Montoya on pole again

Up until final qualifying the order had been anyone's guess, with a wide variety of drivers visiting the top ten. Even so, the 1999 pattern was eventually maintained, Montoya fastest but with the brilliant Helio Castro Neves close behind.

The Brazilian has restored Lola's reputation almost single-handedly, while raising the Hogan team to new heights at the same time. A victory must surely come his way soon, but again it is Montoya he has to beat tomorrow.

Gil de Ferran lines up 3rd, his Goodyear tyres proving competitive on a road course for once, followed by Bryan Herta. The Team Rahal driver normally starts to excel when the season reaches the road courses, and he expected to be higher than 4th.

Others who expected more include championship contenders Dario Franchitti, Greg Moore and Michael Andretti, lining up 12th, 13th and 14th. Al Unser Jr will be mortified to languish down in 26th, while first qualifying hero Richie Hearn finds himself in 21st. Tony Kanaan will also be a disappointed man, especially with his friend and Brazilian rival Castro Neves 2nd. The Tasman driver, who shone en route to 4th here last year, lines up 17th.

However, there will also be some happy faces around the Portland paddock. Patrick Carpentier starts 8th, five places higher than his Player's/Forsythe team leader Greg Moore. The French-Canadian has made great strides this year. New boy Memo Gidley is down in 25th, but within a second of pole, while fellow rookie Tarso Marques did a good job to take 18th in the unloved Penske. PacWest substitute driver Roberto Moreno was again on the pace and faster than compatriot and team mate Mauricio Gugelmin, he took 11th, 'Big Mo' starts 16th.

Milwaukee winner Paul Tracy could be back to his old form as well, the Canadian starts 6th. But spare a thought for the Bettenhausen team. While their 1998 driver Helio Castro Neves appears to be Montoya's biggest rival right now, their car starts last yet again with Japanese rookie Shigeaki Hattori at the wheel.

The race could be a tough one, with several quick men needing to make fast progress through the field. As Greg Moore proved when he wiped out half the midfield last year, the run down to the tight first corner can be a nightmare at the start. With the times so close, we could see more carnage tomorrow.

This will be a crucial race for the CART regulars. They let Montoya take pole again, they cannot afford for him to take another victory.

Final qualifying times and positions: