Kiwi Scott McLaughlin will start from the front row for Monday's (NZ time) IndyCar round at Texas Motor Speedway.
Leading the championship standings after his maiden victory at St Petersburg, Florida, last month, the former Supercars ace was second-fastest in qualifying for the latest event, where he finished second behind fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon last year.
Dixon, 28, clocked a two-lap average speed of 221.096 mph (355 kph), just 0.014 mph slower than top qualifier Felix Rosenquist of Sweden.
Japanese Takuma Sato and Aussie Will Power finished third and fourth, with Dixon fifth, all within 0.021s over three miles.
McLaughlin won on the St Petersburg street course from pole position - his first on the IndyCar circuit - but will feel more at home on the 1.5 mile (2.4km) track over 248 laps.
