Castroneves wins back-to-back poles

From IDS Reports

Helio Castroneves won the pole position Saturday for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, with an average speed of 227.970 miles per hour. He even put up one lap at 228 miles per hour, the fastest lap since 2006. His 2010 qualifying speeds were faster than last year’s qualifying speed by 3.1 miles per hour.

This is the fourth time Castroneves has won the pole, and his second consecutive. He is the first driver to win two back-to-back Indy 500 poles since Scott Brayton did in 1996.
Previously winning the race in 2001, 2002 and 2009, Castroneves is on pace to win his fourth Indy 500, his second victory in a row.

If Castroneves can capture the 2010 crown, he will become the fourth driver to win the race four times.

Second-fastest in qualifying was Castroneves’ Penske teammate Will Power, who averaged 227.578 miles per hour. Dario Franchitti will also start in the front row with a qualifying speed of 226.990 miles per hour.

– Candice Rohrman