New Zealand's Scott Dixon, trying to secure the Indy-car season points crown, captured pole position for Sunday's Detroit Indy-car Grand Prix in Saturday time trials.
Dixon, who finished a disappointing 12th last week at Sonoma, leads Brazil's Helio Castroneves by 43 points with two races remaining. Castroneves, the only rival who can deny Dixon the title, will start beside him on the front row.
Dixon completed the fast lap around the 2.906-mile street course at Belle Isle Park in 1:12.282 at 103.090 mph for his 15th career Indy-car pole and seventh pole position of the season with Castroneves next at 1:12.765.
“Man what a session. We had a fantastic car and I'm happy we go the pole,” Dixon said. “All we're worried about now is getting one more point than Helio. So far so good. But we have a long way to go.”
Castroneves, who won at Sonoma to trim Dixon's lead from 78 points to 43, was followed in order by Spain's Oriol Servia, Britain's Justin Wilson, Australian Ryan Briscoe and American Graham Rahal.
Defending Detroit champion Tony Kanaan of Brazil will start eighth.
