Franchitti grabs IRL pole in Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 5 (UPI) -- Dario Franchitti turned in a four-lap average of 214.513 mph Friday to win the pole for the Indy Racing League's Bombardier Learjet 550.

Franchitti, back in the IRL after his NASCAR Sprint Cup team ceased operations last autumn, won his first pole since the 2007 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway.

His qualifying effort at Texas Motor Speedway allowed him to edge Ryan Briscoe by .045 of a second. Scott Dixon was third.

Helio Castroneves, winner of the Indianapolis 500 last month, qualified fourth after a frustrating performance in Milwaukee a week ago. Castroneves crashed during qualifying at Milwaukee and had to start from the rear of the field. He then struggled with the handling of his car and had to make a lengthy pit stop, which eventually led to an 11th-place finish.

Danica Patrick and Mario Moraes will start in the third row for Saturday's race.