Source: Infineon Raceway Media Relations/Cardinale
Date: 08/28/2005

SONOMA, Calif. -- Australian rookie Ryan Briscoe, competing in just his 14th Indy Racing League IndyCar(r) Series event, captured the pole position for Sunday's historic Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix at Infineon Raceway.

Briscoe was last to qualify on Saturday in single-lap time trials leading up to the Firestone Fast Six shootout to determine the first six starting positions. He led the way in single-car qualifying, and then upped his speed during the shootout to secure his first IRL pole.

"The car wasn't exactly as we expected from the first single lap so we put a ton of front wing in," Briscoe said. "The heat caused a push. The car felt better in the 10-minute session and we went quicker, so it was great. Getting the pole is fantastic."

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves (Marlboro Team Penske) claimed the second qualifying spot for his fifth front row starting position of the season.

"It was a tough run and we tried really hard," Castroneves said. "The track changed a little bit from the morning to the afternoon which was a little bit to our favor. We tried something in the beginning of top-six qualifying and it didn't work and we had to stop right away. We used the tires up and the track was better. At the end of the day, I don't think we would have been able to catch Ryan."

Reigning IndyCar(r) Series champion Tony Kanaan (Andretti Green Racing) was third, followed by Tomas Enge (Panther Racing), two-time league champion Sam Hornish Jr. (Marlboro Team Penske), and 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice (Rahal Letterman Racing).

Dario Franchitti (Andretti Green Racing), who was among the leaders in practice and was considered a pole contender, spun at the entrance to Turn 2 on his single qualifying lap and will start last in the 21-car field.

"I touched the brakes and, for whatever reason, I don't know if there were bumps or whatever, I lost the back end of the ArcaEx car and that was it -- around she went," Franchitti said. "I'm confident we can come from the back of the field but it's going to be a lot more difficult because passing here is definitely hard."

Marco Andretti (Andretti Green Racing), son of Michael and grandson of Mario, took the pole for Sunday's Sonoma 100 for the Sonoma 100 Menards Infiniti Pro Series(tm) cars at an average speed of 98.307 mph, followed by first-time MIPS starter Bobby Wilson at 98.293.

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