Hornish Jr gets Indy 500 pole

Sam Hornish Jr, the fastest driver in the run-up to qualifying for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 next Sunday, did not disappoint with a pole winning four-lap average of 228.985 mph (368.516 kph) last weekend.

The Ohio native completed his single-car qualifying run of the 2.5 mile (4km) circuit at 1.33 p.m. and had to wait until the 6 p.m. closing gun to learn that he won his first pole which carries a $100,000 prize.

Brazil's Helio Castroneves, a two-times winner at the Brickyard and Hornish's Penske Racing team-mate, was slightly off the pace at 228.008 mph (366.943 kph).

It was a record 13th pole for Team Penske.

Britain's Dan Wheldon, last year's winner and defending Indy Racing League champion, was third fastest in another Dallara/Honda at 227.338 mph (365.865 kph). Team-mate Scott Dixon of New Zealand was fourth fastest at 226.921 mph (365.194 kph).

Danica Patrick struggled early in the month with the handling of her Panoz/Honda but seemed pleased with the improvement made over the last two days of running at Indianapolis.

Patrick, only the fourth woman to race at Indianapolis and the first to lead a lap, managed 224.674 mph (361.578 kph) for 10th fastest.

Thirty two drivers qualified for the 500 mile (800km) race.