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Sato Nabs First IZOD IndyCar Series Pole

Former Formula 1 driver Takuma Sato had no trouble finding his way around the Iowa Speedway today as he scored his first IZOD IndyCar Series pole.

The Japanese driver turned a lap two-lap average speed of 180.375 mph on the 7/8-mile tri-oval.

Danica Patrick qualified for the second front-row starting spot with an average speed of 180.210 mph.

Sato’s teammate, Tony Kanaan, who was the second car out to qualify, held the pole until Sato, who was 21st in the qualifying order, took it away. Patrick, who was the next car out, then relegated Kanaan to the second row.

Sato was obviously pleased with his performance. “It’s a great feeling. It means a lot. We knew we would be very competitive. It was a team performance,” he said.

Sato also gave credit to Kanaan for his pole-winning drive. “The car was a little edgy this morning. (After Kanaan qualified) Tony gave me the difference between practice and now,” he added.

Sebastian Saavedra did not qualify as the car was reportedly extremely loose in practice and the Conquest Racing Team continued to work on the car to try to improve the handling. Saveedda will start at the rear of the field tomorrow evening.

Simona de Silvestro’s misfortune in the IZOD IndyCar Series continued this weekend. She had a hard crash in qualifying at The Milwaukee Mile last weekend in which she suffered a severe cut to her knee and neck pain. She was checked out at a Milwaukee hospital and was released. She showed no physical signs of a concussion after a neurological exam, didn’t report any post-concussion symptoms, and was cleared to drive.

According to IndyCar, after completing 11 laps in the race she parked the car and returned to the care center reporting post-concussion symptoms. Physical and emotional stress can bring out post-concussion symptoms.

To be cleared to drive after a concussion, a driver must pass an IMPACT Test and IndyCar medical evaluation. De Silvestro passed the IMPACT Test on Wednesday but was still exhibiting post-concussion symptoms when evaluated by IndyCar medical today and has not been cleared to drive. Her condition will be re-evaluated at the Toronto race.

There was not another suitable driver available at the track so the HVM Racing car will not start the race. According to IZOD IndyCar Series rule 10.3-e if a car has practiced or qualified but cannot, for whatever reason, start the race, IndyCar can, at its discretion, award half the points available for the last starting position in the race.

Although the team did not practice, it was due to circumstances beyond their control. IndyCar Series officials have elected to use this option and award half of the 26th place points to de Silvestro and HVM Racing.

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Esteban Guerrieri scored his fourth firestone Indy Lights pole of the year at Iowa Speedway Friday. He followed up his wire-to-wire Milwaukee Mile win a pole-winning two-lap average speed of 160.787 mph. Gustavo Yacaman was second quick with an average speed of 159.520 mph.

For Bryan Clauson, who qualified third, it was one of a number of different events he will be participating in today. He is also qualified for two different USAC Triple Crown events this evening: a 50-lap midget races and a 100-lap Silver Crown event.

It will be a short field for tomorrow’s Firestone Indy Lights race, scheduled for 5:40 p.m. CDT, as only 12 cars completed two-lap qualifying runs.

Chase Austin took one warm-up lap and the green flag but pulled in and did not complete the qualifying run due to mechanical problems. He will start the race in 13th position

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