Villeneuve claims pole for Montreal Nationwide race
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Canadian Jacques Villeneuve grabbed the pole for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 Nationwide Series race in front of his home crowd, while his fellow compatriot, Alex Tagliani, secured the second starting position in Friday's qualifying at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Villeneuve, driving the No.22 Penske Racing Dodge in place of Brad Keselowski, posted a lap at 95.800 mph around the 2.71-mile, 14-turn Montreal road course for his first pole in seven Nationwide starts. He has competed in three previous races at this track named after his late father.
Tagliani, a regular in the IndyCar Series, turned a lap at 95.673 mph for the outside pole.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jason Leffler qualified third, followed by Scott Speed and Michael McDowell.
Robby Gordon, Steve Wallace, Patrick Carpentier, also from Canada, Owen Kelly and Justin Allgaier completed the top-10.
Kelly qualified the No.9 Ford for Marcos Ambrose, who won his first Sprint Cup Series race last Monday at Watkins Glen, NY. Ambrose participated in qualifying for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway earlier in the day.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Danica Patrick will start 25th in her first stock car race on a road course.
Jean Francois Dumoulin, Tim George Jr., Tomy Drissi, Brett Rowe and Chase Miller failed to qualify.
Saturday's 74-lap race at Montreal is scheduled to start just after 2:30 p.m. (et).