IRL: Castroneves Wins Pole at Nazareth

NAZARETH, Pa. Aug 28, 2004; Dick Brinster writing for the AP reported that Helio Castroneves put himself in the best position to win the 100th IRL race by taking the pole Saturday for the final event at Nazareth Speedway. Now, the defending race champion hopes to present car owner Roger Penske with a victory Sunday in the Firestone Indy 225. Penske built the track in 1986, but later merged his racing facilities with those of International Speedway Corp. ISC said in May the mile oval would close after this season.

Castroneves posted a fast lap of 167.396 mph. He will be joined in the front row by teammate Sam Hornish Jr., who went 167.100.

"I'm extremely happy for the whole team, especially being on the front row right in the back yard of Team Penske," Castroneves said, referring to the Reading-based operation. "Hopefully, we can put both Marlboro Team Penske cars on the front at the end tomorrow."

Asked which one he'd like to see in the winner's circle, Castroneves laughed.

"Me," he said. "I just want to lead the last lap."

Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy Rice, hoping to match the IRL record for poles in a season, failed to come close to his sixth. He wound up 10th on the 22-car grid.

Castroneves didn't know if he and Hornish would receive team orders on which driver should take the lead to avoid an accident entering the sharp and narrow first turn — one of the most demanding on the circuit — on the first lap.

"They might talk, but Sam and I already know what to do," Castroneves said. "There are the rules, and nobody wants to see Roger's face if something happens. He wouldn't be happy about it and if something does happen, we better get out here quick.

"But we know what we need to do and we respect each other."

Penske cars have a record seven victories at Nazareth, including his milestone 100th as an open-wheel car owner. Now-retired Gil de Ferran gave him that win, breaking a three-year drought for the team in 2000.

"I want to win every race I go to, but this one means a little more than most," Hornish said.

Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, also would like to end an 11-race winning streak by Honda-Powered cars and give Toyota its second victory of the season. Two-time series champion Hornish won the season-opener in February before Honda began its big run.

Qualifying third was points leader Tony Kanaan, but he was far off the pace at 166.591. Kanaan's Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti, a winner last Sunday at Pikes Peak, was next at 165.684.

Kanaan would like to win for team owner Michael Andretti, a lifelong Nazareth resident who drove to victory in the first race on this track in 1987. But holding a 68-point lead in the series standings is his top priority.

"I do like the way if feels for the race, and I think we'll have a strong run tomorrow," Kanaan said. "The best way to win championships is to win races, so that's what we're trying to do."

Darren Manning gave Toyota power three cars among the top five, and he was followed by Adrian Fernandez, Bryan Herta, Dan Wheldon, Vitor Meara and Rice.