FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Carlos Munoz has earned his first IndyCar Series pole with a two-lap average of 217.137 mph Friday at the high-banked Texas Motor Speedway.
Scott Dixon, the defending race winner at Texas, qualified second at 216.901 mph. Four-time Texas winner Helio Castroneves starts third on the 1 1/2-mile oval.
Munoz, driving for Andretti Motorsports, will be making his 46th career start Saturday night in the Firestone 600. It is his best qualifying effort since his IndyCar debut in 2013, when he started second at the Indianapolis 500 and then finished as the runner-up. Munoz also finished second at Indy this season, his only top-five finish.
Season points leader Simon Pagenaud, who has a series-leading four poles this season, qualified sixth at 216.663 mph.
