WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Sixteen years after their fathers last sat side by side on the front row of an open-wheel race, Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal matched the feat.
It was July 1992 when Bobby Rahal beat out Michael Andretti for the pole at New Hampshire International Speedway.
The family order was reversed Saturday, with 21-year- old Marco Andretti knocking 19-year-old Graham Rahal off the pole in qualifying for the ABC Supply A.J. Foyt 225 at the Milwaukee Mile.
Rookie Rahal, driving in only the fourth oval event of his career, was a surprise, taking the top spot midway through the session with a four-lap qualifying average of 167.654 mph.
That was good enough to remain on top of the grid until Andretti, 25th of the 26 drivers making qualifying attempts, turned a 168.079.
Footnotes.
Denny Hamlin made it nine victories for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series this season, leading all but 69 laps to win at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
Rookie phenom Joey Logano finished sixth in his NASCAR national-level debut, running near the front of the 200-mile race with veterans such as Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and JGR teammate Hamlin.
• Larry Dixon (top fuel), Tony Bartone (funny car) and Dave Connolly (pro stock) had their first-day times stand up at the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan., and will head into the elimination rounds as the top qualifiers in their categories.
Today’s races
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Best Buy 400
Site:Dover, Del.
TV: Fox, 11:30 a.m.
Track: Dover Downs International Speedway (oval, 1 mile, 24 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 400 miles, 400 laps.
Next race: Pocono 500, June 8, Long Pond, Pa.
INDY RACING LEAGUE
A.J. Foyt 225
Site:West Allis, Wis.
TV: ABC, 2 p.m.
Track: The Milwaukee Mile (oval, 1.032 miles, 9 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 225 miles, 225 laps.
Next race: Bombardier Learjet 550, Saturday, Fort Worth, Texas
NHRA
O’Reilly Summer Nationals
Site:Topeka, Kan.
TV: ESPN2, 2 p.m. tape.
Track: Heartland Park Topeka.
Next event: Route 66 Nationals, June 8, Joliet, Ill.
