CHICAGO, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Defending Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish Jr. captured his second MBNA pole of the year Saturday in the Delphi Indy 300.
Hornish turned a lap of 24.553 seconds at the 1.029-mile Chicagoland Speedway for an average speed of 222.867 miles per hour. Hornish, who is third in the IRL standings with 429 points, captured his first pole and won at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March.
Rookie Buddy Rice completed a lap in 24.610 seconds, averaging 222.349 mph and will start alongside Hornish.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was the fastest in practice and third in qualifying at 24.636 seconds. Billy Boat was fourth, completing a lap in 24.681 seconds.
Helio Castroneves, who leads the IRL points standings, was 21st. Gil de Ferran, who is second in the standings, was 11th.
