Team Penske's Power Leads Infineon IndyCar Qualifying

Team Penske's Will Power was class of a 28-car field in IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma qualifying



Despite an "off" in the second of three rounds of knock-out qualifying, Team Penske's Helio Castroneves qualified second - teammate Ryan Briscoe was third

Photos: Anne Proffit

Team Penske smothered the competition today in qualifying for Sunday's Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on the 2.303-mile, 12-corner Infineon Raceway Sears Point permanent road course.  On a majestic afternoon - a near carbon copy of Friday's weather - Will Power led teammates Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe in the final round of knockout qualifying to gain his sixth Peak Pole Position of 2011 and second straight at this track, where Power won last season.

The balance of the field in the Firestone Fast Six 10-minute session were Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, with Newman/Haas rookie James Hinchcliffe as the final driver to make it into Q3.

Hinch's appearance in the FFS was his best qualifying effort of the season and placed him ahead of an accomplsihed group of Mike Conway, Sebastien Bourdais, EJ Viso, Ana Beatriz, Giorgio Pantano and Alex Tagliani completing the top 12.

Most of the quick speeds were set in the second round of 12, with eight drivers under 1:19.  Only Power was able to break in the 18's in Firestone Fast Six and then at 1:18.6017 (105.479 mph), a full four-tenths slower than he performed in the second round.  All the FFS drivers said the red, alternate tires had about three laps of life to them, so that could explain the drop-off in the third phase of qualifying.

Power is pleased to have his teammates between him and current point leader Dario Franchitti.  "We need to do that more often," he said.  "The key to this pole was the testing we did here last week.  It's great having my teammates around me.  I worked hard for that pole; we knew we just had to 'lay one down' since starting up front is so important here."

Castroneves, who went off in the second round, was second at 1:19.0916 (104.825).  After thanking anyone whose name was on his No. 3 car, he gave special praise to Power for doing "a good job in testing last week.  We work really well together.  These 'reds' last only 1-2 laps maximum so you have to put it together," in a comparatively short period of time.

"It's awesome for us to be in the top three in qualifying here," noted Briscoe.  We didn't have the best day Friday," with various brake issues, "but today we've been able to fight for the top spot all day long.  Hopefully we can move up a little tomorrow as well."

Franchitti thought his car had "very good balance Friday and this morning.  We worked hard to achieve that," he said.  "The Firestone Fast Six session was very difficult for us.  We've got a lot of work to do tonight to gain our balance on both the black and red tires."

Scott Dixon found the track "tricky.  The car is pretty decent but it's been hard to get the balance right.  It's been a handful on older tires - they've been a real struggle."  The two-time champion was surprised not to "gain that much on red tires; it's a little bit frustrating."   

As for Hinchcliffe, who had a podium appearance here in Firestone Indy Lights last season, "Every rookie wants to get better as the season goes on.  With minimum testing and track time it's very difficult.  The guys threw stuff at the car for qualifying and it worked.  I'm really happy."

Hinchcliffe does believe that everyone will have a learning experience in the first stint of the 80-lap race tomorrow.  If there's no caution on the first lap - and with most drivers starting on the red, alternate Firestone tires, strategy will be king.  

Firestone Racing executive Al Speyer expects the black, primary tire to hold up well; the alternate is intended to be quick for a few laps, but it does lose efficiency very quickly, he told me.  "Some drivers will get better wear out of the alternates than others.  It just remains to be seen which drivers," Speyer said.

© 2011 Anne Proffit