INDY RACING LEAGUE

• Wilson claims first IndyCar pole at Toronto

  Toronto, Canada (Sports Network) - Justin Wilson will start on the pole for the first time in his IZOD IndyCar Series career after posting the quickest lap in Saturday's qualifying for the Honda Indy Toronto.

  Wilson lapped the 1.721-mile, 11-turn Toronto street circuit in one minute, 0.2710 seconds for his maiden pole in his 43rd IndyCar start. The 31-year-old Englishman also set a new track qualifying record.

  I think this is a great boost after having a couple of difficult races," Wilson said.

  "We've been working really hard, but we just haven't got the results.

  To come in and get a result, we've been close in the Firestone Fast Six a few times, but it's just not quite happened, so this really is a big morale boost for everyone on the team.

  We're just going to enjoy the race tomorrow." Wilson, in his first year driving for Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, gave the team its second pole. Sarah Fisher recorded DRR's first pole in 2002 at Kentucky.

  Will Power from Team Penske qualified 0.19 seconds behind Wilson to grab the outside pole. Wilson denied Penske from winning its ninth straight pole.

  "I didn't get the most out of the last sector, but [Wilson] laid down a really quick time," Power said. "To have the car on the front row, we'll see if we can beat him in the race tomorrow." Power, the current points leader, has scored the most victories so far this season with three, including a win two weeks ago at the Watkins Glen, NY road course.

  Helio Castroneves, also from Penske, qualified third, while Ryan Hunter-Reay from Andretti Autosport took the fourth spot.

  Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon will share the third row. Franchitti, the defending series champion and last year's race winner at Toronto, qualified fifth, while Dixon took sixth.

  Power's lead is 32 points over Franchitti.

  Ryan Briscoe will start seventh, followed by Tony Kanaan, Alex Tagliani and Marco Andretti.

  Danica Patrick had her best road/street course qualifying performance so far this season with a 12th-place finish.

  "I was pleased with our qualifying run today," Patrick said. "It was a good step in the right direction. I'm happy with the car, and hopefully we can have a decent day tomorrow." Canadian Paul Tracy will start 24th in front of his home crowd. Tracy spun out during his run during the first qualifying session.

  Sunday's IndyCar race at Toronto is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. (et).

  07/17 15:46:10 ET