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 | | Sunday, 12 May, 2002, 07:59 GMT 08:59 UK Junqueira grabs Indy pole  Bruno Junqueira celebrates his pole-clinching success Bruno Junqueira produced four scorching laps on a cold, cloudy Saturday to claim pole for the Indy 500. But the Brazilian had to wait nearly seven hours to be certain he would head the grid for the 86th running of the race on 26 May. Junqueira, 24, driving a G Force/Chevrolet owned by Chip Ganassi, averaged 231.342mph around the 2.5 mile Brickyard oval. Ganassi last won here in 2000 with Juan Pablo Montoya, now racing for Williams-BMW in Formula One. Junqueira was the first driver to make his run at around 1100 local time. But it was 1800 before he knew that pole was his. "I don't think there was a benefit (about being the first car out)," he said. "There was more pressure because I didn't know what time we had to do and how much to push." Good day Junqueira's speed was more than 5mph faster than last year's 226.037 mph (363.771 kph) set by Scott Sharp. Robbie Buhl, 39, was second fastest on Saturday in a G Force/Infiniti at 231.033mph. Brazilian Raul Boesel, in a Dallara/Chevrolet, was third at 230.613 mph. It was a good day for Brazilians with Felipe Giaffone and Tony Kanaan finishing fourth and fifth quickest.
Sam Hornish Jr. was seventh quickest, just ahead of Sharp. Last year's Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves of Brazil, qualified 13th fastest in a Dallara/Chevrolet. Buhl's team mate Sarah Fisher, 21, the third woman to qualify for the event, became the fastest-ever female qualifier at 229.439 mph (369.246 kph). She was ninth quickest. IRL rookie Tomas Scheckter, the South African-born son of 1979 F1 champion Jody Scheckter, was not happy with his 10th place finish. Britain's Johnny Herbert, another F1 veteran trying to make the field, did not make a qualifying attempt and will have to wait until Sunday to try again. Scot Dario Franchitti, an Indy 500 rookie, saw his first qualifying run called off after three laps, and later engine problems ended his day before he could attempt another run. Each driver is allowed three attempts. Twenty-four drivers qualified on Saturday, with nine more spots available on Sunday and on 19 May. | | See also:  Other top Motorsport stories: Links to more Motorsport stories are at the foot of the page. | |
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