Full Throttle

A week after finishing a disappointing 12th at Sonoma, New Zealander Scott Dixon won the pole for Sunday’s Detroit Indy Grand Prix.

Dixon, who leads Helio Castroneves by 43 points with two races remaining this season, lapped the 2.906-mile course at Belle Isle Park in one minute, 12.282 seconds at 103.090 miles per hour for his seventh pole of the season and 15th career.

“Man what a session - we had a fantastic car and I’m happy we got the pole,” Dixon said.

“All we’re worried about now is getting one more point than Helio. So far so good, but we have a long way to go.”

Castroneves, the only other driver mathematically capable of winning this year’s title, will start second after qualifying in 1:12.765, clocking 102.412 mph.

The Brazilian is coming off a victory at Sonoma that cut Dixon’s lead from 78 points to 43.

Oriol Servia qualified third, followed by Justin Wilson, Ryan Briscoe and Graham Rahal.

Last year’s winner here, Tony Kanaan, will start eighth. His Andretti Green Racing team-mate, Danica Patrick, rolls off 10th.

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