Fast lap propels Power to Portland pole

PORTLAND, Oregon– Might as well add Portland International Raceway to list of Indy car tracks where Will Power has mastered qualifying.

Power qualified seventh in his two previous races at this track – in 2006 and ’07 – and blitzing today’s Verizon IndyCar Series field gave him 25 tracks where he has won a pole.

In addition, Power set the track record in the second round – 57.2143 seconds – and in the Firestone Fast Six posted a lap that was 0.3410 seconds quicker than Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden.

LINK: Unofficial results of qualifying

If that wasn’t enough, Power cleared A.J. Foyt for second place in poles in an Indy car career. Power now has 54, Foyt 53. Mario Andretti leads all drivers with 67.

Power also took another step toward winning his second career series championship. The point for the pole means he will be within 67 points of Scott Dixon with two races remaining. Power has a golden opportunity to gain on Dixon, too, as the Chip Ganassi Racing driver qualified 11th.

That Dixon didn’t qualify well isn’t that much of a surprise. His average starting position this season in races where qualifying has been held is 8.4, and he has failed to start higher than ninth in the past three qualifying sessions.

Dixon started ninth at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and 13th at Pocono Raceway. Now this. But in those two aforementioned races, he finished fifth and third. He would take something of that nature – or better – in the season’s penultimate race.

Alexander Rossi, who is second in the standings 26 points behind Dixon, qualified third.

Sebastien Bourdais bounced back from a crash at the end of today’s morning practice to qualify fourth. He had just turned the session’s fastest lap when he lost control in Turn 10 and slammed the tire barrier with the rear of the car. The crew of Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan repaired the car in less than three hours.

Ryan Hunter-Reay will start the 105-lap race from the fifth position. Zach Veach will start a career-best sixth.

Starting seventh through 12th will be James Hinchcliffe, Ed Jones, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Dixon and Jordan King.

This will be the first Indy car race at the 12-turn, 1.964-mile permanent road course since 2007.

Sunday’s race broadcast begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts Radio Network.