Franchitti Claims Peak Performance Pole At Richmond

RICHMOND, June 26, 2009: Dario Franchitti's roll continues.

Franchitti, who won six days earlier at Iowa Speedway, earned the PEAK Performance Pole Award presented by Advance Auto Parts at another short track. Driving the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car, he recorded a four-lap average of167.315 mph on the 0.75-mile Richmond International Raceway.

In 2007, Franchitti started from the pole based on driver points because qualifications were rained out, led 262 laps and won the SunTrust Indy Challenge. Of course, he'd appreciate a similar result.

Scott Dixon (166.638 mph) will join his teammate on the front row - his highest start of the season. Team Penske teammates Helio Castroneves (165.931) and Ryan Briscoe (165.749) will share Row 2.

Graham Rahal (165.218) will start fifth and Raphael Matos (164.928) sixth - his best on an oval this season. E.J. Viso (164.629) also posted a season high on an oval in seventh, and will share Row 4 with Hideki Mutoh (164.575).

Mario Moraes was uninjured in the day's only accident when he spun his No. 5 KV Racing Technology car off of Turn 4 in the final practice.