Castroneves Wins Japan 300 Pole

The Indy Japan 300 in Motegi, Japan Photo Courtesy: racingone.com

MOTEGI, Japan - Helio Castroneves was awarded the pole position for the Indy Japan 300 after Friday's qualifying session was canceled because of rain

Castroneves, winner of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg earlier this month, was given pole position for the third race of the Indy Racing League season on Saturday because he leads the IRL championship with 93 points.

"I always like racing in Japan and I'm looking forward to Saturday's race," said Castroneves, who drives for Team Penske. "Motegi is a challenging place because you're flat out in turns one and two, and you have to downshift in turns three and four."

Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon, second in the standings with 70 points, will join Castroneves on the front row at the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi circuit north of Tokyo.

Dixon's teammate Dan Wheldon, looking for his third straight win at Motegi, will be on the second row with Team Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr.

Castroneves had a fastest lap of 27.146 seconds in a practice session Friday. Wheldon and Scott Sharp were second and third respectively.

Castroneves has had mixed results in Japan. In seven starts at Motegi, the Brazilian driver earned two top-three finishes and one pole. Last year he started fourth, but finished 11th after he was involved in an accident on the 198th lap.

"Team Penske cars have been very strong during the first two races," Castroneves said. "Hopefully, we can build on that momentum this weekend."

Wheldon, who won the season-opening race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in March, inherited the lead on the 198th lap here last year when Tomas Scheckter ran out of fuel on the frontstretch.

No driver has won three years in a row at the same track during the IndyCar Series era. Wheldon's win here in 2004 was his first IndyCar Series victory.

Sharp won the inaugural Indy Japan in 2003.

Japan's Kosuke Matsuura is fifth overall and will be looking to give the home fans something to cheer about when he starts the 200-lap race from the third row with Tony Kanaan.

Danica Patrick, who drives for Rahal Letterman Racing, will be on the seventh row — along with Cheever Racing's Tomas Enge. Patrick led for 32 laps here last year before finishing a career-best fourth and will be looking for her first IRL victory.

Enge was a late substitute for owner Eddie Cheever Jr., who will miss the Indy Japan 300 while he competes with his Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series team at Virginia International Raceway. Cheever will return to the IRL car when teams begin preparation next month for the Indianapolis 500.

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