SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais set a lap at 117.712 mph Saturday afternoon (Sept. 21) with just under five minutes remaining in qualifying. That lap held up to earn the pole for Sunday’s TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks.
“It’s always great to be on pole,” Bourdais said during the post-qualifying press conference. “Looks like it could be a tough day tomorrow with the weather coming, so starting up front might not be the worst idea. [Winning the pole] is quite insignificant for a six-hour race, but it’s very pleasing for personal matters and also for the team.”
Bourdais won the pole by .225 seconds over Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Global’s Louis Deletraz. Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Mathieu Jaminet, who was quickest in practice Friday, was third fastest, then Action Express Racing’s Jack Aitken. BMW M Team RLL’s Connor de Phillippi was fifth…