
8
4
Stefano Coletti (R)
Chevrolet
1:17.3638
109.353
Round 2 / Top 12
9
27
Marco Andretti
Honda
1:17.3785
109.333
Round 2 / Top 12
10
7
James Jakes
Honda
1:17.5158
109.139
Round 2 / Top 12
11
19
Tristan Vautier
Honda
1:17.8140
108.721
Round 2 / Top 12
12
8
Sage Karam (R)
Chevrolet
1:17.9046
108.594
Round 2 / Top 12
13
15
Graham Rahal
Honda
1:18.2239
108.151
Qual / Group 1
14
41
Jack Hawksworth
Honda
1:18.7504
107.428
Qual / Group 2
15
10
Tony Kanaan
Chevrolet
1:18.3144
108.026
Qual / Group 1
16
28
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Honda
1:19.3634
106.598
Qual / Group 2
17
83
Charlie Kimball
Chevrolet
1:18.3303
108.004
Qual / Group 1
18
67
Josef Newgarden
Chevrolet
1:21.4632
103.851
Qual / Group 2
19
20
Luca Filippi
Chevrolet
1:18.4404
107.853
Qual / Group 1
20
26
Carlos Munoz
Honda
1:21.4796
103.830
Qual / Group 2
21
5
Conor Daly (R)
Honda
1:18.4937
107.779
Qual / Group 1
22
18
Rodolfo Gonzalez (R)
Honda
1:21.8208
103.397
Qual / Group 2
23
98
Gabby Chaves (R)
Honda
1:19.2306
106.777
Qual / Group 1
VIDEO: Ride on-board with Will Power on his pole lap
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