MIRABEL, Que. (June 4, 2011) — Less than a week from starting on the pole in the Indianapolis 500, Alex Tagliani won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event at Circuit ICAR in qualifying Saturday afternoon.
Tagliani, from Lachenaie, Que., laid down a fast lap of 96.499 seconds (78.828 mph) in qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix ICAR on the 15-turn, 2.113-mile road course. He took time out from his full-time job of racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series to return to his home province to compete in this first series event at Circuit ICAR in his No. 12 Hot Wheels Dodge. Sunday will mark his 14th start in the series and this was his third career pole having accomplished the feat at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Circuit de Trois-Rivieres (Que.), both in 2009.
“The car feels great and I like our chances tomorrow,” he said. “Most of the best racers in Canada are here, so it won’t be easy.”
Tagliani will be joined in the front row on Sunday afternoon by Scott Steckly, who logged a time of 97.420 seconds (78.083 mph). The second row will consist of defending series champion DJ Kennington (97.457/78.053) and Kerry Micks (97.532/77.993).
Steckly leads the point standings after posting the win in last weekend’s season opener at Mosport Speedway in Bowmanville, Ont.
The rest of the top 10 qualifiers were JR Fitzpatrick, Peter Klutt, Robin Buck, Don Thomson Jr., L.P. Dumoulin and Jason Hathaway.
Andrew Ranger, a two-time series champion and winner of 12 Canadian Tire Series events including nine on road courses, will start from the back of the field. He is at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards event. He is expected to arrive at Circuit ICAR in his native Quebec early Sunday afternoon. His car owner and former CASCAR competitor Dave Jacombs practiced and qualified the No. 27 PNH Solutions/Lou’s BBQ Dodge. Series rules mandate a move to the rear of the field in the event of a driver change prior to the start of the race.
The inaugural Grand Prix ICAR is set to take the green flag Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Qualifying Results
NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES - Grand Prix ICAR Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday at Circuit ICAR
Mirabel, Que. / Lap Length: 2.113 miles
1. (12) Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Dodge, 78.828
2. (22) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 78.083
3. (17) DJ Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 78.053
4. (02) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 77.993
5. (84) JR Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ont., Chevrolet, 77.736
6. (42) Peter Klutt, Halton Hills, Ont., Chevrolet, 77.578
7. (66) Robin Buck, Campbellville, Ont., Dodge, 77.495
8. (8) Don Thomson, Jr., Hamilton, Ont., Dodge, 77.352
9. (47) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 76.853
10. (3) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ont., Dodge, 76.685
11. (04) J.F. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 76.610
12. (03) Elie Arseneau, Laval, Que., Chevrolet, 76.440
13. (9) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 76.416
14. (71) Patrice Brisebois, West Mount, Que., Chevrolet, 76.290
15. (59) John Farano, Toronto, Ont., Chevrolet, 76.120
16. (99) Derek White, Kahnawake, Que., Chevrolet, 76.039
17. (21) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Dodge, 75.941
18. (90) Martin Roy, Napierville, Que., Dodge, 75.702
19. (60) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 75.253
20. (5) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 75.245
21. (15) Steven Mathews, New Liskeard, Ont., Ford, 75.025
22. (07) Isabelle Tremblay, St. Hippolyte, Que., Ford, 74.579
23. (94) Dave Coursol, St. Jerome, Que., Chevrolet, 74.567
24. (55) Dexter Stacey, Kahnawake, Que., Dodge, 74.262
25. (85) Michel Pilon, Blainville, Que., Chevrolet, 73.246
26. (27) Dave Jacombs, York, Ont., Dodge, 57.667
27. (23) Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Dodge, No speed
For additional information, contact Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications, (704) 309-5493 or ssbarra@nascar.com
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