Briscoe bests Hinchcliffe for Indy pole

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INDIANAPOLIS, May 19 (UPI) -- Ryan Briscoe took the pole position for the 96th Indianapolis 500 Saturday, edging James Hinchcliffe by the closest margin in the race's qualifying history.

Briscoe nosed Hinchcliffe by 0.0023 seconds. That was far closer than the previous record of 0.01 seconds, set in 1970 by pole winner Al Unser over Johnny Rutherford.

Briscoe, a Team Penske member, posted a four-lap average of 226.484 mph during the qualifying session's "Fast Nine" shootout. It gave the Penske squad its fifth pole in five IndyCar races this season.

Hinchcliffe's average speed was 226.481 mph, while teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti followed with the third and fourth positions.

Briscoe, Hinchcliffe and Hunter-Reay will line up on the front row for the May 27 Indy 500.