IndyCar-Indy Japan 300 qualifying washed out

Published 8:29 am Friday, April 18, 2008

MOTEGI, Japan — Season points leader Helio Castroneves took the pole Friday for Saturday’s Indy Japan 300 when rain washed out qualifying, his third straight top starting position on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval.

“I’m sitting in the right spot in the championship to be in this situation and I’ll take it,” Castroneves said. “We feel we have a consistent car. In the last few years we were very fast here, and I feel we can continue.

“Once you have a good car and (qualifications) are rained out, you prevent a lot of competitors to improve. Hopefully, we can do what we did in 2006.”

In 2006, Castroneves was awarded the pole based on entrant points after qualifying was rained out, then led 184 laps en route to the 6.3-second victory.

Scott Dixon, the winner of the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway, took the second spot in the front row. Andretti Green teammates Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti will share Row 2, and Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick will start in the third row.

IndyCar-Indy Japan 300 lineup

After Friday qualifying; race Saturday

At Twin Ring Motegi

Motegi, Japan

Lap length: 1.5 miles

All cars Dallara chassis/Honda engine

1. (3) Helio Castroneves, entrant points.

2. (9) Scott Dixon, entrant points.

3. (11) Tony Kanaan, entrant points.

4. (26) Marco Andretti, entrant points.

5. (10) Dan Wheldon, entrant points.

6. (7) Danica Patrick, entrant points.

7. (20) Ed Carpenter, entrant points.

8. (2) A.J. Foyt IV, entrant points.

9. (27) Hideki Mutoh, entrant points.

10. (17) Ryan Hunter-Reay, entrant points.

11. (15) Buddy Rice, entrant points.

12. (14) Darren Manning, entrant points.

13. (4) Vitor Meira, entrant points.

14. (24) Jay Howard, entrant points.

15. (6) Ryan Briscoe, entrant points.

16. (23) Townsend Bell, entrant points.

17. (25) Marty Roth, entrant points.

18. (77) Roger Yasukawa, entrant points.