LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Pruett took the pole Friday for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race Saturday, turning a lap in 1 minute, 15.325 seconds in his Riley prototype.
''We know Long Beach is unforgiving,'' said Pruett, who had his 33rd career pole and is seeking his first Long Beach win since 2006. ''The car was good coming off the trailer. With limited track time, it really helped us out that we rolled it off good.''
Ozz Negri Jr. was second in 1:15.366 to complete an all-Ford EcoBoost/Riley front row. Points leader Christian Fittipaldi qualified third at 1:15.571 in a Corvette Daytona Prototype for Action Express Racing.
Pruett will team with Memo Rojas. They joined Marino Franchitti last month to win the Twelve Hours of Sebring.
The race Saturday on the 11-turn, 1.968-mile street course will be 1 hour, 40 minutes.
''It's certainly better to start at the front, without question,'' Pruett said. ''I've been to Long Beach when the whole race in IndyCar has been green-checkered and no yellows and I've been here when it's been crash after crash after crash. You just don't know what to expect with Long Beach. I think that's what a lot of people enjoy about Long Beach. They don't know what to expect. It's going to be exciting.''
Jan Magnussen won the GTLM pole at 1:17.939 in a Corvette C7.R. He edged the BMW Z4 GTEs driven by Bill Auberlen (1:18.091) and Dirk Mueller (1:18.246).
