Patrick qualifies third in Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 9 (UPI) -- Danica Patrick backed up her strong showing at the Indianapolis 500 by qualifying third Thursday night for the Bombardier Learjet 500.

The race will be run Saturday night at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Tomas Scheckter captured the pole for the event by covering the 1.5-mile circuit in 24.4942 seconds -- or 213.688 miles per hour.

Tomas Enge qualified second with a time of 24.6076. Patrick turned in a lap of 24.6308, followed by Sam Hornish Jr. (24.7018).

Patrick qualified fourth in Indianapolis last month and led late in the race. She eventually finished fourth, the best showing ever by a woman in the historic race.

Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, who leads the IRL in points, qualified eighth.