New Zealander Scott Dixon has stormed to pole for the Indianapolis 500 after a stunning four lap stint in the fast-nine qualifying finale.
Dixon claimed pole at the famed race for the third time in his career and will hope history can repeat in the 101st running on May 29 [NZT]
American Ed Carpenter was second with defending race winner, Alexander Rossi third - double Formula One champion Fernando Alonso produced a remarkable effort himself, in qualifying fifth, in his first IndyCAR race.
But it was all about Dixon after he delivered an electrifying first lap, then held form on the last three to jump atop the standings with two drivers to come.
Takuma Sato and Carpenter couldn't match the Kiwi and his pole position for next Monday morning's race [NZT] was confirmed.
Dixon was well down the field during five days of practice but showed good speed when he was third-fastest during the first day of qualifying on Sunday (NZT).
The 36-year-old lifted several notches in the second and final qualifying session on Monday, clocking an average speed of 373.632kmh over four laps, nearly 3kmh quicker than a day earlier.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver's speed was the quickest in qualifying since Dutch two-time race winner Arie Luyendyk set the all-time record in 1996.
Dixon earns $US100,000 prizemoney and, with points on offer, also claims the lead in the IndyCar series for at least a week. He leaps from second to first, passing Frenchman Simon Pagenaud, who was 23rd quickest in qualifying.
Dixon's wife and two children celebrated with him trackside at the famed Brickyard but the Kiwi noted that his focus is already turning pole into victory in the Great Race in seven days.
Newshub.
