The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ohio - Paul Tracy won his career-high fifth pole of the season, winning the top spot for today's Champ Car Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

Rookie Ryan Hunter-Reay was the second-fastest qualifier Saturday, crossing the finish line on his fast lap just before the session ended two minutes early when Mario Dominguez went off the track.

Tracy's lap time of 1 minute, 07.058 seconds at 121.220 mph barely edged Hunter-Reay's 1:07.074 and 121.192.

Tracy, driving for Player's-Forsythe Racing, added one point to his season total by taking the pole and moved a point from leader Bruno Junqueira in the driver standings.

It's the first pole at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Tracy, who has never won in 10 tries here but has finished second four times.

IRL: Helio Castroneves led a record-breaking qualifying session on at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., grabbing the pole for today's Emerson Indy 250.

The Brazilian driver knocked former series champion Kenny Brack off the top qualifying spot with a lap of 175.965 mph on the 1.25-mile oval. It was Castroneves' third pole of his IRL career.

The top five drivers surpassed the previous track record of 175.120, set last year by Gil de Ferran.

Today's races

CART

Race: Mid-Ohio Grand Prix, Lexington, Ohio.

Time/TV: 2 p.m./Speed Channel.

Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (permanent road course, 2.258 miles, 13 turns).

Race distance: 207.736 miles, 92 laps.

IRL

Race: Emerson Indy 250, Madison, Ill.

Time/TV: 3 p.m./Ch. 9, 2.

Track: Gateway International Raceway (egg-shaped oval, 1.25 miles).

Race distance: 250 miles, 200 laps.