VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 26 (UPI) -- Canadian Paul Tracy thrilled the partisan crowd by winning the provisional pole Friday for the CART Molson Indy Vancouver.
Driving a Lola/Honda, Tracy covered the 1.781-mile temporary street course at Concord Pacific Place in 1 minute, 1.888 seconds. He averaged 103.6 miles per hour and assured himself of a front-row start for Sunday's race.
Tracy also started on the front row for the Molson Indy Toronto earlier this month, finishing 16th.
"It's a great position for me to be in as a Canadian," Tracy said. "Starting on the front row here, like we managed to do in Toronto, is going to help a lot on a tight course like this one."
Tracy won the Miller Lite 250 earlier this year, another race in which he started on the front row. He also won here in 2000, but that has been his only success at this venue. He has not finished higher than eighth in any of his other 10 career starts here, including a disappointing 25th last year.
However, Friday's run in front of an estimated crowd of 44,000 gave him a point that boosted his season total to 51, just outside the top 10 in the championship standings.
"It feels really good to have some good luck and it's really nice for Team KOOL Green," Tracy said. "I'm glad to be on the front row, get the extra point and know we're locked in for a front-row start."
Less than 10 minutes after Tracy posted his time, Bruno Junqueira of Brazil ended the session by crashing into a tire barrier.
Scott Dixon had the second-best time, clocking at 103.515 mph in a Toyota/Lola. Kenny Brack of Sweden was third in another Toyota/Lola and Dario Franchitti of Scotland -- Tracy's teammate -- was fourth in a Honda/Lola.
The biggest surprise came from Cristiano da Matta of Brazil, who is running away with the season title. Driving a Toyota/Lola, he was third-slowest of the 18 drivers and will take another run at it Saturday.
