Castroneves takes pole in IRL

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2004

NARARETH, United States (AFP) — Helio Castroneves won the pole position in qualifying with teammate Sam Hornish Jr. starting alongside for tomorrow's Indy 225 over the one-mile oval track.

It will be a sentimental race because it will be the last at Nazareth and the 100th. in the history of the IRL, which started Indy car racing in 1987.

Castroneves, the defending champion, recorded 167.396 miles per hour to earn his second pole of the season and the sixth of his IRL career. Hornish was second in 167.100 mph.

It's the 18th time teammates have started 1-2 in an IRL race and the first time Penske Racing has started 1-2 since Castroneves and Gil de Ferran at Richmond in 2002.

"I'm going to miss this place," Castroneves said. "They seem to take all my...