Hornish Jr., Penske dominate at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS, May 20 (UPI) -- Two-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. easily captured the pole Saturday for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The No.6 Penske Racing Honda posted a four-lap average of 228.985 mph -- almost 1 mph faster than anyone else on the track -- for his first Indianapolis 500 pole.

Hornish will be sitting next to Penske teammate Helio Castroneves when the Indy 500 goes off. Castroneves -- a two-time Indy 500 winner with top 10 finishes in all his starts at Indianapolis -- was second quickest on Saturday at 228.008 mph, and will start in the middle of the front row.

Defending Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon was third fastest at 227.338, and will start on the outside of the front row.

Row two will consist of Scott Dixon (226.921), Tony Kanaan (226.776) and Vitor Meira (226.156).

Rookie Marco Andretti finished ninth, Danica Patrick was 10th and Michael Andretti -- coming out of retirement -- was 13th.

The 2006 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 28.