Bourdais wins pole at Zolder

Zolder, Belgium (Sports Network) - Sebastien Bourdais captured the pole for Sunday's Champ Car Grand Prix of Belgium at the Zolder Circuit. The No.1 Newman/Haas/Lanigan driver circled the 2.622-mile road course in one minute, 12.821 seconds (123.195 m.p.h.) to take the top spot.
The time was quicker than the pole-winning time set in 1984 by Michele Alboreto of Ferrari (1:14.846) when Formula One last raced on the track.
The pole victory earned Bourdais one championship point and gives him a 38- point lead over Robert Doornbos entering tomorrow's race.
"Obviously it would be awesome to go back to Europe with the McDonald's team and get another couple of wins, but those tracks are a big unknown for us," said Bourdais. "I have never been to Zolder or Assen."
That hasn't seemed to bother the Frenchman in the past. Over the last four years, seven new venues have been used by the Champ Car circuit and Bourdais won five times.
Starting on the front row with Bourdais will be Will Power who was third fastest on Saturday, but won Friday's provisional qualifying session.
The second row will consist of Doornbos (1:13.067) and Bruno Junqueira (1:13.313).
"For Champ Car, it's their first time at Zolder, but not for me -- I raced there seven years ago, in 2000," said Doornbos. "It's just great to drive in front of your home crowd, and for sure it gives you an extra boost that you need."
Mario Dominguez drove the No.4 Dan Clarke car after the latter was suspended for the weekend following an accident in Friday practice. He qualified 12th quickest.
The race is set to drop the green flag on Sunday at 8 a.m. (et).