Rahal saves the best for last, takes Indy Car pole in Kansas

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Graham Rahal at the 2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

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Written by Scott  L. Keller · fastmachines.com · April 25, 2009

Graham Rahal was last in line for qualifying, but will be on pole for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. Rahal drove the #02 McDonalds car to a four lap average of 211.311 mph.

Rahal’s late qualifying draw was fortunate, because as the track got faster and faster as the session went on. The session began late due to a large amount of oil and fluid on the track left by a NASCAR race truck the blew a motor during their session that preceded the Indy Car qualifying session.  The cleanup lasted almost 45 minutes.

Early in the qualifying session, Scott Dixon set the time to beat at 210.220 mph. Dixon’s time was beaten by Target teammate, Dario Franchitti, who ran a four lap average of 210.967. Franchitti’s held the provisional pole until Rahal’s run the finished the session, landing him in the second spot. However, Franchitti’s time was thrown out by Indy Racing League officials because he broke series rules crossed below the white line during his run.

Helio Castroneves was also penalized for driving below the white line. He had qualified third, and was just a tick slower than Franchitti. But due to the penalty handed down from the IRL, he will start next to Franchitti in the back row for Sunday’s race.

Danica Patrick put together a strong run late in the day, and qualified fifth. Due to the penalties given to Franchitti and Castroneves, she will start inside row two.

The day’s biggest surprises came from Robert Doornbos, Sarah Fisher, and Milka Dunno. Doornbos makes his first ever Indy Car oval start this weekend, and is being coached by fellow countryman, Arie Luyendyk. Between Arie’s coaching, and his own raw talent, Doornbos qualifed the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Dallara fourth fastest, effectively putting him on the outside of the front row.

Sarah Fisher and Milka Dunno both put in very strong runs in what is the first race of the year for both drivers. They will start side by size in the sixth row.

VERSUS will air all the events of today’s qualifying session during their Saturday qualifying show from Kansas Speedway today at 6 p.m. ET.    The Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 will be aired live on VERSUS tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET.

STARTING GRID
Pos Driver Speed
1 - Graham Rahal 211.311
 2 - Robert Doornboos 210.857
 3 - Danica Patrick 210.470
 4 - Scott Dixon 210.368
 5 - Marco Andretti 210.220
 6 - Mario Moraes 210.197
 7 - Ryan Briscoe 210.098
 8 - Tony Kanaan 210.082
 9 - Dan Wheldon 209.144
10 - Ed Carpenter 208.956
11 - Sarah Fisher 208.543
12 - Milka Duno 208.537
13 - Hideki Mutoh 208.506
14 - Vitor Meira 208.461
15 - Raphael Matos 208.382
16 - Mike Conway 208.145
17 - Justin Wilson 207.971
18 - EJ Viso 206.779
19 - Stanton Barrett 205.820
20 - Ryan Hunter-Reay 205.673
21 - Dario Franchitti Time disallowed
22 - Helio Castroneves Time disallowed