LEXINGTON, Ohio -- IndyCar points leader Simon Pagenaud knows Team Penske teammate Will Power is chasing him down so earning the pole at Mid-Ohio Race Sports Car Course was important.
Pagenaud set a course record with a lap at 127.271 mph around the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course Saturday to edge Power.
The Frenchman Pagenaud increased his lead to 48 points entering the race Sunday.
"That's what you need to do to win the championship," Pagenaud said. "It's a long season. That's what we were doing at the beginning of the season to extend the gap.