Dixon Claims Pole At Japan

MOTEGI, Japan, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 - Two-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon earned the PEAK Performance Pole Award with a dramatic qualifying run to win his first pole of the season at the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi.

Dixon, the 23rd and final driver to qualify, recorded a four-lap average of 202.031 mph to knock Mario Moraes from the top spot. More importantly, Dixon, who sits third in the championship point standings, claimed the bonus point that goes to the pole winner. He's 32 behind championship points leader Ryan Briscoe entering the penultimate race of the season.

Briscoe, driving the No. 6 Team Penske car (200.849 mph), will join Dario Franchitti (201.395), who is 25 points behind Briscoe, on Row 2. Graham Rahal (200.649) and Danica Patrick (200.519), the defending race champion, will be on Row 3. Oriol Servia qualified a season-best seventh (199.703), which also is his IndyCar Series-high on an oval. He'll be joined by two-time race winner Dan Wheldon (199.693) on Row 4.

Former Motegi winner Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan will start the race from the back of the pack. Castroneves made heavy contact with SAFER Barrier exiting Turn 4 on his third qualifying lap while Kanaan, who qualified 14th (198.560), was sent to the rear of the grid after the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car failed post-qualifying technical inspection. Andretti Green Racing driver Hideki Mutoh also will start toward the rear after the No. 27 Formula Dream car made contact with the Turn 3 SAFER Barrier on his second qualifying lap.