The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. - Scott Dixon's inconsistent rookie season in the IRL took an upward turn when he won the pole for today's SunTrust Indy Challenge in qualifying Friday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Dixon turned a lap at 168.138 mph on the three-quarter-mile oval - the shortest on the circuit. He nudged Sarah Fisher and her lap of 167.004 to the outside of the front row.

Dixon, second in the points race and only 49 behind leader Tony Kanaan, turned his top speed on his first lap. He thought he had a better trip going the second time around, but ran out of fuel between the third and fourth turns.

For a change, Dixon said, the misfortune didn't cost him.

"It seems like everything that can go wrong with our car or with the G-force in general has happened to our team," Dixon said. "I think we've had speed everywhere we've gone, and that's normally the hardest thing to find, so at least we have that. We just need to get some consistency."

Dixon came over from CART this year, and has at times seemed capable of dominating and at other times has finished like a newcomer.

He's the only driver with two victories in the first six races, and also has a sixth-place finish. But he also has three finishes of 15th or worse.

Fisher, like Dixon, got a break from the weather when a rainstorm washed some of the rubber off the track and cooled the surface after 14 qualifying runs. The hour-long delay was the longest during qualifying in IRL history, and gave the last eight drivers a better surface on which to run.

The starting grid has Tora Takagi and defending series and race champion Sam Hornish Jr. in the second row, Kanaan and Greg Ray in the third, Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran and Felipe Giaffone in the fourth, and Bryan Herta and Vitor Meira in the fifth row.

The delay came with Hornish in the top spot among 14 drivers.

FORMULA ONE: Kimi Raikkonen, hoping to regain the lead in the Formula One standings, posted the fastest time in pre-qualifying for Sunday's European Grand Prix at Nuerburgring, Germany. Qualifying will be held today.

Rain affected the session, but it was cloudy when Raikkonen blitzed the course in the opening minutes. Raikkonen was timed in 1 minute, 29.989 seconds on the 3.199-mile circuit in his Mercedes-powered McLaren.

Five-time series champion Michael Schumacher, who took the points lead with a victory June 15 in the Canadian Grand Prix, was second-fastest. His Ferrari got around the course in 1:30.353.

Juan Pablo Montoya's BMW-powered Williams was next at 1:30.378, followed by teammate. Ralf Schumacher at 1:30.522 and the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello at 1:30.842.

NASCAR TRUCKS: Defending race champion Terry Cook won the pole for today's GNC Live Well 200 at the Milwaukee Mile.

Cook , who won in 2002 after making a pass on the next-to-last lap, qualified at 119.996 mph in a Ford. Brendan Gaughan was second in a Dodge at 119.868.

At a glance

BUSCH SERIES

GNC Live Well 250

Site: West Allis, Wis.

Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1:05 p.m.); Sunday, race (FX, 2 p.m.).

Track: The Milwaukee Mile (oval, 1 mile, 9 degrees banking in turns).

Distance: 250 miles (250 laps).

Next race: NASCAR Busch Series 250, July 4, Daytona Beach, Fla.

On the net: http://www.nascar.com

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

GNC Live Well 200

Site: West Allis, Wis.

Schedule: Today, race (Speed Channel, 3 p.m.).

Track: The Milwaukee Mile.

Distance: 200 miles (200 laps).

Next race: O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, July 5, Kansas City, Kan.

On the net: http://www.nascar.com

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FORMULA ONE

European Grand Prix

Site: Nuerburgring, Germany

Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 8 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 7:30 a.m.).

Track: Nuerburgring (permanent road course, 3.196 miles).

Distance: 191.76 miles (60 laps).

Next race: French Grand Prix, July 6, Magny-Cours

On the net: http://www.formula1.com

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INDY RACING LEAGUE

SunTrust Indy Challenge

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Today, race (ESPN, 8 p.m.).

Track: Richmond International Raceway (d-shaped oval, .75 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Distance: 187.50 miles, 250 laps.

Next race: Indy 300, July 6, Kansas City, Kan.

On the net://www.indyracingleague.com

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NASCAR WINSTON CUP

Last race: Robby Gordon won the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma.

Next race: Pepsi 400, July 5, Daytona Beach, Fla.

CART

Last race: Adrian Fernandez won the G.I. Joe's 200 at Portland.

Next race: Cleveland Grand Prix, July 5, Cleveland.

On the net://www.cart.com