Kanaan nips Power for GP of St. Pete pole

Kanaan talks to team owner Michael Andretti

Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan, who has finished either second or third in the previous three races on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street course, will start from the inside of the front row for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Kanaan, driving the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car, prevailed in the 10-minute Firestone Fast Six session with a best lap of 1 minute, 02.5322 (103.627 mph). Will Power in the No. 8 Aussie Vineyards-Team Australia car for KV Racing Technology, will join the 2004 IndyCar Series champion in Row 1.

Justin Wilson, driving the No. 02 McDonald's car for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, and two-time defending race winner Helio Castroneves will occupy Row 2. His Team Penske teammate, Ryan Briscoe, and Rahal Letterman Racing's Ryan Hunter-Reay will start from Row 3.

The Firestone Fast Six was the culmination of a three-round knockout qualifying format instituted for street/road courses in 2008. The top six cars advanced from a 12-car field, and those 12 cars were determined by two 13-car groups that had 20 minutes to post their best laps.

POST-QUALIFYING QUOTES:

TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven, qualified first): “It was tough. I think the IndyCar Series is so competitive now that you have to give everything. When I finished the qualifying run, I was exhausted. With more good drivers, it makes it a lot more difficult. It makes me proud. If you look at my suit, I’m all wet. I had to sweat to get this one done."

WILL POWER (No. 8 Aussie Vineyard-Team Australia, qualified second): “I wanted to get into the Firestone Fast Six, which we did. I was a little disappointed that we didn't get the pole considering the lap time we posted in the previous session. I'm very happy to be on the front row. It's very good for Aussie Vineyards and KV Racing Technologies. Most importantly, it's a payback to the team. They've been working so hard over the last month – working long hours and they haven't been seeing their families – so I 'm very happy for them."

JUSTIN WILSON (No. 02 McDonald’s Racing Team, qualified third): “This weekend has just been great from start to finish. I’m glad to have made it through to the Firestone Fast Six, and I’m pretty pleased with third. Would like to have gone a tenth (of a second) quicker and got the pole position but that’s racing, and Tony (Kanaan) obviously put a good lap in. I think generally we’re just very pleased with the way the McDonald’s car is handling, and hopefully we keep it up in the race tomorrow."

HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Team Penske, qualified fourth): “Obviously, I went as hard as anyone out there. The field and the qualifying format were very competitive. Team Penske was able to get into the Firestone Fast Six. It was fast and difficult qualifying session and an interesting format for the fans."

RYAN BRISCOE (No. 6 Team Penske, qualified fifth): “It was hard work with a long qualifying session and a lot of laps. I was happy with the Team Penske car at the beginning of qualifying, and then it went away from me when the track got hotter. I think we should have been a bit better than where we qualified, but I’m happy to get into the Firestone Fast Six on my first try with Team Penske. I think we have a good car for tomorrow’s race."

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