SEARS POINT, Calif. -- Simon Pagenaud moved a little bit closer to his first IndyCar Series championship Saturday when he claimed pole position for the season finale at Sonoma Raceway.
The bonus point he earned for turning the fastest qualifying lap Saturday extended Pagenaud's cushion over Team Penske teammate Will Power to 44 points entering Sunday's 85-lap GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. That means Pagenaud can now clinch the IndyCar title with a sixth-place finish.
Power, who had qualified on pole at Sonoma for five of his past six starts at the road course, could manage only fifth place Saturday.