RICHMOND, Va., June 25 (UPI) -- A new pavement made for a smooth ride to the pole Friday night for Indy Racing League driver Helio Castroneves at Richmond International Raceway.
Castroneves rode the new surface to a record-shattering lap of 171.202 miles an hour in a Dallara/Toyota. That broke the previous track record of 168.705 mph, set by Gil de Ferran on June 28, 2002.
It was Castroneves' first pole at Richmond International Raceway, his first of the season and the 12th of his Indy career.
In the 12 starts Castroneves has made on short ovals since joining the IRL full-time in 2002, he has started from the pole three times. He has started on the front row 13 times and in the top five in 22 of the 39 IRL races he's run.
Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice was second in a G Force/Honda at 170.782 mph. He also started on the pole at Homestead and Indianapolis this season.
Mark Taylor of England was third in a Dallara/Chevrolet at 170.683 mph.
