Power on pole for Baltimore Indy

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Power on pole for Baltimore Indy

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Will Power captured the pole with a lap of 1min 17.9750sec on the 2.04-mile.

02 September,2012 10:27 am

IndyCar series leader Will Power of Australia won pole position for the Baltimore IndyCar Grand Prix on Saturday, positioning himself for a run at a second straight victory here.By capturing pole with a lap of 1min 17.9750sec on the 2.04-mile, 12-turn circuit Power earned one bonus point, padding his lead atop the standings to 37 points over American Ryan Hunter-Reay, who qualified 13th.If Power leaves Baltimore with a lead of 54 points or more over his closest rival, he will clinch his first IndyCar championship.He has been runner-up in the series to Scotlands Dario Franchitti the past two seasons.Its important to get the pole -- its another point, Power said. It gives us the best potential at the start, and we can control our destiny.Its Powers fifth pole position of the season and his third in a row. He started from pole and finished second in each of the past two races -- at Mid-Ohio raceway and Sonoma, California.Mike Conway shrugged off an early brush with a tire barrier to post the second-fastest time in the Fast Six final phase of qualifying.However, hell start 12th on the grid as one of five drivers assessed a 10-spot grid penalty for unapproved engine changes.New Zealands Scott Dixon qualified third, followed by Frances Sebastian Bourdais and Franchitti. All three advance one position on the starting grid due to Conways penalty.Conways early brush with the barrier came at a chicane in the front straight that was constructed Friday night after French driver Simon Pagenauds airborne crash in that area of the track during opening practice on Friday.This track is very physical, Power said. There are lots of turns and not many straights, especially now that they have added the chicane.