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Ed Carpenter surprises to earn Indianapolis 500 pole position

INDIANAPOLIS, May 18 (UPI) -- Unheralded Ed Carpenter grabbed the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 Saturday in a surprise result, turning in a four-lap average of 228.762 mph.

Carpenter, an Indianapolis native who has only two career wins, had qualified no better than eighth in his previous nine races at the renowned speedway, which will host this year's May 26 event.

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He emerged with the pole -- only the second of his career -- after the "Fast Nine" shootout had been delayed more than 2 hours by rain.

Until then, Team Penske's Will Power had the top qualifying speed of 228.844 mph, while defending IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport was second at 228.282 mph.

Qualifying second was rookie Carlos Munoz at 228.342 mph while Andretti teammate Marco Andretti claimed the outside position of the front row after registering a lap average of 228.261 mph.

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