IPS: Mutoh claims Kentucky 100 pole

Panther Racing's Hideki Mutoh was fast all day long as he claimed the best speed in practice and qualifying on Friday (August 10th) leading into the Edy's Kentucky 100 Indy Pro Series race.

Mutoh's speed of 191.276 miles per hour set records for the 1.5 mile oval Kentucky Speedway, besting the previous best held by 2004 pole-sitter Travis Gregg (190.398 mph).

Sam Schmidt Motorsports Alex Lloyd was second-quick, and satisfied with the result. "We clearly weren't as fast as Hideki today," said the Indy Pro series points leader afterwards. "Tomorrow the race will come down to who has the right setup and solves the drafting best," he continued.

AFS Andretti Green Racing's Wade Cunningham lines up on the inside of the second row, alongside SSM's Logan Gomez. He joins teammate Leilani Munter on the inside of the third row, and Ryan Justice in the fifth row, in what turned out to be a Sam Schmidt Motorsports tour de force.

Munter's best of 188.940 mph put her solidly into the field and in front of fifteen other contenders in her very first try. She'll try to transfer her stock-car racing skills to the much lighter and nimbler Indy Pro Series Dallara when the race commences on Saturday night at 9:10 PM EDT.

The time slot following the IndyCar race promises cooler temperatures and greater downforce and mechanical grip, factors that have most observors predicting a tightly-packed, fiercely contested 67-lap competition under the stars.

The race will be broadcast live online at IndyCar.com and on a delayed television broadcast over ESPN 2 on August 16th at 5:30 PM EDT.