Pruett Wins Provisional Pole

PORTLAND, Ore. — Scott Pruett’s Reynard Ford Cosworth was easily the best in Friday’s first round of qualifying for Sunday’s Budweiser-G.I. Joe’s 200, putting together the three fastest laps of the day, with a best of 118.834 mph, a track record.

Five drivers bettered the track record of 117.614 mph set by Jacques Villeneuve in 1995.

Rookie Dario Franchitti, whose best Indy-car starting position is fifth, was second Friday in a Mercedes-powered Reynard at 118.260. Gil de Ferran was third in a Reynard Honda at 118.174 and Michael Andretti fourth in a Swift Ford Cosworth at 118.114.

With rain in the forecast for today’s second round of qualifying, Friday’s speeds could well hold up as the race’s starting grid.

“That’s what they said in Detroit too,” Pruett said, recalling the race two weeks ago when he had the provisional pole on Friday, then lost it to de Ferran, in dry weather, on Saturday.

Pruett has only one pole in his Indy-car career, last year in Detroit.