NASCAR Cup Series

Tagliani on pole for race in Montreal

Published Aug. 17, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Alex Tagliani has won pole position for the NASCAR Nationwide race Saturday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, his hometown track.

Tagliani turned a speed of 96.688 mph Friday around the 15-turn, 2.7-mile layout to edge Sam Hornish Jr., the pole winner a week ago at Watkins Glen International. It's Tagliani's first NASCAR pole in four races.

Jacques Villeneuve, who won the pole last year, was third, giving Penske Racing the second and third spots, followed by Danica Patrick and Owen Kelly, who was subbing for Kyle Busch in the No. 54 Toyota.

Michael McDowell, Cole Whitt, Ron Fellows, Billy Johnson, and Brian Scott rounded out the top 10.

Points leader Elliott Sadler was 17th, one spot behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who's second in points.