INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 10, 2008)-Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon survived the drama of Pole Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and qualified 1-2, respectively, for the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500. Dixon, who was fifth on the starting grid mid-afternoon, pulled his qualified time from his first attempt and put in another four-lap effort around the historic 2.5-mile oval. Minutes later, he had taken the PEAK Motor Oil Pole Award presented by AutoZone from the grasp of Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe with a 226.366 mph average. Dixon held the $100,000 check aloft.
“It hasn't really sunk in yet,” said Dixon, who has two poles and one victory in 2008. “It means a lot. It's not just for me, though. I think a lot of it, and I think (team owner) Chip (Ganassi) and probably (team managing director) Mike (Hull) and (chief mechanic) Ricky (Davis) have touched on it already, but it's the hard work that goes into it. Indy, for our team, I think our development and working toward this race started well early in the winter. I think Chip Ganassi and Mike and all the guys in the team are adamant on putting up a strong fight for this year's 500."
Wheldon had earned the third starting position on the grid, but at 5:38 p.m., he waved it off to challenge Dixon for the pole. Although he fell short of the pole, Wheldon took second, knocking Briscoe to the outside of Row 1.
"It's a real tribute to the team," said team owner Ganassi, who celebrated his third pole start at Indianapolis (Bruno Junqueira in 2002 are Arie Luyendyk in 1993). "Every team works hard in the off-season to get better, and you're charged with making your team better than the other guys who make their team better. T his is the payoff."
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