Pagenaud pips Castroneves for pole in Detroit

IndyCar series leader Simon Pagenaud has led home a 1-2-3 shut-out for Team Penske in qualifying for the first of the twin races at the Belle Isle circuit in Detroit.

Pagenaud’s third season pole position arrived with a 1:14.91s lap of the street circuit, beating Helio Castroneves by .01s.

Juan Montoya will start from third in the first of the 70-lap races.

“Last week wasn’t exactly what we wanted, but we’re back,” Pagenaud said after finishing 19th in the Indy 500.

“We were really strong during the race at the 500 but it is what it is, you can’t always be up there.

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“But, certainly, an awesome feeling today. What a cool track.”

Indy 500 pole winner James Hinchcliffe will start from fourth in his Schmidt-Peterson Honda ahead of Andretti Autosport driver Carlos Munoz.

Scott Dixon rounded-up the Fast Six in his Ganassi Chevrolet.

Will Power missed out on a place in the Fast Six shootout and will start from ninth after topping the earlier practice session.

Indy 500 winner Alex Rossi (Andretti-Herta) will start from 17th.

See below for full qualifying results for Race 1

1	Simon Pagenaud	Dallara/Chevrolet	1;14.91	–
2	Helio Castroneves	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:14.92	.01
3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:15.56	.64
4	James Hinchcliffe	Dallara/Honda	1:15.77	.85
5	Carlos Munoz	Dallara/Honda	1:16.38	1.47
6	Scott Dixon	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:16.46	1.54
7	Tony Kanaan	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:15.55	.63
8	Charlie Kimball	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:15.67	.75
9	Will Power	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:15.71	.79
10	Graham Rahal	Dallara/Honda	1:15.71	.80
11	Takuma Sato	Dallara/Honda	1:16.09	1.18
12	Mikhail Aleshin	Dallara/Honda	1:16.26	1.34
13	Sebastien Bourdais	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:16.10	1.19
14	Josef Newgarden	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:16.31	1.39
15	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Dallara/Honda	1:16.26	1.34
16	Conor Daly	Dallara/Honda	1:16.63	1.72
17	Alexander Rossi	Dallara/Honda	1:16.45	1.53
18	Max Chilton	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:16.71	1.79
19	Marco Andretti	Dallara/Honda	1:16.49	1.57
20	Gabby Chaves	Dallara/Honda	1:16.91	1.99
21	Spencer Pigot	Dallara/Chevrolet	1:17.68	2.77
22	Jack Hawksworth	Dallara/Honda	1:18.39	3.47