INDIANAPOLIS, May 21 (UPI) -- Unheralded Alex Tagliani edged Scott Dixon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday to grab the pole position for next week's Indianapolis 500.
The Canadian driver staged an upset, posting a four-lap average speed of 227.472 mph on the famed 1.5-mile oval to nose out Dixon, who averaged 227.340 mph.
Tagliani was the last driver to make his qualifying run in the "Fast Nine" shootout. He result was a shocker because he is only running in selected IndyCar Series races for Sam Schmidt Motorsports this season.
Tagliani, Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) and Oriol Servia (Newman/Haas Racing) will share the front row for the May 29 race. Servia was the provisional pole-sitter until Dixon knocked him off.
In the second row will be Townsend Bell, Will Power and Dan Wheldon.
Buddy Rice, Ed Carpenter and and defending Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti will comprise Row 3.
