CHAMPCAR/CART: Bridgestone Saturday qualifying report

Junqueira battles his way to 3rd pole with Bridgestone this year.

Bruno Junqueira took on the challenge of the Denver streets head on and drove away with his third pole position this season on Bridgestone tires and first ever on a FedEx Championship Series street circuit. Junqueira negotiated the tricky 1.647-mile temporary circuit in 1 minute, 1.703 seconds (96.093 mph) to wrap up the first starting position in Sunday's race.

Afterward, the Brazilian credited the Bridgestone Potenza race tires for helping give him whatever grip was possible for qualifying on what has proven to be a very bumpy and slick course.

"The Bridgestone tires are doing fine," Junqueira said. "This is a really difficult track for the tires because there are two completely different pavements - both asphalt and concrete. But there's almost no difference between new tires and used tires. Both are very good."

All 18 cars in the Shell Grand Prix of Denver starting grid are equipped with Bridgestone Potenza racing radials. Bridgestone, the Official Tire of CART, entered FedEx Championship Series competition this season, but Bridgestone tires have more than four decades of winning racing experience worldwide.

Quote from Al Speyer, Executive Director, Bridgestone Motorsport: "Congratulations to Bruno on a well-earned pole position today. The Potenzas seem to be holding up fine on the racetrack. We are expecting a long, hot race tomorrow and we know some people are concerned about all sorts of car components lasting. But no one seems to be concerned about their tires. We're equally pleased over the continuing demonstrations of our Blizzak ice and snow tires in the Pepsi Center this weekend. If the hot weather keeps up, the Pepsi Center certainly provides a welcome cool escape for fans, and a chance to be entertained and educated on the fine handling points of the Blizzak tires."

Qualifying temperatures ranged from 118 to 126 degrees track and from 90 to 92 degrees ambient (F); Qualifying temperatures ranged from 48 to 52 degrees track and from 32 to 33 degrees ambient (C).

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