Bathgate’s Dario Franchitti will begin the defence of his IndyCar Series title from pole position after dominating qualifying for today’s opening round of the 2010 championship on the new 2.6-mile Sao Paulo street circuit.
The 36-year-old took pole for Ganassi Racing with a best lap of 1min 27.734secs. Franchitti starts on the front row alongside Canadian Alex Tagliani who was second fastest with a stunning lap near the end of the session for his new Fazzt team.
Former champion, and Franchitti’s Ganassi team-mate Scott Dixon, was one of several drivers to miss out on a shot at the top-six session after Simona de Silvestro crashed at the end of the top 12 shoot-out.
That session proved to be a bit of a lottery as the track, which underwent diamond-grinding work overnight to improve the grip levels and bumps, rapidly improved. Lap-by-lap, it seemed, everybody produced a faster time.
JM