Dario Franchitti wins pole position for Long Beach Grand Prix
Trying to bounce back from his miserable start to the season, Dario Franchitti won the pole position for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Franchitti, a four-time champion in the Izod IndyCar Series and winner of the Long Beach race in 2009, turned the quickest qualifying lap of 105.369 mph Saturday.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, the reigning champion and 2010 Long Beach winner, will start alongside Franchitti on Sunday after qualifying second at 105.282 mph in his car prepared by the Andretti Autosport team.
“It’s been a tough start to the season,” said Franchitti, who drives for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. “It was nice to go out there and really have a great car and and get everything out of it.”
Franchitti (pronounced Fran-kee-tee) finished 25th in each of the season’s first two races and arrived in Long Beach in last place in the IndyCar point standings.
Australian Will Power, a Team Penske driver who’s the defending Long Beach winner, qualified third, and Japanese driver Takuma Sato was fourth.
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Hunter-Reay, Conway and Power top Gran Prix practice
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