RICHMOND, Virginia, 27 June 2004 — Brazil’s Helio Castroneves captured his first Indy Racing League pole of the season here Friday, setting the pace in time trials for Indy Challenge.
Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner seeking his first victory of the season, reached 171.202 mph in his Toyota-powered Dallara to deny American Buddy Rice, the reigning Indy 500 champion, his third pole of the season.
Rice will start on the outside of row one, with England’s Mark Taylor and American Sam Hornish in the row two and South African Tomas Scheckter alongside New Zealand’s Scott Dixon, the reigning series champion, in row three. Brazil’s Tony Kanaan, the season points leader with 210, will start 10th while American Dan Wheldon, second with 175, will start 20th. Castroneves is third in the points chase with 146, two ahead of Rice.
