Rice scoops Homestead pole

Rice lapped the revamped oval in 217.388mph, the only driver to break into the 217mph bracket in his Honda-powered G Force chassis. He will be joined on the front row by Alex Barron in Cheever Racing's Dallara-Chevrolet. Ironically, Rice was fired last year by Cheever in favour of Barron.

"I don't think this was a way to get back at Eddie," said Rice. "He made his decision and did what he thought was best for his team. It's his decision and his team. He's allowed to make that decision."

Rice is driving for Rahal at Homestead because Brack was critically injured in a crash during the 2003 season finale at Texas Motor Speedway in October. He is expected to return for the Indianapolis 500 in May.

"I've been corresponding back and forth with him," said Rice. "He was supposed to be here this weekend but didn't feel quite up to coming and being able to stand up all weekend. We talk quite a bit."

Of his qualifying lap, Rice said: "I think we've been strong all weekend. We knew we had a fast car, and it was a good lap. Its an excellent feeling for Team Rahal, and it's good for Kenny. If he were here, I imagine he would have done the same thing."

Second place qualifier Barron said: "We've definitely made a step forward, and it helps having two cars. It's difficult when you go out early in a session and get a time like that. We thought we had it worked out pretty well with the speed, but there were a lot of fast guys at the end of the session. You just never know."

Tomas Scheckter, who will start third in his Panther Racing-run Dallara-Chevrolet, said: "It's good, but it's not pole. The team and Chevrolet have done a great job, and I feel I've got a very good racecar for Sunday."

Scotland's Dario Franchitti made his return to the sport with the fourth fastest time. He said: "It was very close to pole, but just a fraction away. I just wanna go racing now, I'm 100 percent up for this."

English rookie Mark Taylor did a fine job in his Menard's/Panther Racing Dallara-Chevrolet, pipping two-time champion Sam Hornish for sixth position. Hornish's effort was the best for Toyota, which landed six of its seven entries in the final 10 positions on the grid.

Champion Scott Dixon could only manage the 12th fastest time, while Team Penske's Helio Castroneves decided to wave off his first timed lap, and could only qualify 10th on his second.

Besides Franchitti and Taylor, the other British drivers struggled somewhat. Darren Manning will start 13th for Chip Ganassi Racing, one spot ahead of Dan Wheldon's AGR-run Dallara-Honda, which lacked front-end grip.

Less than six-tenths of a second separated the 19-car field over the reconfigured 1.5-mile Homestead oval.