Franchitti bags Homestead poleposted in INDY02 | 10 | 2010

DARIO FRANCHITTI inched closer to back-to-back IndyCar Championships, and his third in total, when bagged a crucial pole position for today's season finale at Homestead in Florida.

The extra point awarded for bagging the No1 slot now means he has reduced Aussie Will Power's advantage in the championship to 11 points. If Franchitti wins this evening and leads most laps, he'll clinch the title irrespective of where the Penske driver finishes.

To further boost Franchitti's hopes for the night-time race, his Target Ganassi team-mate Scotto Dixon occupies the second slot on the gird.

"They all add up," Franchitti said of his extra point. "We weren't the best in the morning, I didn't feel, and engineer Chris Simmons worked his magic and the balance was very, very good.

"To have Scott there with me is a big help. So we'll see what we can do tomorrow night. If we can make the same jump with the race car as we did with the qualifying car then we'll be in good shape."

Power had held provisional pole for much of the session after averaging 212.580mph round the one-mile high-banked oval. But then Franchitti pieced together his stunning two-lap qualifying run averaging 213.187mph, the only driver to break the 213mph barrier.