Power and Newgarden on front row for both races

Each car completed a two-lap run in qualifying for the double-header with the first flyer determining grid order for Saturday’s first race, and the second lap setting order for Sunday’s round.

Power was the only driver to break the 178mph barrier and he did it twice, to draw within one pole position of Mario Andretti’s all-time Indycar pole record.

Although the track temperature was rising, suggesting the lap times might slow toward the end of the one-by-one qualifying session, Newgarden – who has led more than 1100 laps on the 0.894-mile oval – was able to eclipse the benchmark set by Ed Carpenter Racing’s Conor Daly, despite running four cars from the end.

However, two cars later, it was Power’s turn and taking his new wide line to the corners, he was able to produce lap speeds comfortably clear of the opposition.

Colton Herta had the wildest switch in fortunes between runs, claiming only 17^th fastest for the opener, but third for race two.

Daly held on to take third for the first race and then fourth for Sunday’s contest.

Also impressing were the Dale Coyne Racing duo of Takuma Sato and David Malukas – the former finishing in the top 10 each time – while Jack Harvey’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing machine also found a new turn of speed and will start seventh for both races.

Race 1 grid:

Race 2 grid: